GAAIE PLAYERS OF THE WEEKEND 14th – 15th July 2012

GAA.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

Connacht 60×30 Junior Title
Drumshanbos Martin Raftery took the Connacht 60×30 Junior Championship Title with a comprehensive victory against Mayos Kieran Burke played in Williamstown last Wednesday on a scoreline of 21-0. Burke conceded the second game and match after picking up an injury. Martin now faces an Ulster opponent in the All-Ireland Junior Semi-Final.
Connacht Junior C 60×30 Championship
Leitrims Des McKeever and Francie McDonough were narrowly defeated in the Connacht 60×30 Junior C Championship Semi-Final by Mayos Martin McAndrew and Sean Sweeney on a scoreline of 12-21, 20-21 played in Fenagh on Thursday evening. The Leitrim pairing were very unlucky losing serve on match point in the second game to send the match to a tie-breaker.
One Wall Nationals
This years One Wall Nationals were held in City West in Dublin from July 6-8. Fenagh Handball Club had several players taking part with everyone progressing to quarter final or semi-final in their respective categories. In Boys u11 Cormac Scollan and James Wrynn reached the Plate quarter final. In Boys u13 Alan Wrynn and David Wrynn both reached the Plate quarter final. Jarlath Scollan reached the Cup quarter final. In the Boys u15 Alan Doonan reached the Plate Semi-final, Aaron ScollanÓgot to the Boys u17 Plate semi-final while Shane Doonan reached the Cup quarter final. In the Ladies Challenger Michelle Gaffney reached the Plate quarter final while Ciara McLoughlin made the Cup semi-final.
 

 

 

18-Jul-12 by Niall Scollan – Handball PRO

Hurling news week beginning 16th July 2012

Thurles 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

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

Fr Manning Change of Venue

Due 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

The 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

A 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!

The 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

 Last 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

Under 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

All Ireland Football Qualifier
Round 2
Leitrim v Wicklow
Venue: Páirc Seán
Date: Saturday 14th July at 6pm
 
 
Ticket prices for the Leitrim v Wicklow game are as follows: 
 
Stand: €15
Terrace:€10
Students/OAPs: €10
Juveniles (U16s): Free
 
Tickets available on the day.  Arrive early to avoid the rush.

 

 

13-Jul-12 by Colette Fox – PRO

Handball News week beginning 8th July 2012

Connacht Minor Title For Donal Wrynn
Donal Wrynn took his second Connacht Minor title this year winning The Connacht 60×30 Minor Final played in Ballymoe Co. Galway on Sunday. In a very one sided encounter Wrynn easily saw off the challenge of Mayos Adrain Murphy on a scoreline of 21-1, 21-2. He will now meet an Ulster opponent in the All-Ireland semi-final. Donal teams up with fellow clubman Shane Doonan in the Connacht 60×30 Doubles Final next week-end.
Connacht 60×30 Golden Masters Final
Fenaghs Ed Lee lifted the Golden Masters B 60×30 Connacht Title defeating Galways William Corcoran on a scoreline of 21-7, 21-8 played in Ballymoe on Sunday.
Feile na nGael 
Fenagh Handball Club represented Leitrim at this years Feile held in Dublin last Thursday and Friday. This was the clubs third and most sucessful year in Feile losing out on a place in the Division Four Final by just one point. The team comprising of Alan Doonan, Alan Wrynn, Jarlath Scollan and David Wrynn were based in Citywest and defeated WinÓgap Co. Kilkenny 21-15, 21-3, St. Augustines Co. Waterford 21-2, 16-21, Tuamgraney Co. Clare 15-21, 21-11 and  Downpatrick Co. Down 21-3, 21-4. Although Fenagh won all their matches on aggregate scores and topped the group, under Feile rules each game won is awarded 1 point, with Fenagh deemed to have lost two games they were awarded 6 points out of 8, Tuamgraney were awarded 7 points and went on to win the Division Four Final.  Great credit must go to the young Fenagh men who did their club and county proud.
One Wall Nationals   
The one wall nationals took place over the week-end. There will be a full report in next weeks Leitrim Observer.

 

 

11-Jul-12 by Niall Scollan – Handball PRO