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Sligo GAA thread

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Just four days until some teams play in knockout stages and still no venues set, with exception of one Intermediate game but that may be due to who is playing in it more than anything. Until yesterday afternoon they didn't know what day or time. This isn't good enough. Other counties with much larger fixture calendars can have things in order. Sligoman1234 (Sligo) - Posts: 725 - 08/09/2026 10:05:50 2693119 Link
Replying To Sligoman1234: "Just four days until some teams play in knockout stages and still no venues set, with exception of one Intermediate game but that may be due to who is playing in it more than anything. Until yesterday afternoon they didn't know what day or time. This isn't good enough. Other counties with much larger fixture calendars can have things in order." PREDICTIONS SENIOR MARYS AND TOUR INTER CASTLECONNOR + BALLYMOTE JUNIOR JOHNS AND MICHAELS RELEGATION INTER PATS + GEEVAGH sligoglory (Sligo) - Posts: 3 - 08/09/2026 11:52:37 2693136 Link
Replying To Sligoman1234: "Just four days until some teams play in knockout stages and still no venues set, with exception of one Intermediate game but that may be due to who is playing in it more than anything. Until yesterday afternoon they didn't know what day or time. This isn't good enough. Other counties with much larger fixture calendars can have things in order." Until the clubs really make a stand and really make it clear that its unacceptable what's going on nothing will change, Shamrock gael's and Tourlestrane being brought to Enniscrone for Junior A. Games on at 5pm on a Sunday evening, no consideration for lads living outside the county or back at college. westvoice (Sligo) - Posts: 110 - 08/09/2026 13:09:45 2693145 Link
Has somebody lost the keys to the Markievicz Park gate? Solution to the CCC's problems staring them in the face. I suppose they want to protect a pitch that hasn't had a game on it in months at the expense of club pitches that they will willingly flog to death. The lack of notice for fixtures and inexplicable moving of any game, but especially championship knockout games, from one weekend to the next at 4-5 days notice is not good enough. Bring in Home and Away games. Open up Markievicz Park. Map out the Championship fixtues in advance and give the players, coaching teams and supporters something so they can plan their lives. shorona (Sligo) - Posts: 131 - 08/09/2026 14:43:29 2693164 Link
Unfortunately despite all the hard work, preparation and organisation put in by teams over the course of a year, it can be completely undone at the whim of an utterly not fit for purpose CCC. The lack of respect shown to clubs and players is astonishing. Fixtures that have been on website and in the master calendar as being down for a particular weekend being changed at 4/5 days notice, completely disregarding any commitments that players may have outside of football. I'm sure all of the affected teams have had training schedules and personnel choices that have been influenced by proposed dates for relegation games, semi finals or quarter finals. A lot has been said about the strides made last year and credit where it's due, the fact it wasn't a particular taking point means it was a job well done. Unfortunately, while fixing games on a Monday/Tuesday for the following weekend and not paying any heed to weekends off in the master calendar during the league did raise some concerns, it probably should have been a sign of the impending disaster. Venues, dates and times should be left to the competing teams to organise at this point. While there's no doubt it's a logistically challenging task, there are innumerable easy options staring the county board in the face which make life easier on the lowly club player. If only that was the priority. ABigTree (Sligo) - Posts: 10 - 08/09/2026 14:48:42 2693165 Link
Replying To shorona: "Has somebody lost the keys to the Markievicz Park gate? Solution to the CCC's problems staring them in the face. I suppose they want to protect a pitch that hasn't had a game on it in months at the expense of club pitches that they will willingly flog to death. The lack of notice for fixtures and inexplicable moving of any game, but especially championship knockout games, from one weekend to the next at 4-5 days notice is not good enough. Bring in Home and Away games. Open up Markievicz Park. Map out the Championship fixtues in advance and give the players, coaching teams and supporters something so they can plan their lives." I dont think the park is the answer, Games with less than a hundred at them and no atmosphere are no good, There's plenty of pitches with great surfaces and lights/stands that theres no need for Markievicz and 100% no need for games in scarden either. Fixtures 100% should have been out Sunday night. westvoice (Sligo) - Posts: 110 - 08/09/2026 15:06:51 2693167 Link
Replying To shorona: "Has somebody lost the keys to the Markievicz Park gate? Solution to the CCC's problems staring them in the face. I suppose they want to protect a pitch that hasn't had a game on it in months at the expense of club pitches that they will willingly flog to death. The lack of notice for fixtures and inexplicable moving of any game, but especially championship knockout games, from one weekend to the next at 4-5 days notice is not good enough. Bring in Home and Away games. Open up Markievicz Park. Map out the Championship fixtues in advance and give the players, coaching teams and supporters something so they can plan their lives." The QF should be double headers in M Park as well as the Semifinals. It was in good shape a few months ago so i cant see why its not been used. As regards the fixtures, the only thing harder to predict than a venue is trying to get a fixture at any time changed including underage. MrUnderhill (Sligo) - Posts: 140 - 08/09/2026 16:16:30 2693173 Link
Replying To ABigTree: "Unfortunately despite all the hard work, preparation and organisation put in by teams over the course of a year, it can be completely undone at the whim of an utterly not fit for purpose CCC. The lack of respect shown to clubs and players is astonishing. Fixtures that have been on website and in the master calendar as being down for a particular weekend being changed at 4/5 days notice, completely disregarding any commitments that players may have outside of football. I'm sure all of the affected teams have had training schedules and personnel choices that have been influenced by proposed dates for relegation games, semi finals or quarter finals. A lot has been said about the strides made last year and credit where it's due, the fact it wasn't a particular taking point means it was a job well done. Unfortunately, while fixing games on a Monday/Tuesday for the following weekend and not paying any heed to weekends off in the master calendar during the league did raise some concerns, it probably should have been a sign of the impending disaster. Venues, dates and times should be left to the competing teams to organise at this point. While there's no doubt it's a logistically challenging task, there are innumerable easy options staring the county board in the face which make life easier on the lowly club player. If only that was the priority." I can understand not having all the venues lined up as you probably have to go and get consent of the clubs before publishing, but the least teams could have had on Sunday is knowing the day and time while the venues were being sorted. We now have the issue of senior relegation being played on a different weekend from what was published in the master calendar. What is the point of such a calendar if its not going to be adhered to? I'm sure if a club looked to move a game earlier in the year in the league they'd be told it had to adhere to what was set out at beginning of the year. Unfortunately in Sligo this is all far too common year after year, but its hardly a surprise as those around the table rarely changes. These aren't faceless people either. Clubs while angry now will probably have simmered down by time they can raise it at convention and it'll be the same carry on next year again. I expected better tbh after the change in county leadership last year but matters on the field at intercounty level and organisation of club championships have left me wondering. Sligoman1234 (Sligo) - Posts: 725 - 08/09/2026 17:30:30 2693186 Link
Replying To shorona: "Has somebody lost the keys to the Markievicz Park gate? Solution to the CCC's problems staring them in the face. I suppose they want to protect a pitch that hasn't had a game on it in months at the expense of club pitches that they will willingly flog to death. The lack of notice for fixtures and inexplicable moving of any game, but especially championship knockout games, from one weekend to the next at 4-5 days notice is not good enough. Bring in Home and Away games. Open up Markievicz Park. Map out the Championship fixtues in advance and give the players, coaching teams and supporters something so they can plan their lives." I think Markievicz park was discussed at players/county board fixture forum at the end of last year. I think most were happy with the semi finals in the likes of Kent park last year bit more of an atmosphere rather than an empty Markievicz. So I think you're giving out about something that was discussed at a meeting with players/coaches and CCC in their defence on that matter. BreakingBall123 (Sligo) - Posts: 177 - 09/09/2026 10:12:19 2693219 Link
Replying To BreakingBall123: "I think Markievicz park was discussed at players/county board fixture forum at the end of last year. I think most were happy with the semi finals in the likes of Kent park last year bit more of an atmosphere rather than an empty Markievicz. So I think you're giving out about something that was discussed at a meeting with players/coaches and CCC in their defence on that matter." Would agree that there would be no atmosphere in the park but it makes sense to have double headers for the quarter finals on the Sunday at least for for the senior. Do not think it is a financial argument to make more money as most people have the weekend pass or season pass. Would also agree with the comments on CCC, why can they not just stick with the masters calendar that was agreed with clubs at the start of the year. Fair enough if there was the odd mistake made but the amount of times people are complaining about the CCC on this forum is very high and time for a change of personnel. I have spoken to friends in other counties and some have a lot more clubs than Sligo. General response is that no issues as players know the weekends games are scheduled and they can look for annual leave , swap shifts or not book holidays/family events on these dates. How long would our CCC survive in Mayo or Roscommon - not very long at all. More importantly, back to the football and I predict wins for: Ballymote Castleconnor Tourlestrane Coolera Geevagh St Pats RealSouthSligo (Sligo) - Posts: 156 - 09/09/2026 12:18:38 2693257 Link
Replying To BreakingBall123: "I think Markievicz park was discussed at players/county board fixture forum at the end of last year. I think most were happy with the semi finals in the likes of Kent park last year bit more of an atmosphere rather than an empty Markievicz. So I think you're giving out about something that was discussed at a meeting with players/coaches and CCC in their defence on that matter." The CCC have gone back to the clubs to say that the games have been moved from one weekend to the next because they have no suitable venues to play the games. Hence the suggestion to use Markievicz Park. shorona (Sligo) - Posts: 131 - 09/09/2026 13:33:33 2693274 Link