Football Fever as Neighbours Come to Visit!

Two Leitrim venues will be hives of GAA activity this weekend as Leitrim compete in the Connacht Minor Football League, Cadbury’s Connacht U21 Football Championship Semi Final and Allianz Football League.

All roads lead to Shane McGettigan Park and Páirc Seán this weekend as the Minor team take on Sligo in their first game in the Connacht League, our U21’s do battle with Roscommon in the Cadbury’s Connacht U21 Championship semi final and the Seniors host neighbours Fermanagh in Round 6 of the Allianz League.

MINOR
The Minor team take on Sligo in the first round of the Connacht Minor League on Saturday. Under the guidance of Damian Eames and PJ Clancy our young guns will be hoping to get their campaign off to a winning start. Leitrim performed very well in the League last year and will be hoping to build on their 2010 performances. A home win would be the ideal start.
Throw-in at 12 noon on Saturday in Shane McGettigan Park, Drumshanbo.

U21
Our U21 team host Roscommon in the Cadbury’s Connacht U21 Football Championship semi final this Saturday. Roscommon defeated a highly rated Mayo outfit in their preliminary game last weekend on a score-line of 0-11 to 0-9. While the visitors have the advantage of that game under their belts our boys are well prepared and have home advantage and the loyal Leitrim supporters behind them. Leitrim under the management team of Mickey Moran, Martin McGowan, Jimmy Holohan and Barney Breen will be hoping to cause an upset in this game as Roscommon carry the favourites tag. Come on lads – ye can do it.
Throw-in at 2.30 on Saturday in Páirc Seán.

SENIOR
The senior team host Fermanagh in the Allianz League on Sunday. We have billed this game as "when neighbours meet" and if either neighbour are to be in the hunt for promotion – this is a must winÓgame. The last time the sides met in the Allianz League was back in 2008 when Fermanagh scored a vital win (2-09 to 3-10) over us on our home turf. Leitrim are at the disadvantage of not having played a game since the 20th of February while Fermanagh come fresh from defeat at the hands of Roscommon last weekend and will be hoping to turn their season around on Leitrim soil. The league table shows Fermanagh lying in 7th place on 3 points from 4 outings while Leitrim are in 5th place on 4 points with 3 games played. A large crowd is expected at the venue and we anticipate a rip-roaring contest.
Throw-in at 2.30 on Sunday in Páirc Seán.

PLEASE COME OUT TO SUPPORT ALL THE TEAMS AND DON’T FORGET TO SHOW YOUR COUNTY COLOURS BY WEARING YOUR LEITRIM SUPPORTERS CLUB ScórF.

 

 

 

18-Mar-11 by Colette Fox – PRO

Leitrim team to play Fermanagh

LEITRIM TEAM TO PLAY Fermanagh IN THE ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE (Round 6 – Division 4)

This Sunday (20th March, 2011) at 2.30 pm in Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada

1 Cathal McCrannÓgortletteragh
2 Dermot Reynolds Annaduff
3 RonanÓgallagher Mohill
4 Paddy Maguire Glencar/Manorhamilton
5 Daniel Beck Mohill
6 Gary Reynolds Carrigallen
7 Barry Prior Aughawillan
8 Tomas Beirne Eslin
9 Daniel Lowe St Marys
10 Emlyn Mulligan Melvin Gaels
11 Colm Clarke Drumkeerin
12 Colm Maguire Aughavas
13 James Glancy (Capt) Glencar/Manorhamilton
14 Adrian Croal Glencar/Manorhamilton
15 Conor Kelly Dromahair

 

 

18-Mar-11 by Colette Fox – PRO

County Fixtures

Supporters are asked to kindly note the following County fixtures.

Cadburys U21 Championship 2011

Roscommon V Leitrim
19 March 2011
Carrick on Shannon 2.30

Allianz Football League
London V Leitrim
Venue: Ruislip, London
17 April 2011
Time TBC.

 

 

12-Mar-11 by Colette Fox – PRO

Hastings Cup Shield Final

Hastings Cup Shield Final

Longford 1 – 14
Leitrim 0 – 15

Despite putting in a massive effort Leitrim U21s came up short at the end of the recent hard fought Hastings Cup Shield final under lights in a rain soaked Drumlish where Longfords more clinical approached and killer instinct carried them to victory at the end.

Leitrim enjoyed a huge amount of dominance in this game but was never able to get sufficiently far ahead of Longford to put the game out of their opponents reach and retain the Hastings Cup Shield that they claimed with an extra time win over the Longford men twelve months ago in Ballymahon.
At different spells in the first half Leitrim opened up gaps of three and five points on Longford. Meanwhile in the second half after coming from behind Leitrim edged into a two points with ten minutes to but thenÓgot piped at the post by a more ruthless Longford at the end.

The Longford men drew first blood when Ronan McGoldrick fired over a 4th minute point. After that Leitrim seized the initiative over the next six minutes to claim a three points lead when Shane Moran hit the target twice with Eoin Ward and Conor Beirne adding a point each.  James Noonan tapped over a 12th minute Longford free and Pádraig McCormack shot a point from play two minutes later to reduce Leitrims lead to the minimum. James Carroll received a yellow card in the 17th minute and over the next four minutes Leitrim upped their game again to go five points clear.  In this period Kevin Conlan, after being fouled by James Carroll, shot over from a free and then pointed from play while Conor Beirne also converted a free and Philip McGourty found the range from play.  In response Longford staged a rally in the final eight minutes of the half that reduced Leitrims advantage to two points by the interval. In this spell James Noonan tapped over two Longford frees and Pauric Gill added a point from play that gave a halftime score line of Leitrim 0 – 8 Longford 0 – 6.

Within 90 seconds of the throw-in Longford had a dream second half start when sub Marty Mulvey finished to the Leitrim net from close range after J. J. Mathews sent a ball across from the left wing into the goalmouth.  Longford stretched their lead in the following minute after Diarmuid Cooney hit over a point from play. But the gap between the sides was down to a single point shortly afterwards when Conor Beirne replied with a Leitrim point after getting a pass from Aaron Hickey.  Beirne was yellowed carded in the 36th minute and two minutes later J. J. Mathews shot a Longford point while Diarmuid Cooney was the recipient of another yellow card in the 40th minute.  Three minutes later Leitrim ‘keeper Philip Farrelly denied a goal bound Longford effort that was shot by the lively J. J. Mathews. Leitrim regained the initiative and got back on level terms by the 46th minute after Kevin Conlan and Sean McNabola whipped over a point apiece during a period when Longfords Fergal Reilly saw yellow.  Converted frees by Conor Beirne and Kevin Conlan edged Leitrim into a two points lead by the 49th minute. But after that Longford took the game by the scruff of the neck to level matters in the space of three more minutes and thenÓgrab a three points lead with five minutes remaining.
In this spell Pauric Gill initiated the Longford revival with three well-hit points on the trot while Colm P. Smyth also shot over from play and James Noonan tapped over a free.  But Leitrim then came back to reduce Longfords lead to the minimum when Sean McNabola and Aaron Hickey hit over a point each in the 57th and 58th minutes. However Pauric Gill then made Longfords victory secure when he shot a point just before the game entered injury time, which lasted an extra two minutes.

Longford: Paddy Collum, James Carroll, Fergal Battrim, Aaron Quinn, Colm P. Smyth 0 – 1, Shane Mahon, Fergal Reilly, Conor Quaine, DarrenÓgallagher, Pádraig McCormack 0 – 1, Pauric Gill 0 – 5, Diarmuid Cooney, 0 – 1, Ronan McGoldrick 0 – 1, J. Noonan 0 – 4(4f.), J. J. Mathews 0 – 1. Sub Marty Mulvey 1 – 0 for Quaine (HT).

Leitrim: Philip Farrelly, Thomas Cornyn, Mark Beirne, Daragh Flynn, Jason Beirne, Sean McWeeney, Philip McGourty 0 – 1, Niall OConnor, Conor McWeeney, Aaron Hickey 0 – 1, Eoin Ward 0 – 1, Morgan Quinn, Shane Moran 0 – 2, Kevin Conlan 0 – 4(2f.), Conor Beirne 0 – 4(2f.). Subs James OBrien for Beirne (28 mins.), Sean McNabola 0 – 2 for OConnor (30 mins.), Aidan Flynn for McWeeney (55 mins.).
Referee: Ollie Kelly (Roscommon).

Match Report courtesty of PJ Leddy. 

 

 

02-Mar-11 by Colette Fox – PRO

London v Leitrim game POSTPONED

London v Leitrim Allianz League game postponed due to unplayable pitch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

27-Feb-11 by Colette Fox – PRO

Leitrim v London

The release of the Leitrim team has been delayed until match day due to a number of late injury concerns. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

 

 

25-Feb-11 by Colette Fox – PRO

Leitrim V Kilkenny Report

Leitrim got their Allianz Division 4 League campaign back on track last weekend when they comprehensively defeated Kilkenny in Ballyragget (3-19 to no score). As the score-line suggests Leitrim were completely dominant throughout the game. In the first half they were against a gale force wind and chalked up 1-9 and with the winds at their backs in the second half they added a further 2-10.

Emlyn Mulligan made his first start in 2011 and was impressive with 9 points (6 from placed balls). Well done to Robert Lowe (St Marys), Conor Kelly (Dromahair) and Fergal Clancy (Glenfarne/Kilty) who all made their Allianz League debuts. Also many thanks to the Leitrim supporters who made the long journey to Kilkenny to support the team.

LEITRIM
Cathal McCrann,
Gary Reynolds, RonanÓgallagher, Paddy Maguire 0-1,
Daniel Beck, Barry McWeeney, Barry Prior 1-1,
Darren Sweeney, Robert Lowe,
Emlyn Mulligan 0-9 (6 F), Wayne McKeon, Paul Brennan 0-1,
James Glancy (Glencar Manor) (Capt) 1-2, Adrian Croal, Brian McDonald.

Subs:
Colm Maguire 0-2 for Darren Sweeney (injured)
Conor Kelly 1-1 for Brian McDonald
Fergal Clancy 0-1 for Paul Brennan
Colm Clarke 0-1 for Robert Lowe
James Glancy (St Marys) for Barry Prior

 

 

23-Feb-11 by Colette Fox – PRO

Leitrim v London Preview

Leitrim travel overseas this weekend to take on London in Round 4 of the Allianz Football League.

The current top 4 standing in Division 4 sees Wicklow and Roscommon on five points from 3 outings with Wicklow on top on Scóring average (+/- 26) with Roscommon in 2nd place (+/- 21). Leitrim now sit in 3rd place on the table with four points and neighbours Longford are in 4th place on three points with a game less played.

London are currently in 7th place on 2 points with Carlow (1 point) and Kilkenny (0 points) below them. While we travel to London this weekend the other games at home in Division 4 sees Carlow welcome Clare, Fermanagh at home to Wicklow and Longford hosting Kilkenny. Roscommon have a bye.

As mentioned in the preview of last weeks game versus Kilkenny "it is only round three of the competition and as everyone knows anything can happen between now and the last league game" – how true this statement turned out to be as we take a glance at some of the results in all the Allianz Divisions last weekend:-

Division 1 All Ireland Champions Cork were well beaten by the Dubs in Croke Park
Division 2 Donegal handed out a shock defeat to Tyrone at Healy Park
Division 3 Newly promoted Waterford beat Limerick in Dungarvan
Division 4 Fermanagh were defeated at home by Longford.

Last weekend Leitrim recorded a comprehensive victory over Kilkenny. They will be hoping to put back to back victories together this weekend but the exiles will be a very tricky assignment. A win this weekend could put us in with a chance of leading Division 4 after four rounds of fixtures. Lets hope so.

Ruislip is the venue and throw-in time is 1pm. The Leitrim team to play London will be released on the website at 8am on Friday morning.

 

 

 

23-Feb-11 by Colette Fox – PRO

Leitrim team to play Kilkenny

LEITRIM TEAM TO PLAY KILKENNY IN THE ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE (Round 3 – Division 4)

This Sunday (20th February, 2011) at 2.30 pm in Ballyragget

Liatroim

1 Cathal McCrannÓgortletteragh
2 Gary Reynolds Carrigallen
3 RonanÓgallagher Mohill
4 Paddy Maguire Glencar/Manorhamilton
5 Daniel Beck Mohill
6 Barry McWeeney Aughnasheelin
7 Barry Prior Aughawillan
8 Darren Sweeney Glencar/Manorhamilton
9 Daniel Lowe St Marys
10 Emlyn Mulligan Melvin Gaels
11 Wayne McKeon Ballinamore Sean OHeslins
12 Paul Brennan Melvin Gaels
13 James Glancy (Capt) Glencar/Manorhamilton
14 Adrian Croal Glencar/Manorhamilton
15 Brian McDonald Glencar/Manorhamilton

There are a number of positional switches and three changes in personnel from the team that lost to Wicklow last weekend:-

– Brian McDonald comes in for Ray Cox at corner forward
– Conor Beirne makes way for Emlyn Mulligan who makes his first start in 2011 after coming off the bench last weekend
– St Marys Daniel Lowe makes his debut in the Allianz League replacing the suspended Tomas Beirne in midfield

 

 

 

 

18-Feb-11 by Colette Fox – PRO

Leitrim v Kilkenny

The Kilkenny V Leitrim Allianz League match this Sunday at 2.30pm will NOW take place in Ballyragget and NOT Freshford as originally scheduled.

 

 

16-Feb-11 by Colette Fox – PRO

Leitrim V Wicklow Report

Leitrims bid to put back to back victories together in the Allianz League were dashed on Sunday when Wicklow left Páirc Seán with the vital two points courtesy of a five point win (1-15 to 1-10).

For the second week in a row it was "unlucky for some" in Pairc Sean with 13 man Leitrim following the trend from the previous Sunday when it was 13 man Clare.

Leitrim started this contest brightly and were first on the scoreboard with an early point from the excellent Adrian Croal. From the resultant kickout, Leitrim surged forward and were awarded a 3rd minute penalty for a foot block on Daniel Becks shot. Unfortunately Conor Beirnes effort was saved by the Wicklow keeper but there was some consolation as the subsequent 45 was well dispatched by Darren Sweeney. Adrian Croal got his second point from play in the next move of the game and this opened up a 3 point lead for the home side. Wicklow responded two minutes later with their opening score from a free and in the 7th minute the fabric of the game was to change as Leitrim were reduced to 14 men with the dismissal of midfielder Tomas Beirne on a straight red card. The signs looked ominous but being fair to them, Leitrim played some of their best football following the dismissal. Darren Sweeney restored Leitrims three point lead with a point from play following the dismissal but Wicklow quickly responded with a point from play themselves. The visitors drew level on 17 minutes and took the lead for the first time in the match five minutes later with a point from play. They extended their lead to two points quickly after before Leitrims Conor Beirne (free) and Adrian Croal (play) drew level in a two minute spell. Leitrim finished the half strongly as just before half time Conor Beirne made amends for the penalty miss when he expertly finished to the net after Barry McWeeney had delivered perfectly over the Wicklow defence. The half was to end with frees exchanged with Conor Beirne converting for the home side to leave the half time score 1-7 to 0-7 in Leitrims favour.

The second half started just as the first had ended with early frees exchanged. By the 8th minute the visitors had reduced Leitrims lead to the minimum and on 13 minutes the home side were reduced to 13 men with the dismissal of Barry McWeeney on a second yellow card and from the resulting free Wicklow drew level. Two minutes later they look the lead but Leitrim substitute Brian McDonald kept Leitrims hopes alive when he pointed from play to draw parity again for the fourth time in the contest. With 10 minutes remaining Wicklow finally broke down a resolute Leitrim side when they scored 1-2 in quick succession to put the first daylight between the sides. The final action of the game saw Wicklow score from play and Leitrim substitute Emlyn Mulligan convert a consolation free to leave the full time score Leitrim 1-10, Wicklow 1-15.

While the sending offs in either half did alter the shape of the game Leitrim only surrendered to the numerical disadvantage in the final 10 minutes. As mentioned, the game was level with 10 minutes to go and the final scoreline didnt reflect the closeness of the contest or indeed the tremendous effort the Leitrim players displayed right to the final whistle. It was obvious that the team were distraught at the final whistle and although our supporters left Páirc Seán dissappointed with the result they were hugely proud of the performance of the team who played open, attractive football throughout this entertaining contest.

It was also great to see Emlyn Mulligan introduced as a second half substitute after a long lay off with injury. Next up for Leitrim is an away fixture next Sunday at 2.30 in Ballyragget against Kilkenny (please note change of venue).

Final score Leitrim 1-10 (one 45, 4 frees)
Wicklow 1-15 (8 frees)

LEITRIM
Cathal McCrann,
Gary Reynolds, RonanÓgallagher, Paddy Maguire,
Daniel Beck, Barry McWeeney, Barry Prior,
Tomas Beirne, Wayne McKeon,
Darren Sweeney 0-2 (1 45), James Glancy (Glencar Manor) (Capt), Paul Brennan, Conor Beirne 1-2 (2F), Adrian Croal 0-4 (1F), Ray Cox

Subs: Dermot Reynolds (Annaduff) for Daniel Beck
Brian McDonald (Glencar/Manorhamilton) 0-1 for Ray Cox
James Glancy (St Marys) for Paul Brennan
Emlyn Mulligan (Melvin Gaels) 0-1 (1F) for Conor Beirne

 

 

 

16-Feb-11 by Colette Fox – PRO

Leitrim v Kilkenny Preview

Leitrim travel to Ballyragget next Sunday (20th February) to take on Kilkenny in Round 3 of the Allianz Football League. Supporters are asked to please note the change of venue.  Leitrim have one win from two home matches.  They defeated Clare in their opening day fixture and last Sundays defeat to Wicklow certainly cost them the chance of leading Division 4 of the NFL after two rounds of fixtures.  It is only round three of the competition and as everyone knows anything can happen between now and the last league game.  Although they lost to Wicklow the team are making steady progress and every game will facilitate further progression.   The team can only take one game at a time and preparations are now being directed towards next Sundays game against Kilkenny. Come Sunday evening we hope that two more league points are secured following the long trip to Kilkenny.

The Leitrim team to play Kilkenny will be released on the website at 8am tomorrow morning (Friday 18th February). 

 

 

16-Feb-11 by Colette Fox – PRO