All’s changed in Sligo

Niall Carew has reinvented Sligo. The Kildare native experiences his first Connacht final tomorrow at Hyde Park, as the county renews rivalries with Mayo, three years after losing narrowly to their neighbours in the decider at the Roscommon venue.

The respective paths of both counties since that 2012 provincial showdown have been painfully contrasting. Mayo contested two All-Ireland finals, and might have reached a third successive final if not for being outwitted by Kerry in last year’s All-Ireland semi-final replay.

Sligo, meanwhile, struggled in Connacht, including an infamous loss to London; last month’s shock semi-final defeat of Roscommon, masterminded by Carew, was Sligo’s first win in the province since 2012. Of course, only by winning the Nestor Cup will Carew really define his managerial career. What he has done is put certain ingredients in place, unearth new potential and done things – some of it risky – that other managers mightn’t have.