All Ireland Championships 2001

Fourteen Man Sligo beat Kildare

Croke Park - Saturday 7 July 2001

Sligo 0-16  Kildare 0-15

This was Sligo's very first championship appearance in Croke Park in 26 years.  The very fancied team from Kildare were sent to the brink once more, and could not find a way back against a very well disciplined and determined Sligo team.  Kildare can have no excuses.  Kildare were out-played, out-maneuvered, out-classed and out-muscled and by a Sligo team which hadn’t seen championship action in Croke Park since loosing to Kerry in the 1975 All Ireland Semi-Final.  Not only that, Sligo did it after being reduced to 14 men as early as the ninth minute when corner back Neil Carew was sent off for an off-the-ball challenge on Padraig Brennan - a poor refereeing decision.

And so we are well into July and there are still four teams from Connaught left in the 2001 championship.  That’s as many as are still left from any of the other three provinces, a hugely encouraging pointer for a province which was being written off in GAA circles in the not too distant past.

Very few teams had ever overcome such insurmountable odds.  Sligo came to Dublin without charismatic forward Paul Taylor.  Kildare, in contrast, had Willie McCreery and Tadgh Fennin available from the start again, and even if Ken Doyle and Niall Buckley were declared unfit to take their place, their replacements, John Finn and Ronan Quinn are Leinster medal holders.  Surely Sligo could not hope to live with such riches.

Despite their slow start, the faith in Kildare never waned.  They were four points behind after 21 minutes, still four behind after 30 and didn’t lead until the second minute of the restart.  They never truly got moving but, three points ahead with 20 minutes left, we sat and waited for the showcase finish.

But we waited in vain.  That 14-man Sligo never wilted was surprising.  That they came back to snatch it was astonishing.

"People were saying we were no hopers coming up," said their manager, Mayoman Peter Forde. "But we believed we would win.  We were unlucky to lose against Mayo and if we’d got over that we might have won Connacht title."

With the odds on a Sligo victory already long they hardly needed lengthening with Carew’s dismissal.  McCreery was bustling his way forward and even stepped over Brennan’s prostrate body which was blocking his way.  Carew walked after the intervention of one of Brian Crowe’s umpires.

How, we wondered, could it ever be Sligo’s day?  "We lost our man very soon in the game," said Forde.  "It was a long time to play with 14 men.  We had to make a lot of blood substitutions.  Everything that could go wrong did go wrong but we still won the game."

Forde regrouped his side well after the sending off.  He brought on Padraig Doohan to shore up his defence and by withdrawing a forward, Dessie Sloyane and Gerry McGowan breezed into the open spaces.

Sloyane twisted and tormented Kenny Duane for the guts of 70 minutes, scoring eight points in all and including frees from left and right in his total.  But no one epitomised Sligo’s will to win more than Eamonn O’Hara. Sligo’s centre-forward ran tirelessly at the heart of the Kildare defence, scoring one fine point in the first half and setting up several more.

Kildare had their runners too but McCreery, Dermot Earley and John Doyle rarely ran with as much purpose as O’Hara.

It was a game where both teams had patches of dominance.  After the sending off, Martin Lynch tagged on Kildare’s third point to sneak them ahead but Sligo responded admirably with the next three.

Sligo would have to build a significant lead to enhance their slim hopes of victory.  John McPartland put them four ahead after 20 minutes but walked away shaking his head.  No one needed to tell him that a goal was there for the taking.

Inevitably Kildare awoke from their slumber, Brennan blazed over when an even easier goal chance presented itself but his team were roused.  As Sloyane kept chipping away with frees, Kildare struck three unanswered points before the break and trailed by just one.

Points by Brennan and Earley had then ahead within two minutes of the restart.  Kildare were coasting.  Or so we thought.

After six minutes of the half Eamon O’Hara set up a score for Sean Davey.  Perhaps, we thought, Sligo would keep Kildare’s winning margin respectable. But they would do much more.  When Kildare hit them with three consecutive points, one a classic field and shoot by Lynch, the others long-range frees from Brennan, Sligo treated it as a mere inconvenience.  In a 13-minute spell they recorded an unanswered six points but it was the manner of them that caught the attention.

After 16 minutes Gerry McGowan struck on the run from the sideline.  Moments later Dara McGarty finished off a fine move after coming on as substitute.  Sligo were truly inspired.

Sloyane then struck a huge point from more than 40 yards.  Suddenly Sligo were rampant.  When that spell finished, Sligo had turned a three-point deficit into a three-point lead.  Again we knew Kildare would come back but they were running out of time.  John Doyle and Eddie McCormack cut the deficit to one as the game entered injury time and Kildare spent the three minutes of added time deep in the Sligo half looking for the saving score.  But Sligo held out valiantly and with discipline.  This young Sligo team has great potential and unlimited talent and determination.  All they need to do to conquer more is just to believe in themselves and keep very fit.

Peter Forde, Sligo's Manager displayed his Managerial and tactical abilities.  He will certainly be one of Ireland's leading Gaelic Football Managers of the future.

"What a day for the west," an ecstatic supporter shouted at the sound of the final whistle. That was being kind to Galway.  This day belonged to Sligo.  There will be broad smiles in Sligo for many a day to come.

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Sligo/Sligeach:
James Curran - Coolera/Strandhill;
Philip Gallagher - Drumcliffe/Rosses Point;
(Nigel Clancy - Na Fianna, Dublin 40min);
Mark Cosgrove - Eastern Harps;
Neil Carew - Coolera/Strandhill;
David Durkin - Tourlestrane;
Michael Langan - Castleconnor;
Patrick Naughton - Castleconnor;
Paul Durcan - Curry;
(Dara McGarty - St. John's 53min [0-1]);
Kieran Quinn - Coolera/Strandhill;
Sean Davey - Curry (0-2),
Eamonn O’Hara - Tourlestrane (0-1);
Padraig Doohan - Bunninadden(0-1);
Dessie Sloyane - Easkey (0-8, 0-6 frees),
John McPartland - Coolera/Strandhill(0-1);
Gerry McGowan - Tourlestrane (0-2, 0-1 free);
(Karol O’Neill Coolera/Strandhill 68min)

Officials:
Peter Forde (Manager)
Mattie Hoey
T. J. Kilgallon
Shane Tully

Kildare/Cill Dara:
C Byrne; B Lacey; C Davey; K Duane; J Finn (0-1) (D Hughes 66min); R Quinn; A Rainbow (0-1); R Sweeney (G Ware 58min); D Earley (0-1); E McCormack (0-2); J Doyle (0-1 frees); W McCreery (K O’Dwyer 57min); P Brennan (0-7, 0-4 frees); M Lynch (0-2); T Fennin

Referee: B Crowe (Cavan)

Sligo Team Croke Park 7 July 2001

The Sligo team that defeated Kildare in the All-Ireland qualifier at Croke Park on Saturday 7 July 2001.
Back row (l-r) John McPartland, Michael Langan, James Curran, Paul Durcan, Dara McGarty, Mark Cosgrove, Dessie Sloyane, David Durkin, Ciaran Quinn. Front row, Neil Carew, Gerry McGowan, Patrick Naughton, Eamon O'Hara, Sean Davey and Philip Gallagher.

Eamonn O'Hara in action

Sligo Fans
Happy Sligo fans enjoying the atmosphere at Croke Park


 Player Jubilation

Ecstatic Fans

More Ecstatic Fans

John McPartland

Mid-Field Action

Injured Paul Taylor & Eamonn O'Hara


Sligo County Board vice-chairman, Andrew Hannon and Chairman Joe Queenan were among the happy army of Sligo supporters at the end of Saturday's game

Front Row (Left>Right) Padraig Doohan, Neil Carew, Eamonn O'Hara, Paul Taylor (Capt.), Brendan Philips, Philip Gallagher, Gerry McGowan.

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Croke Park, July 7th, 2001. The date is likely to be indelibly etched in GAA folklore after a magnificent, mesmeric performance by a Sligo team which looked adversity straight in the eye, and dismissed it with utter contempt in a game which will surely rank as one of the greatest of this or any other All-Ireland campaign.

In a contest which crackled with gut-wrenching tension and sumptuous drama, Sligo produced a display of such awesome passion and skill that the much vaunted Kildare team, last year's Leinster champions and considered to be genuine contenders for further glory this season, were steamrolled into submission.

From a set of grim circumstances which might well have been used to explain another 'gallant defeat', Sligo fashioned an incredible victory, matching raw courage with massive commitment, liberally laced with intelligent and often breath-taking football.

To a man, the Sligo team played magnificently. Seldom has the expression 'out of their skins' been more appropriate. They chased and harried, stretched every sinew, expended every last ounce of energy, displayed such a ferocious will-to-win, and decorated it all with a brand of football that had fans and critics alike drooling with admiration.

Without the injured Paul Taylor, a loss which would be substantial to any team in the country, and then forced to play for over an hour with fourteen men after the 8th minute dismissal of corner-back, Neil Carew, Sligo were in no mood to wallow in futile self-pity.

Instead, they responded to the difficulties with an almost manic vigour, contesting every ball as if their very lives depended on it, determined to show their own loyal fans and the nationwide television audience that Sligo football now demands to be taken seriously.

Not even when Kildare moved into a three points lead fourteen minutes into the second half did Sligo panic. At that stage, having invested so much sheer hard work, Sligo's minds and limbs were beginning to tire, and Kildare looked set to move into overdrive.

But shrewd positional and personnel changes by Peter Ford and his mentors invigorated the team and inspirational points from Dara McGarty and Dessie Sloyane injected a fresh and ultimately unstoppable impetus. Gracing the great old stadium on their first visit there in 26 years, Sligo were in no way overawed by the occasion. Indeed, they were clearly inspired by the grand setting, with over 30,000 spectators treated to a spectacle they are unlikely to forget.

Heroes in black shirts abounded. From goalkeeper, James Curran, who distinguished himself with two brilliant first half saves at crucial stages of the match, right through to corner-forward, Gerry McGowan, and the substitutes, Nigel Clancy and Padraig Doohan, every player contributed extravagantly to a famous victory.

There were countless examples of heroic deeds Patrick Naughton starting at left wing back but destined to play in all three full back line positions, and outstanding in all of them; Mark Cosgrave, worryingly roasted early on by Martin Lynch but recovering to such an extent in a Rambo-like second half display that he emerged as a star performer; Paul Durcan, covering every blade of grass for the hour he was on the pitch and then orchestrating the morale-boosting encouragement from the side-line; Sean Davey, in arguably his best ever performance in a Sligo shirt, constantly menacing the over-worked Kildare defence; Dara McGarty, unfortunate to be withdrawn in the re-shuffle necessitated by Carew's sending off after getting the nod to replace Taylor, and then finding himself back in the action after an hour and celebrating with a beautifully taken point with his first kick of the match; Dessie Sloyane's impeccable free-taking and a couple of text book scores from play; John McPartland's awesome work-rate; Gerry McGowan's elaborate array of skill; and Eamon O'Hara's massive contribution, laced with unselfish work, penetrating runs into enemy territory, astute distribution and tigerish defending when it was required.

Add in Clancy's masterful defending and rousing forward raids, Michael Langan's tenacity, David Durkin's typical industry, Kieran Quinn's exuberance and Philip Gallagher's clever covering before injury forced his retirement, and you have a team performance of quite staggering proportions.

The sides were level at two points each when the game took its first dramatic twist. O'Hara had put Sligo ahead with a fisted effort in the 3rd minute, after great work by McPartland and Sloyane had created the chance. Two pointed frees by Padraig Brennan gave Kildare the lead and then a neat left footed point by Davey restored equality.

Then, away from the action, Kildare's Brennan lay sprawled on the turf and consultations between the referee and his linesman and umpire delivered a guilty verdict for Carew, who was adamantly protesting his innocence as he trudged disconsolately from the pitch.

Almost immediately, Lynch turned Cosgrave to fire over Kildare's third point, as Sligo re-grouped with the introduction of Padraig Doohan, who was to emerge as a hugely influential figure.

McGowan's 12th minute free leveled matters, and as Sligo grew in confidence, they sent over four unanswered points between the 13th and 22nd minutes, three of them from the trusted boot of Sloyane and another from McPartland who tore though the defence on to O'Hara's clever pass.

Kildare missed a clear chance of a goal in the 25th minute when Lynch's industry allied to a rare moment of hesitancy in the Sligo back line gave Brennan a clear sight of goal from close range, but he ballooned the shot high over the bar.

By the 30th minute, thanks to more accurate free-taking from Sloyane, Sligo were leading by 0-9 to 0-5, but Kildare began to look threatening for the first time in the game as the first half reached a conclusion.

Unanswered points by Eddie McCormack, John Finn and Anthony Rainbow had cut the deficit to the minimum at the half-way stage, and Sligo were also thankful for the solid net-minding of Curran, who produced two wonderful saves to twice deny Tadgh Finnin.

When Brennan leveled matters within thirty seconds of the restart and Dermot Earley raced past a tiring Durcan to send over the lead point two minutes later, the signs began to look ominous for Sligo.

Although a typically penetrating run by O'Hara created an equaliser for Davey in the 41st th minute, Kildare clearly had the scent of victory and a point from Lynch and two more from Brennan left the Leinster side 0-13 to 0-10 in front by the 50th minute.

Sligo, tired by clearly unbroken, needed a slice of inspiration – and they got it in perfect fashion from Nigel Clancy, who tore up field like an express train, exchanged passes three times, and finally fed McGowan, who found the target despite being surrounded by a posse of Kildare defenders.

A minute later, McGarty captured the mood perfectly. Less than a minute after his re-introduction for Durcan, he picked up a pass from O'Hara, advanced a couple of yards and fired over a superb score with all the assurance of a seasoned veteran.

Suddenly, Sligo were alive again, and their new lease of life was perfectly epitomised by the equalising point from Sloyane, curled over with exquisite precision from about 30 yards range.

With tension mounting, and weary limbs being massaged by marvelous backing from the stands and terraces, Sligo somehow found an extra gear. O'Hara and Davey had by now established a telepathic understanding, and when they combined to win another free, Sloyane duly obliged to edge them a point clear with eleven minutes left.

Yet another Sloyane free in the 60th minute and a great point from Doohan after an energetic run by McPartland created the opening, stretched the lead to three points, and the dream began to take the shape of reality.

In a nail-biting finish, Kildare surged forward in a late attempt to rescue the match. John Doyle's close-in free narrowed the gap to two points just as a stadium announcer relayed the news that there would be three minutes extra time. In the event, there were nearly five agonising minutes as Sligo defended with guts and guile, swarming around any Kildare player in possession. Two minutes into injury time, Eddie McCormack's second point reduced the margin to the minimum, resulting in frayed nerves, missed heartbeats and chewed finger nails among the large Sligo contingent.

But there was to be no denying Sligo on this memorable occasion, and the final whistle was greeted with unbridled scenes of joyous emotion, as players, mentors and fans lapped up one of the greatest occasions in the county's football history.

There has not been a better performance at Croke Park all season, and regardless of what fate has in store for this marvelous team, they can feel justly proud of this great day, happy in the knowledge that they have written an unforgettable chapter which is likely to be talked about for several years to come.

Scorers: Sligo: D. Sloyane 0-8 (0-6 frees), S. Davey 0-2, G. McGowan 0-2 (0-1 frees), E. O'Hara, J. McPartland, D. McGarty and P. Doohan 0-1 each. Kildare: P. Brennan 0-7 (0-4 frees), E. McCormack and M. Lynch 0-2 each, A. Rainbow, D. Earley and J. Finn 0-1 each, J. Doyle 0-1 free.

SLIGO: J. Curran; P. Gallagher, M. Cosgrove, N. Carew; D. Durkin, M. Langan, P. Naughton; P. Durcan, K. Quinn; S. Davey, E. O'Hara, D. McGarty; D. Sloyane, J. McPartland, G. McGowan. Subs.: P. Doohan for McGarty (10 mins.), N. Clancy for Gallagher (40 mins), D. McGarty for Durcan (52 mins.), K. O'Neill for McGowan (69 mins.), N. McGuire for Cosgrove (72 mins.).

KILDARE: C. Byrne; B. Lacey, C. Davey, K. Duane; J. Finn, R. Quinn, A. Rainbow; W. McCreery, R. Sweeney; E. McCormick, J. Doyle, D. Earley; P. Brennan, M. Lynch, T. Fennin. Subs.: K. O'Dwyer for McCreery (57 mins), G. Ware for Sweeney (58 mins.), D. Hughes for Finn (66 mins.).

Ref.: B. Crowe (Cavan).

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Proud day, heroic achievement says County Board Chairman

By Michael Moran

SLIGO’S dramatic victory has been described as “one of the greatest days in the history of football in the county” by the Chairman of the County Board, Joe Queenan.

And he has thrown down the gauntlet to other counties who may have their sights set on the Sam Maguire Cup.

“We fear no one. We showed against Kildare just what we are capable of and irrespective of what next weekend’s draw holds in store for us, we are looking forward to the challenge and it is all systems go for Sligo,” said Mr. Queenan.

The County Board Chairman added that Saturday was a proud day for all Sligo people and a magnificent occasion on which the county senior panel had battled against all the odds to produce a superb victory.

“We were playing in Croke Park for the first time in twenty-six years against a team who were more or less on what is a home ground for them. It was an heroic achievement, not alone for the fourteen players who gave it their all, but all twenty players involved.

“I was delighted at County Board Chairman to be present with the thousands of other Sligo supporters to witness this milestone in Sligo football,” said Mr. Queenan.

He was quick to praise the fans who made the journey to G.A.A. headquarters to cheer on the ‘black and white.’

“I want to pay tribute to all those who gave the team such tremendous backing. It was great to see the Sligo colours flying proudly in Croke Park,” he said.

He was also fulsome in his praise of the Friends of Sligo Football in Dublin, who organised accommodation and transport for the panel for the big match. He also acknowledged the continued input of the sponsors, Clifford Electrical.

“This was a fantastic day for everyone involved. A lot of people didn’t give us a chance against Kildare, but we showed great character and commitment. Our work rate was second to none and we never gave up,” added the Chairman.

“No one could question our fitness and it showed that the training regime which these amateur sportsmen have gone through had paid rich dividends,” he said.

Mr. Queenan stated that great credit was also due to Peter Ford and his backroom team, who had worked so hard in preparing the side, not alone for Saturday’s game, but for their national league and championship campaigns.

“At long last we have received the sort of reward our efforts have deserved. We beat a Kildare team regarded as one of the top five in the country by many observers and who won the Leinster championship last year.

“I was, however, a little concerned when Niall Carew was sent-off and when Kildare went three points up in the second-half. Yet, we kicked some excellent points, dug deep and came away with a fully deserved victory at the end,” Mr. Queenan maintained.

“This makes up for a lot of the dark days we have had to endure in the past. We were all thrilled with the outcome and now we simply can’t wait to get back into the action once again,” he added.

The County Board Chairman said the prospect of meeting some of the other ‘giants’ in the next series, didn’t present any fears.

“These Sligo players served notice of what they can do. They battled for everything they got against Kildare and if we show the same spirit, work rate, and wholehearted endeavour we will do well,” he commented.

Sligo will go into Sunday’s draw in the winners section and will be pitted against one of the four losing provincial finalists. This group already includes Cavan and Mayo and they will be joined by either Meath or Dublin and Cork or Kerry.

Fantastic support was as good as an extra man - Langan

By Jim Gray

Centre-back, Michael Langan, believes the Sligo supporters were as good as an extra man as Kildare came surging forward in search of a late reprieve.

“The last ten minutes were very tough, because we were very tired and the game was being played at such a fast pace.

“But the noise from the stands was unbelievable, and the fantastic support really gave us a lift. Even though we were fully focused, we could still hear the supporters getting behind us, and it was a fantastic boost”, he said.

The Castleconnor man, who was one of Sligo’s star performers, revealed that none of the players ever felt they were in danger of losing, even when Kildare streaked into a three points lead in the second half.

“It’s hard to explain, but we just had this feeling that we were not going to be beaten. We lost Neil Carew, we lost Philip Gallagher, and we were three points down, but at no stage did any one us think we were beaten”, he said.

He also identified the strength in depth in the Sligo panel as a major factor.

“We’ve used 25 players in our three championship games — that’s a huge panel and every one has a contribution to make. Look at the subs last Saturday, the likes of Nigel Clancy and Padraig Doohan played brilliantly. It proves that we now have a very strong panel, which is very important”.

Not surprisingly, Langan is convinced the success story still has some way to run.

“Saturday’s game is history now. It was a fantastic win, but it won’t mean very much if we lose the next day. As far as we’re concerned, the challenge now is to see how much further we can go.

“There is no such thing as an easy game, but we have no reason to fear anybody. If we can keep the momentum going, we will be a match for anybody”, he added.
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The men from the Press hail our success


Like everyone else in Croke Park, the occupants of the Press Box were left drooling by Sligo’s whirlwind performance.

Ian O’Riordan, Irish Times: “Down a man after just nine minutes, Peter Ford asked them to jump and they said how high. Through faultless construction and burning desire, they tore through Kildare in a way few teams have even tried. Only a point at the finish but whether they were three points up or three points down they never looked like losers”.

Eugene McGee, Irish Independent: “The two Mayomen who plotted this Sligo victory, Peter Ford and T. J. Kilgallon, did a truly astonishing job. To get a team to play such composed football missing a man for almost the entire game against one of the most high-profile teams of recent years — and their equally famous manager — was a fantastic achievement”.

Vincent Hogan, Irish Independent: “So Sligo came to town since the first time since virtual Stone Age (well Arthur Ashe was winning Wimbledon last time they had business at headquarters) and out-stretched a Kildare team that knows Croke Park better than Istabraq knows the Cheltenham climb”

Philip Lanigan, Sunday Tribune: “Reduced to 14 men from as early as the 8th minute, Sligo showed incredible reserves of character and endurance to clinch a place in round four. Ten minutes after the end, the players combined a light warm-down with a victory jig. And who could blame them?”

Dermot Crowe, Sunday Independent: “If this didn’t send a shiver down the spine, then nothing would. An enthralling match before a crowd of 36,391 at Croke Park saw rank outsiders, Sligo — one man down for over an hour — pull off a remarkable victory.

“Odds of 5/2 on a Sligo win were available up to the throw-in, with Kildare quoted at 4/11, while a phone call to a prominent bookmaker yesterday seeking the odds on Sligo prevailing were met with the words “a miracle”.

Eamon Sweeney, Irish Examiner: “What was most praiseworthy about Sligo’s victory was that it was achieved with great style, there was no pulling and dragging in defence and their pacey forwards gave the Kildare defenders one of its most awkward afternoons ever.

“The new Championship system had just received perfect justification of its existence. As for Sligo, well they’d broken free from the shackles of history”.

Frank Roche, Evening Herald: "Saturday's spectacular triumph stands comparison with Offaly's stunning Leinster final success of '97. Then, as now, the so-called also rans took full advantage of vaunted opposition who couldn't survive the absence of star players".

Peter Sweeney, The Star: "Sligo finally banished the demons of so many late collapses and confounded the critics who said they hadn't the big game temperament. Right from the start the Yeat's County men showed that they meant business – they played intelligent, hard-working football that their opponents had no answer for".

News: Sunday 15 July 2001

Sligo Draw Dublin in Next Round
WITHIN a few hours of losing the Leinster final yesterday, Dublin were handed an intriguing tie against a rapidly improving Sligo team in the fourth round of the Bank of Ireland football championship qualifiers next weekend.

It will be the first ever senior championship meeting between the sides and while Dublin will fancy their chances of re-floating their All-Ireland ambitions, Sligo's win over Kildare in the previous round has sent their confidence levels soaring.

Mayo v Westmeath will also be the first ever championship clash between the counties while Galway and Cork will meet for the first time since 1987 when Cork won the All-Ireland semi-final in a replay. Cavan and Derry will be meeting for the fourth time in three years, having met three times in Ulster. Derry won two while the third was drawn.

The neutral venues for all four games will be announced today as will the split between Saturday and Sunday. One of the games will be shown 'live' on RTE on Saturday evening but it's possible that the other three will be played on Sunday. The Games Administration Committee will meet this morning to finalise all the details. The winners of next weekend's game will play provincial champions, Kerry, Roscommon, Armagh and Meath in the All-Ireland quarter finals in the first weekend of August.

Meanwhile, Limerick and Wexford will face each other for the first time since 1996 in the All-Ireland hurling quarter finals on July 29th while Galway and Derry will meet in the other game.

All ends of the country will feel that the draw has given them something to savour this coming weekend.

Sligo supporters will have no fears, having already taken the Dublin scalp in the league.

Up North, fans will feel there were hot balls in the draw as Cavan drew Derry in what could be billed as an alternative Ulster Final.