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

At half time in the Leitrim v London replay in Hyde Park, the stands and terraces and the radio listeners scattered around the country and overseas had surely been surmising just what the final score would be. Would Leitrim be absolutely whitewashed as never before? Surely there could be no way back, being fourteen points down, this was surely a bridge too far.

There would have been talk in the Leitrim dressing room too, but just what could anyone say by way of motivation?

Well, whatever was said surely brought a different team on to the field for the second half. From the throw-in there was a different attitude, a different spirit in those green and gold jerseys. The lead was chipped away and everyone played their hearts out. Now it was London who were on the ropes. Watches were checked over and over again. Would there be time? A golden chance of a LondonÓgoal went screaming wide, maybe this was more than a miss, maybe it meant our luck was in. The gap narrowed, few could believe their eyes. London had scored freely in the first half, but now were on the back foot, desperately seeking a few more points that would clinch it and knock the heart out of a battling Leitrim.

The excitement of the previous week in Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada paled in comparison to the tension filled seconds in the Hyde. A Leitrim goal ignited the Lei-trim Lei-trim chant that could be heard halfway to Athlone. There was still time, we could sense it would end in a draw. And extra time would surely be the opportunity Leitrim wanted. Please God, let us get a draw, just a draw, that’s all we’re asking for.

The final whistle ended our dreams of a Connacht Final appearance, but sent London players and supporters into ecstasy. They became history makers and who could begrudge them their glory?

Leitrim hearts were heavy, but the players could walk off the pitch with dignity.

02-Jul-13 by Leitrim GAA

The times, dates and venues for the Round 2 All-Ireland Football Qualifiers and Phase 2 of the Hurling Championship have been confirmed by the GAA.

Saturday, July 6 

GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Round 2

Clare v Laois, Cusack Park, Ennis, 5pm

Derry v Down, Celtic Park, 5pm

Roscommon v Tyrone, Dr Hyde Park, 6pm 

GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Phase 2

Clare v Laois, Cusack Park, Ennis, 3pm

Kilkenny v Tipperary, Nowlan Park, 7pm (Live on TV3)

Saturday, July 13

GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Round 2

Longford v Wexford, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 2pm

Leitrim v Armagh, Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada, 5pm (Stand tickets €15 and Terrace €10, U16s €5)

Cavan v Fermanagh, Kingspan Breffni Park, 7pm

Kildare v Louth, Newbridge, 7pm

Further information on ticketing for the Kilkenny-Tipperary Phase 2 Hurling Championship game to follow on GAA.ie.

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