MORAHAN MAKES EURO DEBUT FOR BOYHOOD HEROES

NIALL Morahan of Sligo Rovers is a bright chap but even he may not know that in the 1920s his home village of Leitrim had five licensed premises for its 30 houses.

That’s a pub for every six houses by my mathematics. Things were certainly different back then in the early days of the Free State.

That same decade Sligo Rovers took their first tentative steps into junior football. It’s been a roller-coaster journey since, which continues today as the Bit O’Red return to European competition after a sevenyear break

Their 10th campaign sees the club break new ground, as they face Icelandic opposition for the first time, FH, and are competing in the inaugural Europa Conference League.

So too are Euro regulars Dundalk as well as Bohemians, who’ve had their moments on Euro battlefields. Dundalk host Newtown of Wales at Oriel Park tonight (7.45), while Bohs are also in Iceland, against Stjarnan (7.45).

But it is Sligo who provide the romantic angle as Liam Buckley’s boys seek to improve on a wretched Euro record — three wins in 24 games — while coping with the loss of two first team players through Covid-19.

It means extra responsibility for youngsters like Morahan, who makes his Euro bow in Hafnarfjardar, a coastal town about six miles south of Reykjavik.

‘Since finding out at the end of last season that we’d be playing in Europe this season it’s been a long time coming. It’s my first experience of it and I can’t wait to get going,’ said the 21-yearold, a business student in Sligo IT.

‘Playing in European competition is definitely a dream of mine and I’m really grateful I got the chance. We’ll be well informed. The gaffer (Buckley) and backroom staff have done their homework.’

A boyhood Rovers fan, Morahan was barely into his teens when he cheered on his local club against Molde and Rosenborg in Euro combat at The Showgrounds.

‘A makeshift stand was put in and the place was absolutely packed. It was an amazing experience and it’s a real pity that we can’t fill out the Showgrounds this time but hopefully we can in the near future.’

As a midfielder, it’s no surprise that Morahan has looked up to the Sligo stalwarts in the engine room.

‘Joey Ndo was a big cult hero around here but I’ve been lucky to play alongside the likes of David Cawley and John Russell in the middle of the park. They would have always stood out to me when I came down as a young fella. They were people I tried to keep an eye on and emulate with my game.’

Sligo have it all to do against a team ranked 10th of the 66 in the first qualifying round — Sligo are 44th.

But they can take heart from the last time they ventured to such a northern latitude, in 2014, they won away to Rosenborg 2-1, in Trondheim. And should Sligo’s Euro return extend deeper into July, and possibly beyond, the locals in Leitrim village may raise a glass to Morahan and his bonny Bit O’Red comrades.