Sligo GAA has officially announced that Tony McEntee will continue as the Senior football team manager for the 2024 season. This decision activates the option for an additional one year, as agreed between McEntee and the County Board last year.
Having served as the team manager for three years already, McEntee's fourth year at the helm promises to be a continuation of the progress witnessed in recent times. Assistant Manager Joe Keane will be by McEntee's side once again, while the rest of the management team is expected to remain in their respective roles. Over the next two months, the management team will closely observe club championship games.
In McEntee's tenure, his first year in 2021 was marked by challenges posed by the Covid pandemic, which resulted in a shortened league and a straight knockout championship. However, in the subsequent years, the team has shown significant improvement. In 2022, they reached the latter stages of the Tailteann Cup, and in 2023, they advanced to the Connacht final, eventually clinching the Division Four title in the National League.
The decision to retain McEntee as the manager came after an extensive review of the team's performance in 2023, which involved players, management, and the County Board. Sean Carroll, the Chairman of Sligo GAA, expressed his gratitude to both the management and players for their valuable insights.
McEntee extends Sligo stay: Tony McEntee will manage the Sligo senior footballers for a fourth year after activating the option for an additional one year which was agreed between him and the county board last year. https://t.co/3rtdhht3xX pic.twitter.com/ZskPwyQ5zn
— hoganstand.com (@hoganstandgaa) August 2, 2023
"The agreement to work together for another year follows an extensive review of 2023 that involved players, management and the County Board. Chairman Sean Carroll said, “the review was very thorough and detailed. We want to thank both the management and the players for their time and thoughts," he said.
He also emphasised that progression required an elevation of standards in every aspect of the team's work, both on and off the field. The thorough review is aimed to align all stakeholders and foster a cohesive team ahead of the upcoming season, with preparations already underway for the start of the club championship in three weeks' time.
"Between us all we recognise that to progress further requires improving every aspect of the team’s work, on and off the field – our standards have to be higher. The work of the past number of weeks has focussed on getting everyone involved aligned and working together well ahead of the start of next season. We are pleased to have that all tied down ahead of the start of the club championship in three weeks’ time," he added.
