The Sligo-Kildare re-fixture: Ian O'Riordan talks to Sligo's Eamonn O'Hara ahead of Sunday's replay, when relegated Kildare will try to end months of controversy by taking Sligo with them

The closing scene in the story that for 10 weeks now has run as a sub-plot to the National Football League will finally be played out in Sligo this Sunday. Beat Kildare and Sligo's footballers stay in Division One. Lose and they are relegated.

When the two counties met on February 9th, little did they realise the controversy they would ignite. Kildare went away with a one-point win, Sligo went away disappointed. Then all hell broke lose.

An obscure team sheet rule (109b) has become popular verse around the country. On the day, Kildare submitted only 15 names, then introduced four substitutes and breached the rule. Sligo pointed out the error as a matter of courtesy and threw the fat into the fire. Now comes the endgame.

"Well, there's been an awful lot of talk about this game," says Sligo midfielder Eamonn O'Hara. "But I think the re-fixture was definitely the best thing in the end. It was what we all wanted all along.

"I think as well that the media jumped on board and were very critical of the way Sligo handled the thing. But I think that was unfair. There was a rule broken, but it was just unfortunate that it all happened behind the scenes and it had nothing at all to do with the players."

After so much confusion, what happens in Markievicz Park on Sunday is clear-cut. Kildare ended the league with two points and are relegated either way. Having been awarded Kildare's two points, Sligo ended with six but are now back to four following the decision to replay the game. Down have five points and will be relegated if Sligo win - and most likely if they draw.

"Kildare probably did suffer a little in all this," says O'Hara, "but we were more than willing all along to play the replay. Then Down were caught up in it too but I think the GAC were a little at fault. When the decision first came up to have the replay or not they should have made it there and then. That way it wouldn't have had any effect on what happened in the last round.

"The way results turned out it did, and from that point of view Down have a fair point."

Part of Down's complaint was that Kildare and Sligo will decide their fate in a game that only matters to one team - Sligo. O'Hara admits that Kildare will travel with a different incentive, but they will be leaving nothing to chance.

"To be honest we don't really care what way Kildare are approaching the game. They may take it totally seriously or just use it as a warm-up for the championship, but we know that we are going to have to play to our best either way.

"But from our own point of view we're glad to get the second chance, and actually win the points on the playing field. The matter is totally in our own hands and that's the way we always wanted it."

The other main issue surrounding the game is the now well-established Kidlare-Sligo rivalry. One widely held notion is that as Kildare are now going down to Division Two, then who better to drag down with them than Sligo.

"Of course we know we're not going to get anything soft from Kildare. Padraig Nolan is trying to prepare them for the championship and he'll want a hard game. But to be honest I don't care what way Kildare approach this game. What matters is the way we approach it, and all I'm worried about is the way we're going to play.

"If we can perform like we did against Cavan the last day then we can win. We don't want to perform like we did early in the league, when we didn't do ourselves much justice. And of course it is a make or break game. If we win we stay up and if we lose we're relegated. Just like the championship really."