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Sligo's 'Mt Rushmore' | Who will make it from this list of candidates?

On Friday morning's OTB AM, Alan Cawley will join OTB's Arthur James O'Dea to decide upon the fo...



Sligo's 'Mt Rushmore' | Who wi...
Racing

Sligo's 'Mt Rushmore' | Who will make it from this list of candidates?

On Friday morning's OTB AM, Alan Cawley will join OTB's Arthur James O'Dea to decide upon the four sportspeople who shall sit atop Sligo's sporting 'Mt Rushmore.' 

Unlike other counties that have featured on OTB AM's Rushmore series, Sligo is certain of one thing. It will not be rivalled in terms of the perfect resting place Benbulben will provide to it its four sporting icons.

After that, things will get decidedly more complicated for Alan and Arthur on Friday morning's show.

Sligo 20 August 2018; Raffaele Cretaro of Sligo Rovers. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Between Sligo Rovers and the county's Gaelic footballers, the north-west of Ireland is split between its loyalties to football and, well, football. On the one hand, Raffaele Cretaro, Paul McGee and Tony Fagan have all made compelling arguments to be included for what they did with the 'Bitored'.

Some have even gone so far as to make an argument for Joseph N'Do. The former Cameroonian international made his way to Rovers in 2010 and was pivotal in the club's 2012 League of Ireland triumph. Since retiring from football, he has decided to remain living in the county and is coaching at a local level still.

Looking further afield, Sligo native Sean Fallon enjoyed a remarkable career with Celtic in the Scottish capital. An Irish international with as many as two parks named after him in his his native county, he even served as Jock Stein's assistant manager when the Glasgow club won the European Cup in 1967.

On the GAA side of things, Sligo's footballers have never gone on so far to win an All-Ireland. Yet, they do have a share of All-Stars. In Mickey Kearins, Barnes Murphy, Eamonn O'Hara and Charlie Harrison, the most difficult decision will be who misses out.

Though played only here or there across the county, both Keith Raymond and Paul Seevers have done enough in the service of Sligo hurling to put themselves in contention.

Sligo 29 May 2004; Eamonn O'Hara, Sligo. Picture credit; Damien Eagers / SPORTSFILE

Beyond that, there are numerous other names which will certainly require careful consideration.

On the bike, Mark Scanlon was a World junior champion in 1998 and went on to enjoy a hugely respectable professional career racing in everything from the Tour de France to the 2004 Olympic games.

Mary Cullen has a European Indoor 3,000 metres bronze medal to her name and at 19-years-old Mona McSharry has already made waves swimming on the world stage.

In horse racing, jockey Derek Fox memorably won the 2017 Grand National on the suitably named 'One For Arthur', while Michael Bree captained the Irish men's basketball team.

Bound to cause consternation for all involved, join us on Friday's OTB AM from 7:30 am to find out who will be going up on Sligo's Mt Rushmore. 

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Alan Cawley Arthur James O'Dea GAA Gaelic Football Hurling Mt Rushmore Off The Ball Sligo Sligo Rovers Soccer