It is with a mixture of great sadness and very fond memories that we learned earlier today of the passing of the late PJ Carroll of Cootehill Road, Cavan Town. PJ was an inspirational figure no matter where he travelled in his many coaching and managerial roles throughout a host of counties and clubs and across a number of decades. He left a lasting legacy no matter where he found himself.
Of course, in Leitrim, we have very many fond memories of the journey that he started for us when he took over the Leitrim Senior Football team in late 1989. At that time the fortunes of the team were at a low ebb but PJ soon set about correcting that across the winter of 1989/90 and on the resumption of the NFL in February 1990 we began to see some glimmer of hope again. By the end of that particular league campaign, we had negotiated two playoff victories over Offaly and Wicklow to earn promotion from Division 3 (North) to NFL Division 2. We had something major to look forward to the following season.
What followed was a continuation of the remarkable turnaround in our fortunes. Under PJ’s drive and discipline, we captured an All-Ireland B title in November 1990 and Mickey Quinn was selected at midfield on the 1990 GAA All-Star Team. By the conclusion of that particular NFL we had finished third in Division 2, after a playoff with Kildare, and narrowly missed out on a quarter-final placing. What is most memorable about those days, apart from the performances on the field, were the huge crowds that followed the Leitrim team, no matter where the games were played. After so many years in the wilderness, it was box office stuff, Leitrim style!!
We maintained our newly found high league standing over the remaining years of PJ’s tenure and for many years beyond that but unfortunately, we just couldn’t get by Roscommon, whom we were paired with across his three Connacht Championship campaigns. If only there was a backdoor route, then!
They say a rising tide raises all boats and it’s fair to say that the influence of the Senior Team’s raised profile helped other teams also. PJ presided over a Connacht Under 21 Championship success in 1991. In that same year, the Leitrim Minor Team captured the Connacht Minor League and reached the Connacht Minor Final. Incidentally, the Leitrim Under 16 Team had won the Fr. Manning Cup in 1990. These were heady days for Leitrim football and the best was yet to come.
PJ handed over the managerial baton to the late John O Mahony in the Autumn of 1992, after three seasons in charge, but the seeds had most definitely been sown and our great success of 1994 duly followed. It is most poignant that we say goodbye to these two icons of Leitrim GAA history within four months of each other. They each played significant parts in this success.
Rest easy PJ, you will never be forgotten by those involved with Leitrim GAA, players, officials, and supporters, who dared to dream almost 35 years ago. You left your mark and a lasting legacy.
Our deepest sympathies are extended to PJ’s wife Anne, daughters Olivia, Annemarie, and Caroline, son Pauric, grandchildren Ellen, Hannah, Ruairí, Dáithí, Malachi, Tadhg, Rìan and Cùan and his siblings Pauline, Maureen, Martin and Sean.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh sé.
PJ Carrol’s Death Notice can be found on RIP.ie or at the link below.
https://rip.ie/death-notice/pj-patrick-joseph-carroll-cavan-cavan-town-573243
Image courtesy of RIP.ie
The Late PJ Carroll RIP, Cavan and Leitrim GAA.30th October 2024 - 9:37 pm
The Late PJ Carroll RIP, Cavan and Leitrim GAA.
General, RIPIt is with a mixture of great sadness and very fond memories that we learned earlier today of the passing of the late PJ Carroll of Cootehill Road, Cavan Town. PJ was an inspirational figure no matter where he travelled in his many coaching and managerial roles throughout a host of counties and clubs and across a number of decades. He left a lasting legacy no matter where he found himself.
Of course, in Leitrim, we have very many fond memories of the journey that he started for us when he took over the Leitrim Senior Football team in late 1989. At that time the fortunes of the team were at a low ebb but PJ soon set about correcting that across the winter of 1989/90 and on the resumption of the NFL in February 1990 we began to see some glimmer of hope again. By the end of that particular league campaign, we had negotiated two playoff victories over Offaly and Wicklow to earn promotion from Division 3 (North) to NFL Division 2. We had something major to look forward to the following season.
What followed was a continuation of the remarkable turnaround in our fortunes. Under PJ’s drive and discipline, we captured an All-Ireland B title in November 1990 and Mickey Quinn was selected at midfield on the 1990 GAA All-Star Team. By the conclusion of that particular NFL we had finished third in Division 2, after a playoff with Kildare, and narrowly missed out on a quarter-final placing. What is most memorable about those days, apart from the performances on the field, were the huge crowds that followed the Leitrim team, no matter where the games were played. After so many years in the wilderness, it was box office stuff, Leitrim style!!
We maintained our newly found high league standing over the remaining years of PJ’s tenure and for many years beyond that but unfortunately, we just couldn’t get by Roscommon, whom we were paired with across his three Connacht Championship campaigns. If only there was a backdoor route, then!
They say a rising tide raises all boats and it’s fair to say that the influence of the Senior Team’s raised profile helped other teams also. PJ presided over a Connacht Under 21 Championship success in 1991. In that same year, the Leitrim Minor Team captured the Connacht Minor League and reached the Connacht Minor Final. Incidentally, the Leitrim Under 16 Team had won the Fr. Manning Cup in 1990. These were heady days for Leitrim football and the best was yet to come.
PJ handed over the managerial baton to the late John O Mahony in the Autumn of 1992, after three seasons in charge, but the seeds had most definitely been sown and our great success of 1994 duly followed. It is most poignant that we say goodbye to these two icons of Leitrim GAA history within four months of each other. They each played significant parts in this success.
Rest easy PJ, you will never be forgotten by those involved with Leitrim GAA, players, officials, and supporters, who dared to dream almost 35 years ago. You left your mark and a lasting legacy.
Our deepest sympathies are extended to PJ’s wife Anne, daughters Olivia, Annemarie, and Caroline, son Pauric, grandchildren Ellen, Hannah, Ruairí, Dáithí, Malachi, Tadhg, Rìan and Cùan and his siblings Pauline, Maureen, Martin and Sean.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh sé.
PJ Carrol’s Death Notice can be found on RIP.ie or at the link below.
https://rip.ie/death-notice/pj-patrick-joseph-carroll-cavan-cavan-town-573243
Image courtesy of RIP.ie
Leitrim GAA Team Management Announcement
GeneralLeitrim GAA is delighted to announce that at its Management Committee meeting this morning approval was given for the appointment of Down native Steven Poacher to the position of Leitrim Senior Team Manager for 2025, subject to ratification at the next meeting of Leitrim GAA County Committee. Steven is a coach of very high standing in the game and was previously involved at the inter-county level with both Carlow and Roscommon, in addition to coaching and managing at all underage inter-county levels with his native county. We look forward to working with Steven as we get preparations ready for the next season.
The core management team is as follows:
Senior Team
Steven Poacher head of PE in St Joseph’s Newry. Steven is the former Carlow & Roscommon senior football coach and he has also worked with his own county Down at every level from Under 15 to Under 21.
Donegal native Anthony McGrath will join the team as performance coach and selector. Anthony, a former Donegal senior has coached Donegal at Minor, Under 21 and Senior level winning an Anglo Celt Cup. Anthony has also been Sigerson manager in Queen’s University and has been involved in successful club campaigns in Ballybay and Slaughtneil.
Daniel St Ledger joins the backroom team as coach. Daniel, a former Carlow Senior Footballer, has represented Leinster in the Inter-Provincial series, and has been St. Sylvester’s Manager in Dublin for the last 3 years.
Ryan Jones, this year’s Leitrim Gaels Senior Football Coach has been the former Fermanagh senior football captain with over 150 appearances. Ryan was also last year’s Leitrim Under 20 coach and will act as coach and selector.
Under 20 Team
Barry McWeeney, who has been a selector with the team for past three seasons, will take charge of the County Under 20 team and will be a direct link between the Under 20s and the Seniors. His complete management team will be announced in due course.
Under 17 Team
Danny Beck and Ciaran Kennedy will take joint charge of the County Under 17 Team for 2025, Their complete management team will be announced in due course.
Leitrim GAA takes this opportunity to wish all the above the best of luck in their upcoming roles.
2024 Club Championship Fixtures for w/e 26-27 Oct
Club Football, Club HurlingThe fixture details for the U20 HC – Final has been released and is as follows:
The fixture details for the Fresh Today Junior B – Semi Final has been released and is as follows:
#LeitrimClubChamp | #GAAbelong
2024 Club Championship Fixtures for w/e 19-20 Oct
Club Football, Club HurlingThe fixture details for the Connacht Gold SHC – Final has been released and is as follows:
The fixture details for the Fresh Today Junior C – Final has been released and is as follows:
The fixture details for the Fresh Today Junior B – Semi Final has been released and is as follows:
#LeitrimClubChamp | #GAAbelong
Leitrim GAA – 2025 Senior Football Team Manager Vacancy
GeneralLeitrim GAA invites expressions of interest in the position of Leitrim Senior Football Manager for 2025. The deadline for any expressions of interest is 5pm on October 18th, 2024.
If this is a position you think that you may have interest in you are advised to email secretary.leitrim@gaa.ie on or before the deadline date and we will be in contact with you about the next stage of the process.
Leitrim GAA Team Management Announcment
GeneralLeitrim GAA Management Committee at its meeting this evening was informed of the decision by Mickey Graham not to continue in the role of Leitrim Senior Football Manager for 2025.
Mickey was fully committed and looking forward to his role ahead but circumstances beyond his control have led to him making this decision and regrettably, for all concerned, he will not be continuing in his appointed position.
Leitrim GAA will now recommence the process of appointing a new manager.
2024 Club Championship Fixtures for w/e 12-13 Oct
Club FootballThe fixture details for the Connacht Gold SFC – Final Replay has been released and is as follows:
The fixture details for the Smith Monumentals IFC – Final is as follows:
The fixture details for the Fresh Today Junior A – Final has been released and is as follows:
#LeitrimClubChamp | #GAAbelong
Announcement – Leitrim Senior Hurling Manager 2025
GeneralLeitrim GAA is very pleased to announce that at last night’s meeting of Leitrim GAA Management Committee the appointment of Mike Wall to the role of Leitrim Senior Hurling Manager for the upcoming 2025 season was approved.
Mike, a native of Kilkenny, has had extensive experience with Kilkenny Camogie teams over the past decade. Under his management, he brought All-Ireland Minor titles to his native county in 2015 and 2021. He also managed the Kilkenny Intermediate Camogie title to an All-Ireland title in 2016. Over the term of his previous management roles he has presided over a multitude of Leinster Camogie titles. He most recently held the position of Kildare Senior Camogie Team Manager in 2024.
As part of his Management Team, he will be joined by S & C Coach Niall Herbert, a native of Kildare. The remaining members of the management team will be appointed in due course.
Leitrim GAA is looking forward to working with this new management team over the term of their stewardship and wishes them the very best of luck.
2024 Club Championship Fixtures for w/e 4-6 Oct
Club FootballThe fixture details for the Connacht Gold SFC – Relegation Final has been released and is as follows:
The fixture details for the Smith Monumentals IFC – Relegation Final is as follows:
The fixture detail for the Fresh Today Junior C – Semi Finals have been released and are as follows:
#LeitrimClubChamp | #GAAbelong
2024 Connacht Gold SFC Final Live on TG4
Club FootballWe are very pleased to inform you that it has been announced by TG4 that the Connacht Gold SFC Final, which takes place on Sunday, October 6th, will be one of the feature matches on that day’s live transmission of GAA Beo.
This eagerly awaited contest between holders Mohill and challengers Ballinamore Sean O Heslin’s will throw in on the day at 2pm from Páirc Sheán Ui Heislin
2024 Club Championship Fixtures for w/e 27-29 Sept
Club FootballThe fixture details for the Connacht Gold SFC – Relegation Final has been released and is as follows:
The fixture details for the Smith Monumentals IFC – Semi Finals are as follows:
The fixture detail for the Fresh Today Junior A – Semi Finals have been released and are as follows:
#LeitrimClubChamp | #GAAbelong
2024 Club Championship Fixtures for w/e 20-22 Sept
Club FootballThe fixture details for the Connacht Gold SFC – Semi Finals have been released and are as follows:
The livestream & Entry ticket details to follow.
The fixture details for the Smith Monumentals IFC – Qtr Final Replay and the Relegation Semi Finals are as follows:
The livestream of the Qtr Final Replay & Entry ticket details to the 3 games to follow.
The fixture detail for the Fresh Today Junior C – Round 1 remaining game has been released and is as follows:
#LeitrimClubChamp | #GAAbelong