Sligo GAA has confirmed that the county’s senior football team will be conceding their Connacht football semi-final to Galway this Saturday.
The decision was taken following an online meeting of the Sligo GAA Executive on Tuesday night.
Team manager Paul Taylor then informed the players of the decision. It’s understood many of them were deeply unhappy with the decision to forfeit the game.
Taylor spoke to North West Today’s Niall Delaney about Sligo’s championship withdrawal:
Seven Sligo footballers and a member of the backroom team have tested positive for Covid-19.
At least five other players were tested again on Tuesday after their initial results came back ‘inconclusive’.
The number of Covid infections coupled with the potential number of close contacts within the squad, who would be required to self-isolate for 14 days, are cited as the main reasons behind Sligo’s decision to pull out of the game.
It means their championship season is over as there is no backdoor in the football championship this year.
Galway now progress to the Connacht football final against either Roscommon or Mayo on November 15th.
Connacht GAA’s John Prenty spoke to Ocean FM Sport’s Austin O’Callaghan about the implications of Sligo’s withdrawal from the Connacht Championship:
Below is the Sligo GAA statement issued late on Tuesday night, which confirmed the team’s withdrawal from the championship:
“Sligo GAA have taken the tough decision to withdraw from this weekend’s Connacht SFC semi-
final versus Galway.
Paul Taylor and his management team along with the panel of 32 players have been working
together since September. Due to the unforeseen circumstances of players testing positive for
Covid-19 and other players deemed as close contacts, makes it impossible for Sligo to fulfil the
fixture.
The county board executive along with the players and management are extremely upset at
having to make this decision. The players themselves are hugely disappointed at not having the
option of a re-fixture and feel the outcome has been forced on them, whilst understanding that in
these unusual times it is not possible to take part this coming weekend.
All affected by Covid-19 findings are following the requisite HSE guidelines and we are glad to
report doing well at this time.
Sligo GAA have informed GAA officials at Croke Park and Connacht GAA of this regrettable but
correct decision.”
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