SLIGO AWAY

Homeward bound after a great wee midweek away day watching Celtic. A friendly against League of Ireland team Sligo Rovers may not have the same excitement for Celtic fans as a Champions League away trip. But any Celtic fan who was in Sligo yesterday could only be impressed by the welcome they received from the local people, the buzzing pubs and the Sligo Rovers supporters.

I took the train from Drogheda to Dublin and then onto Sligo and met some other Celtic fans on the train. Big shout out to the Bhoys from Kirky Shamrock, Rabb and James for the company and the cans on the journey. The Bhoys got off at Ballymote to visit the monument to Celtic’s founding father Brother Walfrid before meeting up with us later for a few pre-match pints. It was a homcoming of sorts for Rab as his Dad was born in Wolfe Tone Street close to the ground.

There were plenty of familiar faces in the bars close to the ground including a bus load of North Kildare CSC crew. Club flags adored the ed of bars and in the stadium. There were no flares or Celtic ultras banging drums but a lone Palestine flag hung over the advertisement board beside a Lebanon flag placed in Solidarity.

Sligo has great links with Celtic  from the first ever Celtic team, Charlie Gorevin to the legendary Sean Fallon ( Sligo’s astro turf training pitch is named after Sean) and Treble winning manager, Wille McStay who’s winning team pictures adorned the walls in the local pubs. The latest connection is Johnny Kenny out on loan to Shamrock Rovers from Celtic but a Sligo fan at heart. His father Johnny senior was part of Sligo’s treble winning team.

The game gave a number of Celtic senior players who are on the fringes of the starting 11 a chance to get 90 minutes on the pitch in what was a competitive and entertaining game on a freezing cold night.

The Showgrounds was sold out, so a big thanks to Donnie for sorting me out with a ticket and showing me around the town. Celtic fans numbered about 500 and I witnessed Sligo shade the first half before a more composed performance in the second half and 2 late goals from Palma secured the win for the visitors. Palma will be happy with his 90 minutes and a hat-trick.

Sligo have big plans for a new stadium, so the future is bright for the wee bit of red. International break now for the Celtic players before we are back in the East End of Glasgow for the top of the table clash with Aberdeen at a Sold Out Celtic Park on Saturday 19 October.

Andrew Milne is Editor of More than 90 Minutes

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