Sligo will not be fielding a team in this year’s under-20 intercounty hurling championship following a decision by the county board to give opponents Derry a walkover in the opening round of the competition this weekend.
In a statement published online on Wednesday evening, Sligo GAA said the decision was taken “as it has not proved possible to prepare a team adequately this season due to a combination of circumstances.”
The county under-20 panel team is drawn from a small playing pool and with other demands on the players – both from other hurling commitments, college etc, Sligo GAA said it had proved too difficult to do the preparation that would be appropriate for a team representing the county.
Sligo GAA says the decision follows consultation with all of those identified as potential panel members and team management. As a result,
Sligo now give a walkover to Derry who they were drawn to face in the first round of the competition next weekend. Coincidentally, it was Derry who eliminated Sligo in last years semi final of this competition after Sligo’s excellent run to that point.
Sligo GAA Chair, Sean Carroll, said: “this is not a decision that we ever wanted to make and we do so with regret but we were left with little option following consultation with team management. It is a real pity because it is exactly the kind of competition in which we would like to be involved, in order to bring players on for the benefit of both clubs and county teams.”
Separately, the Sligo and Derry senior hurling teams meet in the Allianz League Division 2B final this Saturday in Ederney, Co Fermanagh, at 4pm.
The league final will be broadcast live on Ocean FM from 4pm.
