Gary Gaughan targets Tourlestrane history against Moycullen

Goal setting evolves with the situation and in the Tourlestrane dressing room, they've had to readjust what they are aiming for given their unprecedented success in the Sligo Football Championship.

Silverware has been a constant presence at the foot of the Ox Mountains for 40-odd years now, starting with seven Sligo Hurling titles from 1981 to 1991 and backed up by the accumulation of 15 football crowns from 1982 until their most recent success against St Mary’s - after extra-time - back in October.

Gary Gaughan was the man who got to lift the cup in the 2022 final, and he said that the competitiveness of that clash means that they can never take anything for granted, but he also admitted that their eyes have roved further as they prepare for Sunday’s Connacht final against Moycullen.

"We play it game by game," said Gaughan, who was speaking at a AIB GAA provincial club championship media day ahead of this weekend's finals.

"That’s our goal, to win our county first and foremost because if you forget about that you’re going to get turned over.

"You have to have medium and long-term goals as well, especially in our team where we are now.

"When we won seven in a row we had to have bigger aspirations and a Connacht final was one this year."

For a club with so many titles, standing out is a difficult undertaking. The class of '22 have done that though, matching the boys of ‘82 in the process. In Pearse Stadium they will aim to elevate themselves above them too as the chase a first provincial title for the Yeats County club.

Forty years ago, well 39 really as the final wasn’t played until February 1983, Tourlestrane took part in the club’s first Connacht final after an eye-catching away semi-final win over Galway champions Annaghdown.