Cian Breheny attened the GPA DCU Business School Masters Scholarship Programme and MBA Programme announcement at DCU Business School in Glasnevin on Thursday.
By John Harrington
Sligo footballer Cian Breheny expects his uncle Mark to continue playing county football for the Yeats County in 2018.
36-year-old Mark made his senior Sligo debut back in 2000, and this year was the longest serving footballer still playing at the highest level.
And from what his nephew could see of his performances in training and matches this year, he still has more to give to the cause.
“I think he will be back, to be honest,” said Breheny yesterday when he was announced as one of six inter-county GAA players to receive Masters scholarships at DCU Business School.
“He's well able to be. He's one of the fittest lads in our team. He works harder than anyone so I think he might come back and I'd be encouraging him to come back as well.
“Especially in recent years, he's really looked after himself particularly well. He likes to think of himself as Ryan Giggs! He thinks he's gotten better with age and is really looking after himself.”
Mark Breheny has played for Sligo since 2000.
He’s convinced his uncle will be sharing a Sligo dressing-room with him next year, but as of now he doesn’t know who will be managing the team.
Niall Carew has moved on after three years in charge of the team and a replacement has yet to be appointed.
“We're the last county without one and we need to get it sorted quick,” said Breheny.
“There is a committee in place, I know that, to pick one. But we need to get it sorted.
“You just want to get a handle on it. You want to have a gym programme in place, you want something to just get a hold of because you need the motivation to get going now in these winter months.”
Another uncle of Breheny’s, former Sligo star Eamonn O’Hara, might yet be a candidate for the position.
“I don't know,” said Breheny. “He's managing Tourlestrane in a County Final this weekend and they won it last year. I'd say he's focused on that at the minute. Look, I think a lot of the lads would like if he was in the pot.
“But, again, he's just started his managerial career so he mightn't be ready himself yet to take that on.”
Regardless of who’s in charge of the team, Breheny believes winning a Connacht title in 2018 is an attainable goal for this Sligo panel.
“Every year we think we're going to be competing for one. I've played for three years now and my first game was against Roscommon when they had built themselves up to be All-Ireland contenders after getting promoted to Division One.
“We were completely confident going into that game. We fancied ourselves as being on a par with them at the time. They've driven on since, but to beat them even was such a huge thing for us and for me. Like, every year you're waiting for these games.
“We're taking it one game at a time but it is an aim to win a Connacht title every year, no doubt about it.”
Tommy Breheny
Breheny has warm memories of Sligo’s last Connacht Championship success in 2007 because his father Tommy was team manager.
“We had a great time. My father was managing and my two uncles were playing.
“I used to go everywhere with the lads. I remember being in the nightclub afterwards with the lads even though I was only 11!
“I was at every training session and every match. I didn't miss one. I loved it, it was great at the time, and it was huge for Sligo at the time.
“I think it had been 32 years at the time and we haven't replicated it since.”
