On The Edge Sports Podcast
A weekly Sports podcast focusing more on opinion and chat than research and stats.
On The Edge Sports Podcast
2026 Sligo Club Football Championship Preview
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Darren & Brendan Preview this years Sligo Homeland & Connacht Gold Senior Club Football Championship!
As well as our regular weekly On the Edge Episodes, we've decided to keep a separate POD for the Sligo Championship.
Games start this weekend and can be streamed via www.sligogaa.ie or will be live on Ocean FM. This Podcast is not affiliated to either.
Live Stream Link for Games : https://sligogaatv.ie/2026-games/
Club Games Tickets: https://www.universe.com/users/sligo-gaa-Y036DB
Season Pass is €100 (This Ticket allows the holder admission to all Homeland & Connacht Gold Senior & Intermediate Football Championships, Sligo Park Hotel Junior A/B/C Football Championship matches for the 2026 Season. Also valid for the knockout stages of the Davis's & Yeats Tavern Senior Hurling Championship 2026. )
Hello and welcome to another episode of On the Edge Sports Podcast. In this miniseries, we are going to be featuring the Sligo Senior Football Club Championship. Again, I've I'm not an expert in this field myself, but we love a GEA, but I did say I know an expert in this local club scene, so we have Darren back with us again. So, Darren, this looks like it could be one of the most open championships in years.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, look at it's um open and round the championship this weekend. Uh who's gonna come out on top, who's gonna be there towards the latter stage of the players back that will maybe missing in the league? You know, you you you're gonna have guys coming back from county football. You have probably clubs will be missing guys, younger guys that are probably in America for a few weeks during the summer. So look at the open rounds of the championship are always kind of teams are finding their feet. So I'll be interested now to see what happens this weekend, yeah.
SPEAKER_00And I've I've heard there's a few managers from one club. Uh now, like there's a is there, am I right in saying there's an Eastern Harps man over Shamrock Ailes and there's a Caliera Man over Drum Cliff Ross's. Correct, yeah, yeah. So there's a lot of little side stories and where that's how they'll know the game of chess. Like, we'll just quickly go through the groups. Group one, you have Shamrock Ales, St. Mary's, Tourlestrand, Tubbercurry, and Eastern Harps. Like, that looks like a ding-dong group, and then you think that's bad enough. It's the group two is Caliristrand Hale, Drumcliff Ross's Point, St. Meloche Gales, Kalani Mulderina, and Easky. So we'll have a quick run through each team. Give us your insight, what you think, okay? So Shamrock Ales, defending champions, is the ingredients there to go two in a row?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, look at uh going back to back at any level. You see what happened with Kerry last Sunday. It's harder than you think possible. Like uh, but look at they're going to be nailing their colours to the mast earlier on. Um, they have the same management team in place. They have some serious players there. They've you know they had plenty of players involved with Sligo Senior setup this year. So again, look at the got through, they were knocking at the door for a good few years there, they didn't get across the line. They had won a Division I league title a couple of years ago, and then last year they got across the line and they won their senior championship. So look at they'll be looking to go back to back. Can they do it? Again, time will tell.
SPEAKER_00Like, you know, and and Kalera Strandhill, who obviously nearly went for the three in a row last year. Shamrock Gales, the aforementioned Shamrack Ailes, pipped him to the post after uh replay. Yeah, so Kalera they missed a three in a row, but uh do you think they'll just be as strong as they were a couple of years ago again?
SPEAKER_01Kalera are always strong. Yeah, um championship level, all was always always strong. They have look at they have some serious players, we don't need to say them, you know, everybody will know who they are. Like, you know, their county boys are there and they're coming back into them. They have younger guys there that were in on the county team this year, and then again, look at they're going to be kicking themselves if they didn't win it last year. They were, you know, kicking the ball away, you know, penalty save, stuff like this, you know. So they'll be looking to get their title back. Um, whether they can do it or not, you know, that's yeah.
SPEAKER_00Well, they're they'll avoid Shamrock Hales, anyways, in the group stage. So they will everyone might be counting down. So but as you said, there's players back in now that maybe weren't there, maybe at the beginning of the championship, there might be a few lads still abroad, you know. So like we still mightn't get the full picture for a couple of weeks. No, definitely not, no. And uh, well, you you could be the inside spy now in the Marys camp. You're living in within the parish confines uh again. They're after winning Division I league title, yeah. Uh, you know, and they're semi-finalist last year. So no more.
SPEAKER_01Look at the no more than anything else, the Mary's are probably flattering to deceive a small little bit. They have an abundance of talent up there. Um, it's probably now or never for some of their elder statesmen.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, they love to hear you say that.
SPEAKER_01Um you know, it's it's it's but look at the one the Division I title, league title. Um whether that's going to be the little kick that they need to get across the line in championship. Again, look at we'll see what'll happen in a couple of months' time. But yeah, look at that, they probably needed to win that, to actually believe in themselves that they actually could win a game on merit a tough game because the last few years they just haven't been getting across the line for whatever reason, like you know. So we'll see what'll happen with them.
SPEAKER_00And another one of last year's semi-finalists uh drum Cliff Ross's point. And this is the one of the ones we we were saying earlier on, has uh a funny story behind it.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, so Adrian McParton from Colera Strand Hill is managing them this year for the first time. He does, he knows he has all the inside out. Yeah, they do, of course. But look at Fergal Friardi managed them for years there, and they were getting to the latter stage of the championship, didn't get across the line, got bet last year by Kulera Strand Hill in the semi-final in a game that they could have won. Very easily could have won. They left a lot of goal chances behind them. Again, look at they have an abundance of talent, they have some great young footballers coming through, and obviously, you know, some county boys there as well. That's you know, they have a nice mix, and whether either can get the best out of them again. Look at we'll see what'll happen over the next couple of weeks. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Uh Eastern Harps, again, you know, only back in senior a couple of years, um, they were in the Division I final and they were well up in it, but yeah, you know, unfortunately didn't go their way. But maybe is the sign of the forum to come?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, well, Harps, Eastern Harps probably gave a real rattle to Division I this year. Uh Keith Carate, new manager in this year, Ross Dunovan was the manager for a few years. Um, Keith obviously really targeted the league because he wanted to get these young fellas, lots of young fellas in Eastern Harps, give them a foothold, show them they can compete with the bigger boys or the so-called bigger boys in Sligo GA because they're back up fighting at Division I. They got to the league final, they're unlucky not to win the league final. Again, they have a couple of younger fellas there, lots of fellas involved with Sligo 1 or 20s. Um, how they're gonna fare in championship, look at again, it's it's it's gonna be one of these things to see how they get across the line. They're openers against Shamrack Gales on Saturday evening. They bet them in the league by a point. Uh, was that a marker or was that a false story?
SPEAKER_00Oh, yeah, it's a bit like this race for Sam McGuire. We're gonna start answering all these questions over the coming weeks, you know. Uh and uh obviously a new team into the senior is Kalani Mulnobrino who won an intermediate last year. Uh could this be a story of momentum keeping going for them?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, look at i i it it it it may be, but they kind of walked to an intermediate title last year. You know, they they had stumbled across or nearly across the line over a couple of seasons before that. They're still in division two and didn't get out of division two this year. So again, whether or not that's good or bad preparation for senior championship football, again, I would sooner that they were playing division one if they were going to challenge towards the latter stage of the championship. But again, look at they have some big players, some really, really good footballers out there. So again, look at there'll be a team that'll might take a bit of watching.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, uh Tour Lestran, the old legends of the Sligo senior scene. Um, where are they aligned at the moment?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, look at they they're they're kind of gone back a bit, to be honest, over the last few years. Um, obviously they had seven in a row and they had you know they were just unstoppable on Sligo GA for a long time. But look at they've come really, really back to the pack over the last few years. Um they're seem to be struggling a bit with numbers. They have you know they're relying on some of the elder statesmen to get them, you know, really competitive in some of the games. Um again, look at I never write to the strand off, but yeah, you know, it's just looking like it's ingrained in the D. It really is, yeah, you know, yeah.
SPEAKER_00Uh Tuber Curry, uh again, a few injuries last year, if I if my sources are correct, uh like could they be the same?
SPEAKER_01Tubber are kind of riddled with injuries. They have they have a really, really you know, a tough time over the last couple of years, and they don't have a huge amount of numbers for a big town, which is kind of strange, like you know, but obviously they have Eddie McGuinness come back in there to the fold for Sligo over the last few weeks of the season. He'd be a huge player for them getting him back. You'll want him firing in all cylinders because once Eddie plays for any team, he will make that team better. But again, look at no more than Tour de Strand, they're one of these teams that is just you know the latter stage of the championship might be a step too far for them.
SPEAKER_00Okay, well time will tell us to you. And Easky. Yeah I mean I I mean it like I don't think they've been featuring the latter of the championship. No, Easy.
SPEAKER_01The Sea Blues out there, look at they're you know, they're they're punching above their weight, they really are. Like, you know, and they're they're so dogged, and like they obviously, you know, they're a real rural club, small numbers. They're have you know Harlan is top out there also, you you know, like and they're trying to fight on both ends, like you know, and look at they're they are where they are, like you know, they didn't get relegated last year, you know. They have some great footballers there, they have a crossover between hurlers and footballers, which you know can affect them at times. But look at they're a team that a couple of years ago they I think they had ran Shermack Yales really, really close. Shermack Yales ended up getting to the very late stages of the championship. So look at East Kier fighting above their weight and good luck to them.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, no, no, it's a lot a lot of interesting clashes coming up. And uh before we kick into the actual, just go through this weekend's fixtures. Uh, for anyone watching, like we're not affiliated in any way with Sligo GEA, but you know, look at where we love helping promote whatever we can. And they have a 100 euro season pass. If you're going to uh you can get you into all the senior intermediate junior uh and all the senior hurling, all the finals, all the knockouts. I hope I'm right in exactly that. But anyways, it's all on SligoGA.e. Uh, there'll be loads of games streamed this weekend. We'll tell you in a minute about a very special streaming coming on this weekend. But yeah, so again, we just thought we'd give that a plug because you know, get out and support your local club. And if you've been watching the amazing football, this happens here in the Sam McGuire uh like hopefully the club championship, a bit like last year, will also maybe you know give us all a bit more great viewing. So it all kicks off this Friday evening. It's uh 8 p.m. Mountain Cash is Kalera Strandhill uh versus Drumcliffe Ross the Point, and again it's Mr. McPartland going back versus his own drumming. So the real uh interesting backstory there. Yeah, Kaleira 4-9, Drumcliffe 2-1.
SPEAKER_01To where do you see that? Yeah, look at it's and again it's a toss-up, it really is. Yeah, um because you you you don't know what teams are going to show up on Friday night. Like it's opening round of the championship. It was the same this time last year. Kalera played Shamrock Gales and the open round of the championship in Cache as well. Shamrock Gales laid down a marker that night by beating them by a point. Was it a marker that set it out? It was because the turnaround won the championship and bet them in the championship final. So look at Drumcliff would be eager to put down a marker on Friday night.
SPEAKER_00You could say they probably need the winning start more to give them a bit of a mental.
SPEAKER_01I would say so. But again, look at Kalera going to be saying, if we can get the win here, it just makes life an awful lot easier.
SPEAKER_00Because the groups are quite close and tough.
SPEAKER_01Like how do the groups work out in regards to qualifying and so you fight you have five in the group, and for this year it's changed. So the last couple of years it was the top two who were into the semi-finals, and the third place team was safe, and the bottom two were into the relegation semi-finals, and so on and so forth. But now this year there's actually quarterfinals in it for the first year. So if you were to finish in your third in your group, it goes into a quarterfinal situation. So look at all the gate, it means that what was happening over the last couple of years, there was dead rubber games at the end of the group, and you know, it was you know, teams are putting up big scores on other teams because they had nothing to play for. So now there's going to be something to play for right down to the last group game. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Okay, so uh Saturday, uh seven o'clock in Tupper Curry. Now we're gonna tell you all if you've been following on the Edge Force podcast all summer. Uh me and Mr. Curns here will be making well, I'll be making a commentary debut. Have you done Punditry before in the radio?
SPEAKER_01No, no, nothing that you can be heard online.
SPEAKER_00We were asked last year about doing some commentating in just the dates in suit, and uh Austin at Notion of Fame came back in touch with us on Monday. And so we're gonna go out and it'll be our debut. I'm really looking forward to it. Uh it seems like a cracker of a game. Shamrock Ales, um, last year's champions versus Eastern Harps, as I said, the pretenders to the Division I League title already. Shamrock Ales are 1-3, Eastern Harps five to two, so kind of similar else to the first game.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, look at and it and it is, but again, more than anything else, Eastern Harps are gonna come out all guns blazing on Saturday evening. They really are, right? And are Sharmack Yales going to be able for that? Time will tell. Right? Um it's probably again more so a bigger game for Harps than it is for Sharmack Gales because if Harps were to win this, it gives them a huge leg up into getting to the quarterfinals or even to the semi-finals, depending on how the other results go. Again, it's going to be one of these games that'll probably be a ding-dong battle that it's you know it's two rivals, you know, local rivals out there, right? Harps are dining at the top table now. Can they beat a so-called powerhouse in the championship with the holders? You know, it'll be a huge marker for Keith Carter and his Harps meant to put down. So again, yeah, it'll be interested to see what'll happen in Tumber, yeah?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, no, it should be a cracker. And again, uh if you go to Sligo GA.e, there's Ludzies game streamed and on Ocean FM all weekend as well. So all the details are on Sligo GA.e. Saturday also at 7 o'clock, this is in Callooney, is St. Mary's and Tour Lestran. Now Marys are slightly bigger favourites than the other matches, 2-9 and Tour Lestran 7-2. So is that a fair enough reflection of what should be.
SPEAKER_01It probably is based on league form. Yeah. To be honest, because it's you know it's only a couple of weeks since the league finished up, and Marys are probably getting that little bit stronger as they're going, whereas Tour Lestran, if they were to pick up one or two injuries along the line, they probably don't have the guys to replace them at the moment, you know. And whether they have guys or Marys have guys in America or whatnot, you know, that's that that that'll tell itself on Saturday evening. But again, I would imagine that it'll be Marys that will be Tor Lestran, look it'll be coming and they will die with their boots on and they will give it their all, and they'll it won't be a cakewalk for TV.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, of course.
SPEAKER_01No, no, no, you don't win as many championships as you have out there without having a bit of pride in yourself. So look at again, if Marys don't come with the right attitude, it could be something that could happen. But again, if they have the right attitude and prepare well and come ready for the city.
SPEAKER_00They would be fancy, but uh they should show the odds are correct. Yeah, uh Sunday then in Kent Park, you'll learn if you walk up the road to this one. Uh two o'clock Kent Park on Sunday. Uh Milosh Gales versus Easy. Milosh Gales are heavy favourites of this one, they're one to six. So again, is that just Milosh Gales have been up at the top table last year?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, they have, of course, maybe not Easy Division II. Well, I don't think we touched on Milosh in that opening round, but again, Melosh if James Clancy from Leeds are managing them. Um they've been one of these teams that you know they had Jimmy Langan for a couple of years, they got to a couple of finals, they didn't get across the line. James came in last year, didn't go as planned. They had you know Pat Spillan from the Sligo setup was playing with them. He's transferred back to his home club back in Kerry, so he's gone from them now again. You know, they have an abundance of talent out there, they really do. And then they have some elder statesmen, the likes of Patty McGowan is still playing there around the middle third, and you have Carl Burns still playing there, and they have had three or four country under 20s that are probably going to make up their forward line.
SPEAKER_00So and we've seen last Sunday in Crow Park that young forwards. Yeah, of course, yeah.
SPEAKER_01So look at it, and it could be, you know, it could be a long day for Easy there, also.
SPEAKER_00Okay, okay. So again, uh at the beginning of our Sam McGuire race, we can ask you for a few predictions. So everyone watching in now.
SPEAKER_01I got them all wrong, yeah.
SPEAKER_00Well, no, not everything else. So just for fun, again, I know this is your you're living in the county and you know loads of teams. Who would you be picking for your champions this year?
SPEAKER_01Um, based on what maybe I think I know, I want to uh look at I will I will say Kulera Strangel.
SPEAKER_00Kulera, okay, and runners up.
SPEAKER_01Again, uh that's a toss-up. I really couldn't call that one because you know there's four or five teams there that any any of them are no no I again again, as I said, you have a much bigger knowledge than me, but there definitely seems to be a real close top five. There is, yeah, there is. There's there's and five don't go into four no matter what way you look at it, you know.
SPEAKER_00Okay, so was there any point asking the semi-finalists?
SPEAKER_01Well, the semi-finalists are gonna uh from my own opinion, I think they're gonna be made up four of the following five, which is Kolaris Rantin, Drumcliff Ross's point, Shamrack Gales, St. Mary's, and St. Melash Gales.
SPEAKER_00Okay, Malach Mary's. Okay, so we we keep a note of these and see how we're getting on. Yeah. Uh it's all a bit of fun. Dark horse. Oh is there such a thing? Because they're such a tight.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, well, look at I would say based on the form from last year, Melosh Gales. Because if they were to get their act together, because they have the players, so they didn't get out of the group last year. So if they get their act together and they get to the latter stage of the championship, wait and see what'll happen. Like you know.
SPEAKER_00And I mean, a player of the championship, who would you be? Uh well, if Kollera win it, I'll have to go with the case.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, you'll have to stick in that vein, of course. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Put it down for Murph. Yeah, no problem. And young player of the year, then.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, young player of the championship. Look, there's some real good up-and-coming players there, like you, you know, Connor Watch there from Eastern Harps, it's a real exciting player. He came in on the Sligo seniors after the under 20s finished up. You have some young fellas there from Drumclair Frost's point, you have Eamon O'Mahony and Aaman Keane, two you know, monsters of men, you know, like you you said they're playing under 20, you'd be like, you know, you're definitely lying about that. So any of them guys, you know, Mark McDaniel there out in Kaleur Strand Hill as well. You have Ronan Island, if he comes back to form, Eli Rooney and Sam Mary's the two of them, you know, two exceptional footballers, like you know, and all young fellas, which is good to see them all playing. So you know could you know name any of them ones, and they're probably if any team goes as a deep run, one of them will be thereabouts. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Well, as I said, we we we we'll see over the next few weeks what happens, whether we we might be back each week or we'll be back after a couple of weeks, and we'll definitely be going for the quarterfinal stages on. Yeah, uh, again, um Sligo GA.e for all the fixtures, and again, if you want to stream the games live or again Ocean FM, but just check out where everything is live. And again, uh Saturday evening, Tupper Curry. Uh myself and Darren will be the CoCons team for the first time, making our debut, so that'll be great, crack. And again, uh the season pass as well. If you're if just getting into the championship, 100 Jory can get into all the championship games, and I hope I've this right, all hurling or all hurling knockout stages, I think it said, then all the football, senior, junior, intermediate. Uh so it's definitely worth the price in. Yeah, if you are going to a person that goes to a lot of games. Well, Darren, uh, we're off to another series now. If we didn't have enough work, we're we have our normal sports podcasts and now we're going to have our Psycho GA one as well. So uh we'll see how this all pans out, and I'll see you Saturday evening. Thanks again for watching. Again, if you are watching for the first time and you haven't liked or subscribed or commented, we'd love to hear your feedback on all of this. We love your interaction, and again, we hope to see you again very soon.