Archive for category: Club Football

After the washed out programme last Sunday, the GWP Intermediate and Junior A Championship take centre-stage this weekend when the Quarter-Finals are held.
The eight teams involved in the Intermediate competition will have to deal with the delay caused by last Sundays downpours and it is hard to know what effect, if any, the delay will have on a teams chances.

One team that is sure to be effected by the delay and the replay of the Senior Championship Relegation Semi-Final is the St. Marys Junior A team who take on Leitrim Gaels in an eagerly awaited contest.

However, the replay of the Senior relegationÓgame between Aughnasheelin and St. Marys could effect their chances.

It will also have an effect on the St. Marys Intermediate squad who take onÓgortletteragh on Sunday, with many of the players involved with the Intermediate team eligible for either the Senior or Junior A squads.

Below we take a very brief look at next weekends games:

 

Intermediate Championship Quarter-Finals

Glenfarne/Kilty v St. Caillins
Glenfarne/Kilty are the surprise packages of this years Intermediate competition while Fenagh St. Caillins are rebuilding with a young side who impressed in their meetings with Aughawillan & Ballinaglera.

Glenfarne/Kilty probably have a little more momentum at the moment and while nobody would be surprise here with a Fenagh win, the north Leitrim men probably have an edge in this game.

Gortletteragh v St. Marys
St. Marys chances are greatly hampered by the involvement of their Senior and Junior sides in crucial games on Saturday evening. But having said that, Gortletteragh are one of the favourites for the Intermediate crown and even without the other games, youd expect Gortletteragh to have far too much strength and ability for Marys in this one.

Aughawillan v Dromahair
Just how the postponement will effect these teams is unclear – Dromahair may gain more as they are slowly regaining lost form but Aughawillan are just as eager to get back on track. This could be the game of the day and Dromahair have a habit of upsetting highly rated teams in the last few years but the odds would still appear to favour Aughawillan.

Cloone v Glencar/Manor
Cloone are strong hot favourites in this one but they will be wary of a very strong Glencar/Manor second string. The north Leitrim club may have their focus on the Senior championship and youd have to expect that Cloone will be too strong for them in this game.

 

GWP Junior Championship Quarter-Finals

Leitrim Gaels v St. Marys
The tie of the round seems the fellow parishioners take on each other once – the games have swung one way and then the other but Leitrim Gaels have improved greatly this year, performing well and taking a step up.

The danger for them is if they get overly worked up about the idea of facing St. Marys and getting one over on their bigger neighbours – a lack of focus on the game and concentrating instead on the "derby" element could leave the Gaels prone to a shock as St. Marys have a very strong line-up.They have a good mix in their team and going in as completely underdogs, they face no pressure or expectations. If Leitrim Gaels concentrate on producing the same sort of football they have played so far, they should advance comfortably.

 

Aughavas v Mohill
Another of the favourites for the Junior title, Aughavas, take on a strong Mohill second string and they should prove far too strong in this game, particularly with a possible clash with Leitrim Gaels to come in the Semi-Final.

Aughavas will be anxious to set down a marker after their draw with Eslin and they should do so against Mohill.

Eslin v Carrigallen
After the euphoria of their late draw against Aughavas, Eslin will need to get their feet back on the ground quickly as Carrigallen are quite strong for this Division. They contested the Division Five Final and will not be a push-over. But if Eslin can start the way they finished against Aughavas, then they should be far too strong here.

 

Bornacoola v Gortletteragh
The attentions of these clubs may be concentrated on the Senior and Intermediate championships but there is no doubt that both will be eager to score a win in this derby. It will be close but a strong Gortletteragh should just about come through here.

 

Senior Relegation Semi-Final

Aughnasheelin v St. Marys
Very hard to know who has the upper hand here – St. Marys seem to have lost their League form and are desperately trying to regain it. Did Aughnasheelin miss their chance last Saturday? Their confidence will have received a major boost and they will be very hard beaten. One feels that the momentum has definitely switched Aughnasheelins way but is there a kick left in Marys?

 

GWP Intermediate Relegation Semi-Finals

Ballinaglera v Drumkeerin; Allen Gaels v Annaduff
The north Leitrim derby between Ballinaglera and Drumkeerin is a tough one to call. Ballinaglera probably have the edge in results but Drumkeerin still possess a lot of quality in their ranks. It will be tight and tough but Glera to shade it while, in the battle of the second string teams, Annaduff should just about see off Allen Gaels in the other game.

 

GWP Junior A Relegation Semi-FInals

Kiltubrid v Ballinamore Sean OHeslins; Melvin Gaels v Drumkeerin
Going on results so far, youd expect Kiltubrid and Melvin Gaels to come through in these games without too much trouble.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This full report is available thanks to John Connolly and the Leitrim Observer
– it s available in this weeks edition of the Observer and online here

 

 

 

 

 

 

28-Aug-09 by LeitrimObserver.ie

 

 

Fixtures message from CCC

Fixtures for the weekend have been released following the CCC meeting last night.  All of last weeks rained off fixtures are included in the forthcoming weekend and are now available on the Fixtures page.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

24-Aug-09 by Brendan Doyle – PRO

Football fans will have plenty to get excited about this weekend when the Masonite Senior and GWP Intermediate Championship gets down to the knock-out stages when the Quarter-Finals are played.

The knock-out stages always bring their own drama and excitement and the four pairings at Senior level are certainly causing their own debate while the Intermediate quarter-finals are equally exciting. Just as important are the Senior and Intermediate relegation semi-finals with a lot of clubs desperately anxious to avoid the drop to a lower grade. Below we take a brief look at the games:

Senior Championship Quarter-Finals

Carrigallen v Annaduff
Saturdays clash in Cloone is an intriguing contest, not least because both had mixed enough paths to the quarter-finals. Carrigallen demolished Aughnasheelin but fell to Bornacoola while Annaduff lost heavily to Mohill but a one point win over St. Marys was enough to see them through.

Both sides tend to suffer against physically bigger teams. Carrigallen will hope that Noel Doonan is back in their ranks and they have the ability to move at speed and run up big scores, so Annaduffs defence will have to be wary.

Annaduff havent run up big scores but showed great resilience against St. Marys. The feeling is that if Annaduff can manÓge to keep the score tight, there is no better team at grinding out a result with Ray Cox so dangerous. Yet one feels that Carrigallens greater Scóring ability may just be enough to carry the day here.

Glencar/Manorhamilton v Ballinamore Sean OHeslins
Many pundits are predicting this game as a possible shock but Champions Glencar/Manorhamilton wont be taking Ballinamore Sean OHeslins for granted next Saturday.

The Ballinamore men have grown with confidence in each game so far and with a strong midfield and a mobile attack, OHeslins have the attacking talent to cause any team a problem. But they will be worried by conceding 2-22, the highest by any of the defences remaining in the championship.

Glencar/Manor have the best defence so far of the quarter-finalists, conceding just 1-13 while their attack is also moving quite well. One area of concern, however, may be their slow starts inÓgames which could yet prove costly.

On form so far, this game is destined to be a shoot-out. Ballinamore will take real stopping and it wouldnt be a surprise if there was a surprise here. But James Glancy and Adrian Croal are in fantastic form and they should see the champions through.

Kiltubrid v Melvin Gaels
Melvin Gaels would have been many peoples favourites before the championship began but their struggles so far has seen their stock drop while Kiltubrids displays have only served to reinforce a growing confident that they will be in the shake-up for the Fenagh Cup.

The Kinlough men will be very alarmed by their second half showing against Glencar/ManorYet they will remember the numerous chances they created in the first half and a little improvement in accuracy would make a physically powerful Gaels team very difficult to overcome.

Kiltubrid have a real cutting edge as Dara McKiernan, James Gill & Emmet MahonÓgive them a very dangerous full-forward line. Possessing the second best defensive record from the group stages, one would also have to be impressed by the fact that they have yet to really hit top gear.

Kiltubrid will find the intensive and committed Melvin Gaels style hard to combat but unless there is a drastic improvement in accuracy, Kiltubrid certainly have the attacking tools to go through here.

Mohill v Bornacoola
Sundays derby clash in Ballinamore is one to savour and irregardless of form, both sides would be confident that they are more than capable of beating their neighbours.

Mohill have been something of a jekyll & hyde this campaign, mixing a brilliant attack where Philly McGuinness & Ronan Kennedy have stood out with a defence that has conceded some sloppy goals.

Bornacoola will be alarmed by their loss to Aughnasheelin, although the return of Michael Duignan is a massive boost. Attitude has a lot to do with it and if they get it right, the physically imposing Bors have both the firepower and strength to see off their neighbours.

Both defences have question marks over them and odds and form would suggest Mohill. But Bornacoola are always capable of an upset and games between these teams often come down to a moment of madness or genius – it may even be a draw!

 

Intermediate Championship Quarter-Finals

Glenfarne/Kilty v St. Caillins
Glenfarne/Kilty are the surprise packages of this years Intermediate competition while a young Fenagh St. Caillins team have come through two tough meetings with Aughawillan & Ballinaglera. Glenfarne/Kilty may have a slight advantage in that they are playing a Division higher in the League while their mix of experience and youth is certainly doing well for them.

Fenagh missed out on promotion due to Scóring difference and they struggled to draw with Ballinaglera after a good first showing against Aughawillan. A few years ago, this would have been considered a mis-match due to Fenaghs ability and experience but they have struggled in recent years. Glenfarne/Kilty are coming along nicely, winning a tough group, so the north Leitrim menÓget the vote here.

Gortletteragh v St. Marys
On the face of it, Gortletteragh would appear to have a relatively straight-forward task here – a Division One first string team against a second string side who were relegated from Division Two.The Carrick side may have oceans of experience and a few talented young performers but they wont be helped by the fact that they must focus on the Senior teams relegation battle with Aughnasheelin the previous evening.

Gortletteragh have only conceded nine points in the championship so far and have run up a few big scores. The Intermediate Championship has seen quite a few of their dreams shattered in recent years but Gortletteragh should have far too much strength and ability for Marys in this one.

Aughawillan v Dromahair
Two of the pre-competition favourites for the title meet in an intriguing game on Sunday – Aughawillan carry the title of favourites but if Dromahair rediscover the verve of their Celebrity Bainisteoir exploits, this game will go down to the wire. Dromahairs exertions in the RTE programme seemed to drain their reserves at just the time they needed it but a vital win over Drumkeerin may just be the spark they need to get back on track.

Aughawillan would have a lot of expectations on them, both internal and external, and they have recovered well from a rocky patch in the League. They have quite a few players more than capable of dominating this contest but they will have to guard against a Dromahair team who will relish being underdogs. But the odds would still appear to favour Aughawillan advancing to the semi-final after a tough battle.

Cloone v Glencar/Manor
Cloone, no more thanÓgortletteragh, are in the unenviable position of being hot favourites against a second string team. However, Glencar/Manor do have five senior championship medalists in their line-up and their demolition of Annaduff will serve as a warning.

Cloone have been solid rather than spectacular, over-coming two second string teams. This will be another step up for them but they have made a bit of progress in recent years and they should be too strong for Glencar/Manor this time.

 

 

Senior Relegation Semi-Finals

Allen Gaels v Drumreilly;   Aughnasheelin v St. Marys

Two huge games with potentially massive consequences. Drumreilly and AughnasheelinÓgo into the game with some degree of confidence after their last group games but Allen Gaels and St. Marys are definitely not to be taken lightly, both going out of the championship by the margin of just a point.

Despite poor displays in both their games, Marys will start as many peoples favourites against Aughnasheelin but they will need a drastic improvement against an Aughnasheelin team who could have dumped Bornacoola out of the championship if they had more confidence in their ability. This will be tighter than most expect but Marys may just sneak it.

The other game is difficult to call – Allen Gaels were desperately unlucky to be caught by Melvin Gaels but were given a big beating by Glencar/Manor. Drumreilly didnt perform in their first game against Kiltubrid but showed enough against Ballinamore to suggest that they are back on form.Again, it is difficult to know who carries the most momentum but Drumreilly get the dreaded vote.

 

GWP Intermediate Relegation Semi-Finals

Ballinaglera v Drumkeerin;   Allen Gaels v Annaduff

The draw here sees the two first teams facing each other while two second strings are in the other game. Ballinaglera needed just a point to advance against Fenagh and have shown an ability to perform when their backs are against the wall. Drumkeerin wont make it easy but their losses in personnel this year is killing their chances and Glera should just shade it. In the other game, Annaduff suffered a big loss last weekend but they probably have enough strength to see off last years Junior Champions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This full report is available thanks to John Connolly and the Leitrim Observer
– its available in this weeks edition of the Observer and online here

 

 

 

 

”

 

 

21-Aug-09 by LeitrimObserver.ie