Tony McEntee: 'We felt Kevin McLoughlin was somebody who could add value to the players, and he is'

Sligo’s manager Tony McEntee.

Tapping into Kevin McLoughlin’s game smarts is why Sligo boss Tony McEntee offered the 34-year-old a coaching role immediately after the Mayo forward retired last autumn.

McLoughlin called time on his 15 seasons with Mayo last August. Two months later, the eight-time Connacht SFC winner was unveiled as the new Sligo senior football coach.

McEntee had worked with the half-forward during his three seasons as Mayo selector (2016-18) and was struck by how a “small frame of a man” adapted and thrived at the top level against more physically imposing players.

“When Kevin retired, it was an opportunity to see if this was something he wanted to get involved in. He expressed that it was. Kevin is a very knowledgeable player. He played as a very smart player,” McEntee explained.

“He was a small frame of a man who played at the top level against any type of player. We felt he was somebody who could add value to the players, and he is.

“Kevin is very solid. His background is teaching. He communicates very well with the players. He works with them in relation to their runs, their attacking play, and their communication on the field. He is doing really well.” Sligo’s unsuccessful return to the Division 3 ranks on Sunday at Cusack Park, Ennis featured two U20 graduates from the Sligo U20 teams that won back-to-back Connacht titles in 2022 and '23.

Half-back Jack Lavin and debutant centre-forward Eoghan Smith were members of the 2022 U20 class. Three more, Dylan Walsh, Lee Duignan and Daire O'Boyle, were on the bench. They are five of the nine U20 graduates currently part of McEntee’s senior panel.

The manager knows the increased expectation surrounding these youngsters, but has urged patience.

“Remember now, it wasn't that long ago that it was U21, and you were a year older finishing underage, so I think that first year of U20s, which is the likes of Jack (Lavin) and Lee (Duignan), they are developing better because they are a year older. Eoghan did well here for his first day out.

“So the idea is to develop them, bring them into the panel, get them game-time, and hopefully improve them for the future. If you look at the Kerry team in Tralee (on Saturday), the new starts for them were 21-23 years old, but mostly 23-year-olds, so it does take a wee while to get up to the speed and physicality.”