Breheny quits Sligo

October 10, 2007

Tommy Breheny
Sligo GAA has been left stunned by the decision of Tommy Breheny to step down as manager - just three months after he guided the county to a first Connacht football title in 32 years. Breheny is self-employed with a young family and it's thought he could no longer devote the time to the job. The St. Mary's clubman, whose younger brother Mark is one of Sligo's top players, spent less than two years in the post, having taken over from Dominic Corrigan - initially on a temporary basis - in difficult circumstances in March 2006. Sligo had just lost their opening four matches in Division 2B of the National League, but Breheny quickly turned their fortunes around and, after losing narrowly to Galway in the Connacht championship, they beat Down in the All-Ireland qualifiers before losing to Westmeath in controversial circumstances. This year, Sligo experienced another disappointing league, only avoiding relegation to Division 4 next year by virtue of a last day win over Wicklow, before exploding into life in the championship. They beat New York and Roscommon before edging out hot favourites Galway by a point on an unforgettable day in Hyde Park to capture the Nestor Cup for the first time since 1975. The Yeats County subsequently lost to Cork in the All-Ireland quarter-final in what has turned out to be Breheny's last game at the helm. Former All-Star Eamon O'Hara, whose playing career has been blighted by injury in recent years, is the early favourite to fill the managerial vacancy.

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