Sligo taking nothing for granted

ULSTER SFC FIRST ROUND New York v Sligo:IT MIGHT be the more Sligo are reminded about dangers of this annual banana skin the less likely they'll be to actually slip on it – although sometimes the warning signs aren't always enough.

Manager Kevin Walsh isn’t taking any chances. Veteran Eamonn O’Hara, back for his 19th season with the county, doesn’t start as he continues to regain match fitness, and forward David Kelly also misses out as he recovers from injury. Instead Walsh has gone for players he knows are fit for the challenge.

There is still the back-door route, should Sligo fall victim to a historic defeat, but it’s more likely they’ll come through with ease.

New York have been struggling to maintain any consistency, the team, now captained by Tyrone native Ronan McGinley, features the usual mixture of former or formerly potential intercounty players.

The last time Sligo went to New York, in 2007, they went on to win the Connacht title.

However Sligo also boast the unwanted record of being the only team to lose an FBD final in the US, when they were defeated by New York in 2004. Still they should return home with championship ambitions intact.

SLIGO(SF v New York): P Greene; N Ewing, N McGuire, R Donovan; C Harrison, M Quinn, P McGovern; T Taylor, S McManus; B Egan, P Hughes, A Costello: S Coen, A Marren, M Breheny.