Written by Sligo senior inter-county hurler Thomas O’Callaghan

Sligo hurling is in a healthy condition at present, with many factors contributing to the rise of the historic game in the Yeats County.

Traditionally a football County, there has been a sharp rise in interest and popularity for the small ball, and this has yielded success on the field in recent times.

Before 2018, the last time Sligo lifted a national hurling trophy was when they won the National Hurling League Division 4 titles in 2009.

That success combined with a Nicky Rackard win in 2008 saw significant anticipation and excitement for what might be yet to come for the hurlers of Sligo in the years to follow, but those great expectations came to naught.

That all changed last year when a new management team consisting of Monaghan native, Daithí Hand, and former Sligo players Darragh Cox, Mark Burke and Morgan Fitzsimons took over the reins of the senior team.

With several young, talented hurlers introduced to the fold, Sligo stormed to Lory Meagher Cup success last June.

Winning the Lory Meagher gave a huge boost to the County, breaking the 9 year drought for a national title and raising the profile of the game significantly.

Like all teams that win a national trophy, the usual ritual of bringing the cup around to the schools for kids to get a glimpse of the trophy and talk to the players illustrated the interest and intrigue currently shown for the small ball in Sligo.

Another significant success for Sligo hurling was achieved 7 days after the Lory Meagher win.

The minor hurlers won their respective Celtic Challenge Cup final to add to the hurling trophy collection at national level and reassured all involved that the future of hurling in Sligo looks very promising.

2018 also saw the U-21 team, predominantly made up of numerous key players from the triumphant Lory Meagher team, make it to the All- Ireland B championship semi-final where they lost out to a strong Kerry side.

The club scene in Sligo is also developing nicely. In the 2018 Sligo senior hurling championship, there were 7 clubs competing in the competition.

To put this into perspective – there are 8 senior clubs in the Kerry Senior Hurling championship and Kerry are operating in the Joe McDonagh cup.

Previously only 5 teams make up the Senior Hurling championship but with the arrival of a youthful Easkey/Farnans outfit and re-emergence of former hurling powerhouse Tubbercurry, the 2018 Hurling championship was recognised as one of the best and most competitive the county has seen to date.

Reigning champions for the past 7 years, Calry-St. Josephs, lost their crown at the semi-final stage to a Naomh Eoin, a club that had not reached the County Final since 1997.

Eventual winners Coolera-Strandhill claimed their first ever title beating Naomh Eoin in the final. Seven teams competing in the Senior hurling championship is extremely positive for the game in Sligo, and there is hope of more teams that are currently operating at underage level hoping to make the senior grade in the years to come.

2019 has started off in the best possible fashion for the Sligo hurlers. They are currently top of Division 3B in the Allianz National Hurling League with two wins from two and will be hoping to move up to division 3A for 2020.

There are new faces in the dressing room this year from 2018 – with former London and Longford manager and Galway native, Colum O’Meara joining the management team along with Daíthí Hand and former Sligo player Mark Burke who were involved in the set up in 2018.

Not only has there been changes on the team sheet and backroom team, there has also been changes to the strength and conditioning and nutritional set up within the squad, with more emphasis put on gym programmes and nutritional information than in previous years further developing the strength and ability of the players.

Having a full-time hurling games development officer is another major contributing factor to the rise of the game in Sligo.

Galway native Benny Kenny had done tremendous work in the past few years visiting the schools and getting young kids involved at an early age which helps increase their skill and overall ability.

Darragh Cox, who helped guide Sligo to Lory Meagher victory last year as co-manager, recently succeeded Kenny as the county’s Games Development Officer.

What’s encouraging about this current squad of players is that all bar one of them are Sligo-born and play club hurling in the County.

In previous years, Sligo teams relied on permit players (players from traditionally stronger counties living and working in developing counties).

Having a squad predominantly made up of players from Sligo not only ensures the long term vision for the team but also shows that a weaker county like Sligo no longer has to rely on players from the likes of Galway, Clare, and Kilkenny in order to gain success on the pitch.

In 2008, when Sligo won the Nicky Rackard cup, there were three permit players on the starting 15 for Sligo. Five starting the 2015 Lory Meagher Cup final, and three started the 2016 Lory Meagher cup final.

For the 2018 Lory Meagher cup final, all players featured were Sligo players raised in the County and playing with Sligo clubs.

Hurling in Sligo is on an upward trend. However, there is still work to be done to help improve the game further and keep the development of the game going.

Gaelic Football, rugby, and soccer still dominate at schools level, but progress has been made with Summerhill College getting their first taste of silverware in hurling last March when they won the Connacht Post-Post primary B Championship Shield final in 2018.

With 2018 being a landmark year for Sligo hurling, hurling people in Sligo will be hoping for further success in 2019 and the years to come.