Sligo will be the final team to enter the Football Championship this weekend. They face Roscommon tomorrow evening in Markievicz Park in a Connacht semi-final. It will be the first time the two sides have met in the Championship since Roscommon defeated Sligo by a point in the 2010 Provincial Final. Despite being in the smallest Provincial Championship, it’s not a common tie. They have only squared off seven times in the past 25 years and two of those games were replays.
When Sligo lost the Connacht final in Castlebar in 2010, they would not have expected to wait until 2015 to gain revenge on Roscommon in a Championship setting. After defeating Galway (in a replay) and Mayo on route to the final, Sligo was expected by many to win their second provincial title in four years. A Donie Shine inspired performance gave Roscommon an unexpected win. It finished 0-14 to 0-13 with Shine contributing 0-10 to the cause.
Roscommon's Donal Shine celebrates after the final whistle with supporters on the pitch. ©INPHO/Cathal Noonan
The sides met in the 2007 Connacht semi-final where two points was the difference as Sligo came out on top. They came from six points behind to win by 0-13 to 2-05. Sligo went on to beat Galway in the Connacht final to win their first provincial title in over 30 years.
In 2004, the sides met in the Provincial quarter final, where Roscommon were victorious after a replay in Dr. Hyde Park. It finished 0-13 to 1-10 in Sligo before Roscommon won by four points at the second time of asking. That margin is the largest between the sides in the past 25 years. Shane Curran was the star for Roscommon scoring 1-01 as they won their first Connacht game since 2001. It finished 2-16 to 1-15. That was their first time drawn together in the new millennium.
Goalkeeper Shane Curran of Roscommon celebrates after the game. ©INPHO/Andrew Paton
The teams could not be separated again in 1998. Roscommon though were victorious in the replay. They defeated Sligo in Markievicz Park by 1-13 to 0-15. Paul Taylor scored 0-8 in the replay but it was not enough to reach the final. Galway would become provincial champions defeating Roscommon in the final.
The previous year was the first clash between the teams since 1989. As they did the year after, the sides met in the semi-finals but this time it was Sligo who reached the final. They won the game by 1-14 to 1-11.
Dessie Sloyan (Sligo)/Enon Gavin (Roscommon) ©Patrick Bolger/INPHO
What recent history has shown us is that when the two teams meet, there will always be a competitive clash with a close scoreline. Don’t be surprised to see that again tomorrow evening.
Off the Ball will have live commentary from Markievicz Park of the game. Throw in is at 7pm.
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