By Cian O’Connell

Inter-county action resumed in the splendid University of Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome on New Year’s Day.

Ultimately Roscommon overcame Sligo 3-23 to 2-23 at the end of a high scoring Connacht Hurling League opener between two outfits busy preparing for the upcoming Allianz League.

There was no shortage of storylines in Bekan. Kevin Sammon will be eager to make an impact with Roscommon, who have plenty of potential.

Significant work is being carried out in Sligo too. Five O’Kelly-Lynch brothers featured for Stephen Shiel’s team, who also included several players from the 2022 Celtic Challenge panel.

For Darragh Cox, Sligo-Leitrim Hurling Games Promotion Officer, the emergence of players provides hope for the future. The developmental competition is aiding the process.

“That is what stood out to me, they didn't look out of place in any way, shape, or form,” Cox says. “They knew coming down to the game, they were in their Sligo gear, straightaway they knew what it was to be part of an inter-county set-up. That is only possible for them because of the Celtic Challenge.

“When I was growing up or playing with Sligo, there might have been the odd token minor game played here or there, but you were going basically from club into senior inter-county. With these boys a lot of them we brought in at U13 level into development squads.

“They worked their way up through the Hibernia Cup at U15 level for a couple of years and then into Celtic Challenge for two years. Obviously, they had a bit of success in that, but I wouldn't say it is the success that drove them on, it is more a case of them being part of a set-up.

“They got the athletic development work, nutritional advice, lifestyle advice as they come up along so when they go into a senior squad, bear in mind they'd be on the fringes of the squad, but a competition like the Connacht Hurling League gave them an opportunity yesterday.

“Still, because they've had that grounding, they are physically able and skills wise, more importantly, they aren't out of place. Straightaway they were able to fit in when called upon.”

Five teenagers, who played in the 2022 Celtic Challenge from four clubs featured in the game for Sligo. “It is a huge source of encouragement,” Cox acknowledges. “My own club, Calry/St Joseph's, enjoyed a dominant spell, winning a couple of Connacht titles; Easkey are having their time in the spotlight at the minute and they're doing incredible work out there, but the encouraging thing for me is seeing players coming from different clubs.

“It actually would have been six players from five clubs, but Ciaran Keenan from the Western Gaels club had to pull out shortly beforehand. We only have eight underage clubs in Sligo, so for each of those clubs to be producing players of senior inter-county standard at that age is hugely encouraging.”

Sheer hard work is being rewarded according to Cox, who remains passionate about the Connacht hurling cause. “You will get the O'Kelly-Lynch's coming through one club sometimes, you will get the likes of Easkey with a current crop of players, who came up together, bringing themselves through,” he adds.

“Not every club is going to have that crop of players coming through all of the time, they will always have one or two players. If you can mix those one or two with the best from the rest of the county or the rest of the country when it comes to inter-county, it just brings them on so much.

“It feeds back into the club, even though a club at that age level mightn't be competitive or they might be struggling for numbers, they're still able to field a county player or show what can be done with young fellas from their area.

“So, there is a lot of pride for clubs, particularly the coaches within the clubs, who have worked with the players. It gives them a lot of encouragement and incentive.”

Something is stirring in Sligo. On the daily beat Cox can see the effort being put in. The senior inter-county team has progressed during the last decade. Now a pathway exists, but retaining players, both at club and county level is critical.

“There was a time, and there is no point in sugar coating it, but there was a time when managers and coaches were ringing players on the night before matches to try to make sure they had enough players for a team,” Cox recalls.

“The value really wasn't on it. They might come to play a game, you mightn't see them then for a few weeks. It was always a bit of fun really, a bit of craic.

“When they looked over at their football counterparts in a county like Sligo they could see the commitment levels, the attention given to it by coaches and the value put on it by supporters.

“They've got a glimpse of that now because of the Celtic Challenge. The Rackard, Ring, and Meagher competitions are well established now, they gave a prestige and a bit of value to senior inter-county hurlers.”

Suddenly young hurlers in Sligo are beginning to believe. Possibilities exist. “Now, when we take in 11 and 12 year olds which we did with these lads five or six years ago, they are able to look at their older brothers, neighbours, or even some of them their fathers,” Cox says.

“They have watched them play at a high level, they have seen people get behind them, they are seeing high scoring games. There must have been 50 plus scores in the game last night, it is attractive to them.

“Again that goes back to the player retention for a county like Sligo, traditionally you have always been dealing with a small pool of players. That has always been a big obstacle and it is one we are gradually overcoming.”

The Táin Óg and Cúchulainn Leagues are helping supply an increased number of matches against clubs from other counties. “In fairness to Sligo they've put a huge amount of effort into the underage games programme,” Cox says.

“There is definitely still flaws within that, but these flaws are being addressed every year. There is a bit of an improvement every year in terms of the games programme.

"One of those improvements is that Coiste na nÓg have encouraged clubs to take part in Táin Óg.

“They've followed national guidelines in terms of leaving dates in the calendar for Táin Óg matches, that provides Sligo clubs, who enter, and the majority do, some don't. The option is there for them, but it means they are getting games against different opposition.”

Cox stresses the relevance and importance of that aspect. “They are getting to experience different venues, different clubs, different locations, and different standards,” he remarks.

“That has been a huge fillip for a county like Sligo, even more so for Leitrim. My work takes me into Leitrim too.

“You only have two clubs in Leitrim, so however difficult it is for a county with eight clubs, when you have two, you can't just keep playing the same club. That is where the Táin Óg is important and the Cú Chulainn at adult level, it widens the net for those teams.”

Undoubtedly obstacles have to be overcome and issues dealt with, but Cox is adamant that counties can establish solid foundations. Investing time and energy in the juvenile ranks matters deeply.

“If you look at the Leitrim team playing against New York in the Connacht Hurling League, four of the players came through the Celtic Challenge squad from two years ago, they played Sligo incidentally,” Cox says.

“For Leitrim to be able to bring through four players to senior inter-county on any year, it is vital for the long term sustainability of inter-county hurling.

“Again, if those players weren't getting the opportunity to play in the Celtic Challenge or playing in the Táin Óg, there is no way they'd be fit to step up to senior inter-county.

“Every county is different, you have two different situations in terms of what I'm dealing with in Sligo and Leitrim, but the common theme is that more competition, more matches, and different standards of hurling brings everyone along. A rising tide lifts all boats.”