The Twelve Apostles
We can prepare for the clash with Laois, just as we did for Wicklow, out of the eyes of the nation. Already the GAA focus is on the Tyrone-Kerry game down in Killarney and to a lesser extent on Kildares next step. We are out of the reckoning already. Lovely.
Last week we got a few column inches about never having won a Qualifier, but few expected us to be in the drum on Monday morning, Wicklow were marked down to do the business and keep the back door shut in our faces. How could Leitrim recover from the visit to Castlebar?
Recover the Leitrim players did – and with a confidence and panache that nobody realised was in our psyche. Castlebar was well and truly buried, but by now so is last Saturday, the day supporters strolled proudly out of Pairc Sean, no rushing for the car to get away, muttering “the same old story again”. We hung around, basking in the resurrection. Leitrim souls around the world were on Twitter and Facebook, proud to be spreading the good news even further. Before the team left the dressing room the whole universe was saluting the men in the green and gold. It was more than just beating Wicklow, Leitrim had made a statement.
Brian Breen and George Dugdale had dug deep to get their squad ready for the Qualifier, long before we even knew the opposition. The players had to be ready for anyone. The draw came and the lads responded, we are now in the last sixteen. I wonder how many had gone to Paddy Power on that one early in the year? Paddy had predicted we wouldnt get out of Ruislip.
Nobody knows better than the team and all associated with it, that this weekend is a new challenge. Its a challenge for Laois too, remember. There are no championship statistics from previous meetings to go by. Laois would not have fancied a trip to Aughrim, nor will they be too cocky coming up the N4 into Carrick.
If ever the Leitrim supporters were needed to rally to the cause, that time is this weekend.
Remember the roar that greeted the final whistle last Saturday? We need to take the note from that and have the “Ley-trum, Ley-trum” war cry going from 7pm sharp, to let Laois know that they are in a game, of the type they never expected.
Could we be one of the Twelve Apostles, in the top dozen in the Land?
As Barack told us all, “Is feidir linn”.
17-Jul-12 by Tommy Moran
GAELIC ARMOUR ANNOUNCES LANDMARK PARTNERSHIP WITH LEITRIM GAA20th November 2024 - 9:16 pm
Gallogly Catering ACL Div 3 Final
Club FootballOn Sunday next (22nd July) the Gallogly Catering ACL Div 3 Final takes place between St Marys and Bornacoola in Páirc Seán. The throw in is scheduled for 12 noon.
The teams met on the 17th June in Round 10 of the league when St Marys who had home advantage were 1-12 to 0-7 winners but with neutral venue on Sunday this league result will be irrelevant to both teams.
Both camps have great support so a great crowd is expected at Leitrim Headquarters. Best of Luck to both teams.
.
20-Jul-12 by Colette Fox – PRO
GAAIE PLAYERS OF THE WEEKEND 14th – 15th July 2012
County FootballGAA.IE PLAYERS OF THE WEEKEND 14th. – 15th. July 2012
Well done James and Alan
Much deserved congratulations to James Glancy (Glencar Manorhamilton) and Alan Wynne (Allen Gaels) following their inclusion by the gaa.ie editorial team in the football team of the week following their magnificent displays for their county against Wicklow last weekend. This is the fifth time Leitrim players have been so honoured this year with Emlyn Mulligan (Melvin Gaels) receiving a nomination (twice) for his displays against London earlier this year and Mayo and Darren Sweeney (Glencar Manorhamilton) for his performance in the match against London. Indeed the editorial team at gaa.ie could have nominated the entire Leitrim team and management following their heroic team performance against Wicklow but sure with your support, well leave that until after the match against Laois next Saturday evening!
James Glancy was further honoured when he was selected as Player of the Weekend. When you consider the calibre of the other teams that were in action last weekend, it is a magnificent accolade to have received for this great servant of Leitrim GAA. Here is a link to the relevant article.
18-Jul-12 by Leitrim GAA
Handball news week beginning 16th July 2012
Handball18-Jul-12 by Niall Scollan – Handball PRO
Hurling news week beginning 16th July 2012
Club HurlingThurles Sarsfields international Festival
Cluainín Iomaint travelled to Thurles last Friday to take part in the 40th anniversary of the Thurles Sarsfields International Tournament. They played Kilbrin of Cork, Kilmoyley of Kerry and Na Magha of Derry. The team battled well in all games and put it up to each team. Manor were unlucky not to snatch victory against the Derry team. To put it into context of the level we were up against, Na Magha are in Division 2 of the Táin League where Cluainín are in Division 5. To say Manor did themselves proud is an understatement and could have won all three games if they were full strength. The team got to watch the three All Ireland Hurling Qualifiers in Semple Stadium after the tournament. The trip put Leitrim hurling on the map and showed that Leitrim hurlers are constantly developing.
Leitrim Hurling League
In the Leitrim league Cluainín went down to a strong Gortletteragh side last Wednesday on a scoreline of 4-10 to 7points. The county champions showed Cluainín that they will be a force to be reckoned with if any of the other clubs are to take the county title off their hands this year. Gortletteraghs physical presence around the middle of the field made sure of their victory while Mark Donaghue was faultless from frees. It must be said that a healthy and competitive club competition will only improve our county team.
Connacht Development Squad
Cluainín Iomaint have four representatives on the Connacht Hurling Development Team. Karl McDermott, Ethan Clancy, Conor O Hagan and Alan McSharry are currently training hard with the best hurlers from each county in Connacht as they prepare to take on Ulster soon.
18-Jul-12 by Micheal Dolan – Hurling PRO
The Twelve Apostles
County Football17-Jul-12 by Tommy Moran
Fr Manning Change of Venue
Coiste na nÓgDue to the Annaduff pitch being unplayable this evenings match has been switched to Páirc Seán
Fr Manning Cup
Wednesday, 18th July at 7.30pm
Leitrim v Westmeath
17-Jul-12 by Gerri Mulhern – PRO – Coiste na nÓg
We are at home AGAIN
County FootballThe draw for Rounds 3 and 4 of the GAA Football All-Ireland Qualifiers was made live on RTÉs Morning Ireland programme this morning.
The pick of the Round 3 games is the meeting of Kerry and Tyrone, who contested an All-Ireland final as recently as 2008.
Kildare, big winners over Cavan on Sunday, have been paired with Limerick, while Leitrim will be looking for just their second-ever Qualifier win when they face Laois.
The draw was made in the presence of Ard Stiúrthóir Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Páraic Duffy and former Dublin midfielder Ciaran Whelan.
GAA Football All-Ireland Qualifiers Round 3
Saturday 21st July:
Kildare v Limerick (Portlaoise at 7pm)
Tipperary v Antrim (Semple Stadium, Thurles at 3pm)
Kerry v Tyrone (Killarney at 5pm)
Leitrim v Laois (Páirc Seán at 7pm)
GAA Football All-Ireland Qualifiers Round 4 Draw:
Kildare/Limerick v Sligo
Tipperary/Antrim v Donegal/Down
Kerry/Tyrone v Clare
Leitrim/Laois v Dublin/Meath
*Games to be played on the weekend of July 28-29
Sunday, 29th July
GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Quarter-Finals
Cork v Waterford, Semple Stadium, Thurles, 2pm
Kilkenny v Limerick, Semple Stadium, Thurles, 4pm
16-Jul-12 by Colette Fox – PRO
Leitrim create History
County FootballA fantastic occasion for our wonderful team and supporters this evening as we won our first qualifier match against Wicklow in Páirc Seán. Final score Leitrim 0-13, Wicklow 0-10.
The lads in the green and gold were magic and you know what – the GAA Slogan “NOTHING BEATS BEING THERE” was never as true as it was this evening in Páirc Seán.
Our Poster for the big match asked “Which Song will Larry Sing” – well well be singing LOVELY LEITRIM in all parishes in Leitrim tonight ……………..
LAST nÓgHT I HAD A PLEASANT DREAM – I WOKE UP WITH A SMILE ……………..
Well done lads – nothing, absolutely nothing, beats being there with ye!
16-Jul-12 by Colette Fox – PRO
Alarms clocks set!
County FootballThe draws for the quarter-final of the GAA Hurling Championship and for rounds three and four of the football qualifiers will be made on Morning Ireland tomorrow morning (Monday 16th July).
The Hurling draw will be made at 7.30am and the football draws at 8.30am. Both will be available on RTÉ Radio 1 on all platforms and the draws will also be streamed live via www.rte.ie
Hurling Quarter-final draw
This will see one of the beaten provincial finalists (Leinster – Kilkenny and Waterford – Munster) being drawn to play against a Phase III Winner (Limerick or Cork).
The draw is subject to the avoidance of Repeat Pairings, but none of the teams listed have previously met in the championship.
Football Qualifier Draws – Round 3 and Round 4
The Round 3 draw will see the eight winners from this weekend’s Round 2 games drawn to play against each other in the four Round 3 ties, which are due to take place on Saturday, July 21st.
The first team drawn in each tie are entitled to home advantage. The teams involved will be
Leitrim
Antrim
Tyrone
Laois
Tipperary
Kildare
Limerick
Kerry
The Round 4 draw will pair the winners of each of the 3rd Round games against one of the beaten Provincial Finalists (Clare, Sligo, Down/Donegal, Dublin/Meath). The Round 4 games are scheduled to take place on the weekend of July 28.
Repeat pairings can happen in the football draw.
15-Jul-12 by Colette Fox – PRO
Last night I had a pleasant dream
County FootballLast night I had a pleasant dream ……
Which song will Larry sing? screamed James Molloy’s promotional posters for the Qualifier game with Wicklow. Would it be “Lovely Leitrim” or “Among theWicklow Hills”? PRO Collette Fox was busy last week making sure the posters hit every corner of the county, it would be important to pull the supporters out again to roar on the green and gold.
As I was perusing the GAA Qualifier programmes I could see in the clearest pie-chart format that Leitrim was the only county yet to win a Qualifier game in the All Ireland Football Championship. A big red pie all to ourselves. Kerry had a clean plate, never having lost on their journey through the back door en route to the Quarter Finals. The other counties had a mixum-gathering. Disappointed at Leitrim’s lot, I just nodded off into a deep, deep sleep.
But at least I had a pleasant dream. The sun shone on the manicured Páirc Seán pitch and there was an air of expectancy around the place. Carrick had been booked out solid for the weekend — not a bed to be got –only this time, not just by the hens and the stags. The GAA fans had travelled in big numbers from the Garden County and were going to make a few days of it, before tuning into the Round III draw on Monday morning. Hadn’t all the papers and the pundits made them hot favourites. It would be the same old story for Leitrim.
In my dreams I could see a new passion in the Bush Hotel jerseys as every player raised his game; Ray Cox grabbed the ball, swung around Colm O’Rourke style and bisected the posts; James Glancy and Emlyn Mulligan were picking off points; Cathal McCrann was making wonder saves; Enda Williams was making pin-point passes; the backs harried and the forwards hunted, while the midfielders flicked the kick-outs away from their much taller opponents; Leitrim were ahead at half time; the “Lee-trum, Lee-trum” chants reminded everyone of the early nineties; George and Barney consulted, waved directions and made timely substitutions; the stand and the terraces were going mad; John Lynch, Seamus Gallagher, PJ Leddy, Kevin Blessing and all the others were going hoarse with excitement; East Coast radio was telling its listeners that Wicklow wasn’t giving up, there could be a goal in them yet; the Leitrim medical and backroom team were on their feet; James Molloy and Willie Donnellan could hardly hold their cameras steady; Joe Flynn and Diarmuid Sweeney and the whole officer board were getting claps on the back; former team Manager and great friend to the players, Mickey Moran was delighted he had travelled from Derry; John Connolly and Philip Rooney were working out a headline for the Observer; Brian Blake was zooming in on the scoreboard; every watch in Páirc Seán was checked and double checked; Castlebar was forgotten; the players were still giving of every ounce of energy; it finished with a Leitrim win.
What a dream, what a dream. As Larry Cunningham sang so often, I woke up with a smile.
Then someone told me my dream had come true. We HAD won. Larry would be singing “Lovely Leitrim” after all. Well done lads, every single one of you.
Up Leitrim!
Collette and James, get the next poster ready.
15-Jul-12 by Tommy Moran
Under 13 Feile Final
Coiste na nÓgUnder 13 Feile Final
Mon 16th, at 7pm
Venue: Ballinamore
Fenagh-St Caillins v Mohill
Congratulations to both teams for reaching the final and on behalf of Coiste na nÓg I would like to wish both teams the best of luck.
14-Jul-12 by Gerri Mulhern – PRO – Coiste na nÓg
Leitrim v Wicklow
County Football13-Jul-12 by Colette Fox – PRO