Archive for category: County Football

BACK to BASICS

For Leitrim it is good bye to the All Ireland Championship and back to the more mundane matters of our own club activity.
Saturday was a chastening day for us, a complete contrast to the evening in Markievicz Park, when we captured our first FBD title and eagerly looked forward to the Connacht Championship game in gaelic Park, with another visit to the Big Apple guaranteed for later in the year. On that evening we cheered, applauded, hugged and kissed in euphoric joy. The best, we felt, was yet to come. A spot in the Connacht Final looked within our grasp, but feet were kept on the ground.
Emotions were very different on Saturday in Páirc Seán MacDiarmada when the relief of the final whistle came. There was no back-slapping or eyes on the next day out, but it was good to see so many, kids especially, run on to the pitch to meet the players in the green and gold, because they are still our heroes. Armagh supporters did likewise, but they could bask in their success and wonder who the next qualifier draw would throw up.
The visitors did not go easy on, even when victory was long beyond doubt, they still wanted to rattle the net. But they were playing with a full hand, absences or injuries had not taken a toll like it had with Leitrim. Both sets of players had trained in the same manner, made the same sacrifices and wore their county jersey with pride. Everyone involved with the teams had played their part too. The only difference was on the scoreboard. We should remember that.
Our club championship now looms and the Leitrim players go back into training, no easy task. They gave of their all on Saturday, every last man on the panel. No doubt they will do likewise for their club jersey.

14-Jul-13 by Tommy Moran

Play your part for Leitrim

We all know the chorus of The Boys from the County Armagh and probably most Armagh followers could manÓge a line or two from Lovely Leitrim, so there will be little between us if the singing starts on the stand and terraces on Saturday.

But it is not a song contest, of course. It’s serious stuff. The winners take another step in the Championship, while the losers return to domestic competition.

The men from the North will be raging hot favourites following on from their annihilation of Wicklow in the last Qualifier round, together with having been All Ireland winners just over a decade ago and also having part of the all-conquering Crossmaglen club in their line-up. Add to that big-time experience and what have you, so little wonder that the pundits will have this game down as a sure thing for the visitors.

All that could be a valuable plus for Leitrim. And if the men in the green and gold perform as they did in the second half of the replay against London, then Armagh might have a little more trouble than everybody is bargaining for. Those last thirty seven minutes or so in Hyde Park showed what passion, pride, determination and an abundance of skill can do.

There will be great pre-match focus of what a footballing genius like Jamie Clarke can do to the Leitrim backline. But Jamie can only dazzle with his brilliance when he is in possession of the ball, so whoever is detailed to be his marker has a very specific job to do, just don’t allow him possession. Easy to say, a lot harder to do, but that is what every man in a Leitrim jersey must achieve. Just get the better of your opposite number and what more can be expected of you. We need everybody playing to their full potential and working as a team.

If the game were in Crossmaglen or Lurgan or Armagh, the home support would boost their players. Surely we can rise to the same level in Carrick on Shannon? All of us can play a valuable part, more valuable than we might think. Nothing can lift the men in the green and gold more than the Lei-trim Lei-trim chant from every corner of Páirc Seán.

Be there.

08-Jul-13 by Leitrim GAA

GAA Football All-Ireland Championship Round 2 Qualifier Draw

The draw for Round 2 of the Football Qualifiers took place this morning live on TV3s Ireland AM programme.

The draw is as follows (first team has home advantage):

To be played on July 6/7

Clare v Laois

Derry v Down

Roscommon v Tyrone

To be played on July 13/14

Longford v Wexford

Cavan v Fermanagh

Kildare v Louth

Leitrim v Armagh (please note game scheduled for Saturday 13th July at 5pm in Pairc Sean MacDiarmada)

Full fixture details will be confirmed in due course.

01-Jul-13 by Colette Fox – PRO

Rollercoaster of Emotions

Leitrim GAA followers certainly went through a whole rollercoaster of emotions last weekend.
On Saturday evening in Elvery’s McHale Park the supporters of the green and gold were in full voice coming up to half time, after a well takenÓgoal left the Minor side only three points down against a hotly fancied Mayo team. There was excited chatter among the loyal followers during the break, wondering could Leitrim up the game in the second half and even snatch a long awaited victory in the Electric Ireland Connacht Minor Championship. Play had barely resumed when Mayo took a firm grip on the game and ran out comfortable winners, despite the very best efforts of Enda Lyons and his charges. It was a bitter disappointment for them, many of whom had just completed their Leaving Cert and now have to wait till next Spring to be back in competitive action in a county jersey. For parents, club coaches. county team trainers and supporters, a victory would have been very welcome. But Leitrim are nothing if not good losers and the after match talk had switched to the big game in Carrick on the following day.

Sunday morning looked bleak, with dark clouds on the horizon. Was this a sign from the gods that Leitrim should get ready to swallow another bitter pill of defeat?
But as throw-in time came, the skies brightened and all seemed well for the first few minutes of play. Supporters were making themselves heard, but London followers could cheer too, especially after a shock goal and then the game was up for grabs. It was thundering stuff, end to end action, star players from each side succumbing to injury, a see-saw contest, gripping excitement, great scores and shocking misses, manly tackling and all that is good in gaelic football.
Everybody needed a breather at half time, during which Edwina Guckian and her sean-nós dancers thrilled the much larger than expected attendance. Edwina will be in Kerry in September as a contestant in the Rose of Tralee, all of Leitrim and London and Connacht wishing her well. Would either team in the dressing rooms be heading to Croker in September? Nobody cared, all that mattered was the next thirty five minutes, with a Connacht Final as the prize.
The action re-started and the cliff hanger continued, right to the last seconds. Defeat for either side would have been hard to take. They get to do it all again next Sunday in Hyde Park. Be there!

26-Jun-13 by Leitrim GAA

Connacht Senior Football Championship Semi Final 

Páirc Seán MacDiarmada Sunday 23rd June 2013 Throw in 3.30pm

Leitrim team to play London 

The Leitrim team make five changes in personnel from the team that started against New York in May. Ciaran Egan, Enda Williams and Barry Prior come into a new look defence, with Brendan Brennan starting in midfield and Paddy McGowanÓgetting the nod at wing forward.

FOIREANN LIATROIM

Cathal McCrann (Gortletteragh)

Alan Wynne (Allen Gaels)

Ciaran Egan (Gortletteragh)

Gary Reynolds (Carrigallen)

Danny Beck (Mohill)

Enda Williams (Clonguish)

Barry Prior (Aughawillan)

Darren Sweeney (Glencar Manorhamilton)

Brendan Brennan (Melvin Gaels)

Paul Brennan (Melvin Gaels)

Emlyn Mulligan (Capt) (St Brigid’s)

Paddy McGowan (St Patricks Dromahair)

Kevin Conlon (St Patricks Dromahair)

James Glancy (Glencar Manorhamilton)

Robbie Lowe (St Marys)

19-Jun-13 by Colette Fox – PRO