Niall Murphy says Sligo have the potential to shoot straight back up

Sligo captain Niall Murphy hums a tune familiar to several counties of their size.

While the loss of experienced players like Charlie Harrison, Brendan Egan and Ross Donovan is part of the natural evolution of any team, the absence of younger players with plenty more to offer is frustrating.

With the high player turnover, they slipped into Division Four this spring though Murphy believes that there is potential for them to be so much better.

“There absolutely is, there is potential in every county if you get lads to commit to the one thing,” says Murphy.

“Unfortunately in Sligo, every year we seem to have a huge turnover in players. Obviously you'll have older lads leaving, but a lot of lads have no interest or are taking the year out.

“That is the case in Sligo this year which is really disappointing because you want to be keeping your best players and working with them.

“Looking at some of the younger lads, they have felt a bit of success, they have been very close in Connacht finals so hopefully they can stay for the next couple of years and that experience will stand to them in the summer months.”

It’s a vicious circle: players aren’t attracted to playing for Sligo because they aren’t winning, but without them their chances recede even further.

“Hopefully we can shoot straight back up, it might generate some popularity around ourselves and a bit more interest in younger lads and getting them back playing,” he adds. “If you are at the top table in Division Four you have the chance to play at Croke Park, small things like that.”

In the meantime, there’s the daunting task of facing Galway in Markievicz Park in tomorrow’s Connacht semi-final, though it’s the type of opportunity which Murphy feels shouldn’t be taken away from Sligo, with the GAA hierarchy favouring a tiered system.

“I've seen Sligo and experienced Sligo competing at a fairly high level down through the years. That is probably one reason I wouldn't be mad for it.

“I train for Sligo for the big days when you want to see the likes of Galway, Mayo or Roscommon coming to Markievicz Park with that option.

“If that option was taken away it would be a huge let down.”

VERDICT: Galway

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