Archive for category: Club Football

The Group 4 Annaduff v MevlinÓgaels game is in Bornacoola at the earlier time of 6:00pm on Saturday evening.

05-Jul-05 by GAC

Bank of Ireland Football Championship, Round 2

Leitrim 1-8 Meath 1-12

Leitrim almost pulled off one of the great shocks of this year?s championship when they pushed Leinster kingpins Meath to within 30 seconds of a sensational championship exit.

In an extraordinarily tense Round 2 Qualifier game at a packed P?irc Se?n Mac Diarmada, Leitrim found themselves a point ahead of one of gaelic football?s biggest names with injury time running out. It was then that Meath hero Ollie Murphy, himself an All Ireland medal winner, who had just come off the bench got his first touch of the ball and shot a dramatic equaliser for the Royal County to break Leitrim hearts and send the game into extra time.

A deflated Leitrim never recovered from this hammer blow, falling two points in arrears at half time in extra time and whenÓgraham Geraghty scored an opportunist goal at the start of the second period of extra time, the game was over as a contest.

However, it was a Herculean effort from an ever improving Leitrim team. With Darren Duignan and Gareth Phelan earning starting places at the expense of the unfortunate Cathal Mc Crann and Niall Gilbane, Leitrim?s line up showed only two changes from the team that had pushed Galway all the way in the Connacht semi-final.

From early on it was obvious that this was going to be a real battle of wills, as the difficult weather conditions ensured that scores would be kept to a minimum and while free flowing moves may have been a rarity, the action was intense and the excitement reached fever pitch during that incredible finish. As has been their wont, Leitrim started slowly and Meath registered two points in an opening quarter of an hour that was dominated by the Leinster Giants.

With Meath enjoying the lion?s share of possession, it was the tight marking and tigerish defending of Leitrim?s much vaunted full back line of Dermot Reynolds, John Mc Keon and Michael Mc Guinness that prevented the Royals from establishing a more commanding lead. The Leitrim team slowly began to find their feet and points from Michael Foley, Declan Maxwell and James Glancy gave the Connacht team a 0-3 to 0-2 lead after half an hour. Geraghty levelled for Meath approaching half time, but Drumkeerin?s Michael Foley had the last say of the half edging Leitrim 0-4 to 0-3 ahead at the break.

With the wind at their backs in the 2nd half, Meath were expected to move up a gear and with Stephen Bray and Brian Farrell particularly prominent they moved two points in front after quarter of an hour. It looked as if the Leitrim challenge was fading, when James Glancy ? a Championship revelation for Dessie Dolan?s team this year ? rescued a ball from the endline and cut past two Meath defenders to slot home a wonderful solo goal to send the Carrick on Shannon faithful into raptures.

Paul Byrne did equalise for the Royals and the final ten minutes were played out with tension rising as chances went abegging at both ends. With the game moving into injury time, Mohill?s Daniel Beck scored a wonderful point and it seemed that the impossible was about to become reality. But Meath are renowned as outstanding championship battlers and when the talismanic Murphy got the ball in his hands, what would have been a famous Leitrim victory was cruelly denied as he split the posts with a wonderful point.

A deflated Leitrim never really looked as sharp in extra time and in fairness the visitor?s were worthy winners. Late points from substitute Donal Brennan and a Foley free were however further evidence of the fighting spirit of this group of Leitrim players and although the curtain came down on Leitrim?s championship ambitions on Sunday afternoon, it was the most promising campaign for Leitrim supporters since the heady days of 1994 and Connacht Championship glory.

Leitrim: Cathal Mc Crann, Michael Mc Guinness, John Mc Keon, Dermot Reynolds, Colin Regan, Barry Mc Weeney, Shane Foley, Chris Carroll, Gary Mc Closkey, Johnny Goldrick, Barry Prior, Michael Foley (0-4, 3 frees), James Glancy (1-1), Darren Duignan and Declan Maxwell (0-1). Subs used: Donal Brennan (0-1), Daniel Beck (0-1), Niall Gilbane, James Mc Gowan

04-Jul-05 by Lovely Leitrim

The following is the Leitrim Senior Team and Panel for Sundays All Ireland Qualifier game against Meath.

Leitrim Senior Team
All-Ireland Qualifier
03 July 05 – 2:30pm

1. Gareth Phelan — G. O Faolain — Melvin Gaels
2. Michael McGuinness — M. MacAonghusa — Mohill
3. John McKeon — S. Mac Eoin — Drumreilly
4. Dermot Reynolds — D. Mac Raghnaill — St. Mary?s
5. Colin Regan — C. O Riagain — Melvin Gaels
6. Barry McWeeney — B. Mac Mhaonaigh — Aughnasheelin
7. Shane Foley — S. O Foghlu — Kiltubrid
8. Christopher Carroll — C. O Cearbhail — Kiltubrid
9. Gary McCloskey — G. Mac Bhlaoscaigh — Bornacoola
10. Johnny Goldrick — S. Mac Ualraig — St. Mary?s
11. Barry Prior — B. Mac an Phriora — Aughawillan
12. Michael Foley — M. O Foghlu — Drumkeerin
13. James Glancy — S. Mac Fhlannacha — Glencar-Manorhamilton
14. Darren Duignan — D. O Duigeannain — Gortletteragh
15. Declan Maxwell — D. O Meiscill — Drumreilly
16. Cathal McCrann — C. MacCrann — Gortletteragh
17. Daniel Beck — D. de Beic — Mohill
18. Donal Brennan — D. O Braonain — Cloone
19. Barry Butler — B. de Buitl?ir — St. Mary?s
20. Niall Gilbane — N. Mac Giolla Bhan — Allen Gaels
21. Brendan Guckian — B. Mac Eochain — Annaduff
22. Ciaran Kennedy — C. O Cinneide — Mohill
23. Dermot Kennedy — D. O Cinneide — Gortletteragh
24. James McGowan — S. Mac Gabhann — St. Mary?s
25. Darragh McKiernan — D. Mac Tighearnain — Kiltubrid
26. Gabriel Prior — G. Mac an Phriora — Aughnasheelin

Bainisteoir: Des Dolan
Roghnoiri: Pat Prior and Declan Bohan

01-Jul-05 by PRO

The Leitrim team management will announce the team to face Galway at 8:00pm on this website.

09-Jun-05 by PRO

Bank of Ireland Connacht Football Championship

Leitrim 1-11 Sligo 0-9

A terrific second half performance from a young Leitrim team propelled the county into a Connacht semi-final meeting with Galway on June 12th as Leitrim recorded their first championship win in Pairc Sean since 1991 amid scenes of much jubilation.

Inspired by their outstanding full back line, and Drumreillys John Mc Keon in particular, Leitrim delivered their finest performance in many years to cause the first upset of the 2005 championship. Although Sligo had travelled South on the back of a poor league campaign, their recent championship form and a string of impressive results in challenge games, suggested that Dessie Dolans inexperienced charges would be no match for a team that included All Star Eamon O Hara at midfield and players such as John Mc Partland, Gerry Mc Gowan and Mark Brehony who had starred on the national stage in recent years.

Indeed the game seemed to be following the expected script as Sligo dominated long periods of the first half and led by 0-6 to 0-2 with just a couple of minutes to go to half time. In truth they should have been much further ahead, but a string of bad wides in the difficult conditions (ten in all) was to prove their ultimate undoing. The attendance of 9,548 had seen Leitrim struggle for most of the opening period as Sligo won a lot of ball in the middle third of the pitch and the home side struggled to find their feet. A James Glancy point from play and a free from Michael Foley were Leitrims sole rewards for thirty minutes of endeavour, but when Declan Maxwell finally received the type of ball that had frustrated Roscommon in Leitrims last league outing, the game was turned on its head.

Leitrims best period of the half started in the 32nd minute when Maxwell won the ball brilliantly in front of Noel Maguire and kicked right footed over the Sligo bar. Two minutes later, the ball was in his hands again and his precise pass to Johnny Goldrick gave the Carrick man a one on one chance against the Sligo keeper from an exceptionally difficult angle. All of Carrick inhaled as Goldrick pulled the trigger and brilliantly found the net to send the huge home support wild. It was a goal of much class and sent the teams to the dressing room on level terms as Leitrim suddenly began to believe.

Leitrim went on to dominate the second half for long periods, but initially struggled to find their shooting boots and with much less possession, Sligo found themselves two points to the good with twenty minutes remaining. But you always sensed that this was to be Leitrims day and we finally saw this Leitrim team kick into overdrive in the last quarter of an hour. The introduction of Gortleterraghs Darren Duignan was the catalyst as he kicked two superb scores that seemed to inspire those around him.

With quality ball now finding Maxwell on a regular basis, the Sligo defence simply couldn t handle the Drumreilly man and two further points from him, two more from James Glancy and a brace of frees from Michael Foley sent thousands of ecstatic Leitrim supporters Scórrying on to the pitch as the referee brought the curtain down on a terrific Leitrim performance.

Its now on to Pearse Stadium in three weeks time and while Leitrim have much to work on between now and then, the fighting spirit and never say die attitude of this bunch of players will give Leitrim supporters great hope ahead of their meeting with the Tribesmen.

Leitrim: Cathal Mc Crann, Michael Mc Guinness, John Mc Keon, Dermot Reynolds, Niall Gilbane, Barry Mc Weeney, Shane Foley, Chris Carroll, Gary Mc Closkey, Johnny Goldrick (1-0), Barry Prior, Michael Foley (0-3f), James GLancy (0-3), Colin Regan, Declan Maxwell (0-3). Subs: Darren Duignan (0-2) for Gilbane.

23-May-05 by Lovely Leitrim

Allianz National Football League, Division 2a

Leitrim 1-13
Roscommon 0-10

Leitrim saved the best wine until last in the 2005 national league by producing their most complete performance for some time in defeating old rivals Roscommon at a packed Cloone. That the victory came on the back of a heavy defeat by Monaghan and following Roscommon?s demolition of a highly rated Longford only added to the delight for the home supporters and when one considers that it was also achieved minus the inspirational John Mc Keon and Dermot Reynolds, it speaks volumes for how far Leitrim have come under Des Dolan.

Leitrim were by far the better team throughout but squandered a series of very scoreable chances particularly in the first half meaning that their half time lead owed much to a terrific save from Cathal Mc Crann after Karol Mannion appeared to push Michael Mc Guinness in the back to set up Roscommon?s best chance of the game. Mc Crann advanced brilliantly to smother Mannion?s shot and it proved to be a major turning point in the game. When a similar chance from a long ball forward fell to Leitrim full forward Declan Maxwell just a few minutes before half time, the Drumreilly man made no mistake and Leitrim went in at the break two points to the good ? 1-5 to 0-6.

It was no more than Leitrim deserved having dominated the first half from the throw in. Johnny Goldrick was in particularly inspiring form and the St Mary?s man led the Roscommon defence a merry dance throughout. Declan Maxwell and Donal Brennan were in equally impressive form and while Darren Duignan hit a series of infuriating wides, the Gortletteragh man also caused huge problems for the opposition defence and long with the ever willing Michael Foley worked hard over the course of the game.

Leitrim were also dominant at midfield, where Chris Carroll was by far the best player on show, limiting the influence of the much vaunted Seamus O?Neill and while the Kilbride man scored a good point in the first half, he was no match for the Leitrim captain. In defence, John Mc Keon?s withdrawal before the throw inÓgave David Mc Hugh the chance to impress and the Annaduff man had a solid hour in a Leitrim back six that coped easily with a lifeless Roscommon attack.

The second half was all Leitrim and a purple patch midway through that yielded five unanswered points was key in the final analysis as the home team continually worked the ball into promising positions and drew fouls that the accurate Foley was only too willing to punish. It left Leitrim seven points in front with just 10 minutes remaining and although the visitors mounted some late pressure, Leitrim saw out the game as comfortable winners and rounded off a largely pleasing campaign that delivered home victories over London, Clare and Roscommon and an away draw in Longford.

As a final competitive outing before the visit of Sligo in the Connacht championship in May, Sunday?s game was as good as Leitrim could have hoped for and Leitrim supporters will approach the business end of the season with renewed confidence and the notion that significant progression in the Championship is not beyond Des Dolan?s charges.

Leitrim: Cathal Mc Crann, David Mc Hugh, Michael Mc Guinness, Barry Mc Weeney, Colin Regan, Shane Foley, Chris Carroll, Gary Mc Closkey, Johnny Goldrick (0-1), Barry Prior, Michael Foley (0-8), Darren Duignan (0-1), Declan Maxwell (1-2) and Donal Brennan (0-1). Subs: Dara Mc Kiernan and James Glancy

04-Apr-05 by Lovely Leitrim