Archive for category: Club Football

This years GWP Junior A Championship Final will be contested by Mohill and Melvin Gaels. Mohill were 2 point winners over Ballinamore SOH in a very keenly contested encounter while Melvin Gaels recorded a 3-8 to 1-9 win over Annaduff. Melvin Gaels will now contest the 2011 Intermediate and Junior A Finals. Well done to Mohill and Melvin Gaels on their victories and best of luck to both in their preparations for the Final.

 

 

12-Sep-11 by Colette Fox – PRO

GWP Junior A Championship

Annaduff v Melvin Gaels on Saturday at 6pm in Cloone
Ballinamore SOH v Mohill on Saturday at 6.30 in Drumshanbo

The GWP Junior A Championship has thrown up some surprises already. Annaduff dumped the favourites Leitrim Gaels out and now see themselves shot into the limelight as favourites. They face a very impressive Melvin Gaels outfit whose first team have already qualified for the Intermediate Championship Final. Annaduff will be hoping to make up for the disappointment of loosing out at semi final stage in the senior while Melvin Gaels will be determined to join their Intermediate team in another final. We suspect the Mohill v Ballinamore SOH game will be a very tight affair. Both clubs first teams have exited the senior championship so both should field very strong sides.

In the Junior B Championship its Round 3. Aughawillan take on Dromahair and rivals Leitrim Gaels and St Marys face each other. The Junior C Championship kicks off this weekend with three fixtures:-

Eslin v Bornacoola
Glenfarene Kiltyclogher v Kiltubrid
Glencar Manor v Cloone

BEST OF LUCK TO ALL THE TEAMS

 

 

09-Sep-11 by Colette Fox – PRO

Our eagerly anticipated Senior and Intermediate Championship semi finals take place this weekend. Eight teams are one step away from the Promised Land. Below we preview the semi final meetings and take a brief look at the Junior B Championship meetings and Senior and Intermediate Relegation Finals.

CONNACHT GOLD SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI FINALS

St Mary’s v Annaduff (Saturday at 5.30 in Pairc Sean)

In the championship to-date Annaduff had a win and a loss in the group stages and last weekend in the quarter finals they ditched a hotly fancied Mohill side out of the competition at the second attempt. Will the replay benefit them or not? Well, only time will tell but the win over Mohill has elevated them into the spotlight and neutral observers have tipped that they will have a big say in the destination of the Fenagh Cup this year! However, that was also said last year and Annaduff will be anxious not to get caught up in the hype and expectation surrounding them this year. St Mary’s were unbeaten in their group games when the cruised past Allen Gaels and Kiltubrid and then they easily disposed of Bornacoola in the quarter finals. One wonders will their easy passage to the semi final be a disadvantage to them or is it an indication of their superiority and strength? Either way this semi final is expected to be a different ball game and a much tighter affair and as Annaduff know only too well from last year’s corresponding fixture St Mary’s have an abundance of players accustomed to the big occasion. Two questions have been posed in advance of the semi final and we offer some answers.

Q Will St Mary’s compete with the physical power of Annaduff?

A Bornacoola were physically powerful too so there is no reason why they shouldn’t

Q Will both teams look to last year’s meeting for confidence?

A Yes ……………………

St Mary’s will say to themselves – ‘we are fit for these boys’ – remember last year,

Annaduff will be saying ‘what happened to us last year won’t happen to us again.’

Annaduff last won the title back in 2004 while St Mary’s were winners more recently in 2007. When they met in the league, Annaduff recorded a 1-8 to 1-3 away win. But that was on the 28th of May and neither team will be focussing on that encounter. St Mary’s will have fond memories of ditching Annaduff out of the championship at this stage last year but that is history and the present is all that counts. Games between these two rival sides are always full of passion and Saturday will be no different. Both sets of players will be relishing the encounter. They both have very balanced teams, tight defences, mobile midfield pairings and capable forward lines. Games involving rival clubs are often tight and played close to the line and if both sides remain disciplined throughout the contest you would expect this to be a rip-roaring game of football. There is more at stake on Saturday evening than bragging rights – the teams should look to the bigger picture – a place in the County Final is at stake!

Ballinamore SOH v Glencar Manorhamilton (Saturday at 6.30 in Pairc Sean)

Glencar Manorhamilton and Ballinamore SOH had mixed runs in the group stages with both suffering defeats. In the quarter finals they were both comfortable winners so the form book would suggest a close contest is on the cards on Saturday evening. Ballinamore have bridged a 12 year gap in reaching the semi finals and their performances to date especially against Aughawillan have been hugely impressive. They also sit proudly on top of Division 2 and the habit of winning games in the league and championship is sure to boost their confidence. They have a lot of young talented players capable of mixing it with the experienced Manor men and if the occasion doesn’t get the better of them they are more than capable of causing an upset. Aside from their dominant performance against a Carrigallen side who offered little resistance in the group stages Manor don’t appear to have been setting the world alight. That poses two opposite questions – have they still the hunger or have they yet to hit form? Ballinamore will be hoping the latter isn’t the case! The Manor men are a formidable outfit when they get going and this developing Ballinamore side are sure to try and stifle their free flowing game. In their march to the semi final Glencar Manor had a better Scóring return (3-39 to Ballinamore’s 1-34) but the Ballinamore men have conceded less (0-27 to Manors 2-25). If the Scóring statistics are anything to go by Ballinamore’s ability to keep clean sheets will test a Manor forward line who are accustomed to finding the net and Manor have conceded two goals so Ballinamore may look to capitalise in front of the Manor goals. Incidentally, SOH’s are the only team to have come close to knocking Glencar Manor out of the championship in the last 3 years. They will remember only too well that quarter final meeting of 2009 and know they are more than capable of beating the champions and closer than ever now to that all important final. Thirty plus talented players have the potential to produce a thriller. Who has the greater need to win – a developing Ballinamore side or a Glencar Manor side in search of a 4-in-a-row? Will the new kids on the block be able to change the guard or will the current champions make it four finals in a row?

GWP INTERMEDIATE CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI FINALS

Drumkeerin v Gortletteragh (Sunday at 12noon in Pairc Sean)

Both teams have come agonisingly close to Intermediate Championship honours in recent years and yet this year neither team were expected to make it this far. Now that they have defied the odds they will both be hoping to make that all important final. Both teams mixed the good with the bad in the championship to-date. Interestingly, both teams were well beaten in the group stages by the other semi finalists Glenfarne Kilty and Melvin Gaels and then they turned their seasons around in the quarter finals when they both held the tag of underdogs. Gortletteragh were awesome when disposing of a hotly fancied Dromahair side while Drumkeerin were equally impressive in their win against Eslin. However, their fantastic quarter final victories will stand for nothing if they fall at the semi final stage. It is hard to pick a favourite in this game and even harder to predict a winner. They both have talented players throughout their ranks but this game I suspect will be decided by the team who displays the greater determination and spirit and as we all know they both are flawless in this area. A full blooded contest is on the cards on Sunday and one team will say farewell to the 2011 GWP Intermediate Championship – you decide who your money is on!

Melvin Gaels v Glenfarne Kiltyclogher (Sunday at 1.30 in Pairc Sean)

This is the first meeting in the Intermediate Championship of two teams who operate in Division One and this would indicate we are in for a close contest. Both teams enter the semi finals unbeaten and truth be told neither team have been tested to-date as both have recorded comfortable wins in the group and quarter final stages. They will both take a lot of confidence from their performances to-date but equally they would both have hoped to have had sterner tests. When the championship draw was made Melvin Gaels were penned as outright favourites and their league and championship performances to-date would justify the early confidence in them. They are now one step away from the final and this often proves to be a nervous time for favourites. Glenfarne Kiltyclogher were hugely impressive in their quarter final demolition of Glencar Manorhamilton. If they play with the same flair, intensity and togetherness they are sure to test the nerves of their neighbours. You would imagine the team who gets the better start will be the team that prevails in this contest so expect them both to come out all guns blazing going for the early kill. Both are young, developing teams who play an exciting brand of open football. Glenfarne Kiltyclogher have the comfort of the underdogs tag – the pressure is all on the Gaels. Will Glenfarne Kiltyclogher empty their tanks and end the championship hopes of another neighbour or will Melvin Gaels march on?

SENIOR AND INTERMEDIATE RELEGATION FINALS ON SUNDAY IN BALLINAMORE

Intermediate: Ballinaglera v St Mary’s at 12 noon

Senior: Allen Gaels v Cloone at 1.30

Four teams battling to save their championship status. The stakes are high and the games are sure to be tense and should go down to the wire.

GWP JUNIOR B CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDS 2 AND 3 ON SUNDAY

Aughawillan Venue

Aughavas v Leitrim Gaels at 12noon (Group 3: three teams)

Aughavas won their opening game and face Leitrim Gaels who enter the competition this weekend.

Ballinamore SOH v Fenagh at 1.30 (Group 1: four teams)

Both teams have one win from two outings so this contest should be a decisive and tight encounter.

Ballinaglera Venue

Glencar Manorhamilton v St Osnat’s Glencar at 12noon (Group 1: four teams)

Glencar Manor currently top their group with two wins from two and they face their North Leitrim neighbours who are bottom of the group.

Annaduff v Dromahair at 1.30 (Group 2: three teams)

Annaduff lost their opening game and now face Dromahair who open their account this weekend.

ENJOY THE WEEKEND FEAST OF FOOTBALL

MAY THE BEST TEAMS WIN

 

 

01-Sep-11 by Colette Fox – PRO

Neighbours Cavan and Leitrim will go head-to-head this Saturday in a bid to reach the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Intermediate Football Championship final.

Cavan start the game as favourites but face a Leitrim team who have crushed all before them in their group to advance to this stage of the competition.  A win would see Niall Kilcranns team pull off a major coup.

Cavan play Leitrim in this All-Ireland IFC semi-final this Saturday, August 27, in Cashel, Co Tipperary, where throw-in is scheduled for 4.15pm.

We wish the team and management the very best of luck.

 

 

26-Aug-11 by Colette Fox – PRO

Seven teams qualified for the Semi Finals of the Senior and Intermediate Championships at the weekend with only Mohill and Annaduff having another bite at the cherry this weekend to decide the last senior semi final spot. 

Connacht Gold Senior Championship

In Pairc Sean, St Mary’s booked their place in the semi finals with a comfortable win over Bornacoola while Glencar Manorhamilton justified their favourites tag with their win over a battling Kiltubrid side.  In Cloone, Ballinamore Sean O’Heslin’s were impressive winners over neighbours Aughawillan while Mohill staged an injury time comeback to score 1-1 to bring their tie with Annaduff to a replay. 

GWP Intermediate Championship

In Drumshanbo, Drumkeerin showed that there is no substitute for experience when they recorded a hard earned two point win over a hotly fancied Eslin side.  Glenfarne Kiltyclogher put in a solid and impressive hours football to ruthlessly dispose of neighbours Glencar Manorhamilton.  In Pairc Sean, Melvin Gaels as expected accounted for Aughavas while the surprise result of the day was Gortletteragh’s win over Dromahair.  Incidentally, in the Intermediate Championship the semi final pairings have all emerged from groups 1 & 3 with representations from Groups 2 and 4 all falling at the quarter final stage. 

In the Senior Relegation Playoffs Carrigallen retained their senior status with a one point win over Allen Gaels while Cloone and Drumreilly were deadlocked at the final whistle and must meet again.  It was a similar story in the Intermediate Relegation Playoffs with Aughnasheelin retaining their status with a comfortable win over St Mary’s and Fenagh and Ballinaglera drew and will have to meet again.

Well done to all the winning teams and we now look forward to the following semi final meetings:-

Senior Championship Semi Finals

Glencar Manorhamilton v Ballinamore Sean O’Heslin’s

St Mary’s v Annaduff or Mohill

Intermediate Championship Semi Finals

Melvin Gaels v Glenfarne Kiltyclogher

Gortletteragh v Drumkeerin

 

 

22-Aug-11 by Colette Fox – PRO

Cumann Luth-Cleas Gael Coiste Chondae Liatroma

At Tuesday night’€’s meeting of Coiste Liatroma GAA delegates expressed their grave concern at the recent announcement by Bank Of America (MBNA) of its intention to close down their operation in Ireland with the real possibility of the loss of up to one thousand jobs at the Carrick-on-Shannon centre.

MBNA set up in Carrick-on-Shannon in 1997 creating much wanted real worthwhile employment not alone in Leitrim but too in our neighbouring counties of Roscommon, Longford,Cavan and Sligo. Such sought after employment resulted in further investment with consequent employment in this area.

Leitrim GAA shares the concern of all the employees of MBNA and fully understand their anxieties at this time. Many of our members at club and county level are very happily employed there not to mention the many officials and the loss of such jobs would be disastrous for our association in this area.

We now ask all of our public representatives to muster their collective abilities to insure that a replacement employer to this state of the art facility. Leitrim does not have an abundance of natural resources and the loss of the jobs in question would be devastating to this entire region. The viability of many of our clubs is dependent on the retention of our workforce here. We too urge all units of our association to offer help and support in any way that may help in retaining those threatened jobs in Carrick-on-Shannon.

 

 

18-Aug-11 by Colette Fox – PRO