Enda Williams makes mark after emotional switch

Article courtesy of the Irish Independent – Saturday 23rd June, 2012.

Leaving Longford wasnt easy for Enda Williams, but he knew he had to make a move.

Out of favour and hitting his peak, the 27-year-old turned his back on a lifetime involvement and crossed the border to Leitrim, the land of his late father and the place of his birth.

The inter-county transfer has been a much-debated matter this summer, but Williams kept his quiet and moved below the radar.  As Seanie JohnstonÓgenerated thousands of column inches, Williams kept the head down and got to know his new team-mates.  It wasnt a simple decision for a man steeped in Longford blue.  He was part of the countys Leinster minor winning team in 2002 and was a mentor to the 2010 team who repeated that feat. His involvement has even stretched to co-managing the Longford ladies team for a period.  But having dislocated his shoulder for the second time in the first Allianz National League game of last season, Williams missed the 2011 campaign.  By the time he returned to full fitness, Michael Quinn had come home from Australia and his grip on the No 6 jersey had slipped.  After much deliberation, he decided to make the move and join Leitrim.  He still lives and works in Longford and plays his club football for Clonguish.  

It has been an emotional parting of the ways, but an amicable one.  “One day a woman came up to me on the street in Longford town, crying, to give me a hug and that was a very hard thing to take,” he says. “But people understand where Im coming from. Every time I played in a Longford jersey I gave my all, but it is just unfortunate how it worked out. People have been very supportive.  “After the London game, 75pc of the texts I got were from Longford people congratulating me and with the Mayo game Im getting a lot of support and goodwill.  “I owe the Longford people an awful lot and Ive never really had a chance to say thank you.”  The reaction he received in his home town was one thing, but the other concern Williams had was how he would be perceived in his new county set-up.  “There is always a doubt in your mind that, are these lads going to accept me or do they think Im a prima donna, thinking Im going to playing?” he admits.  “I thought all of those thoughts, but the welcome I received has made it easier.  “Not just players and management, but after the London game the reception the supporters gave me made me feel overwhelmed.”

Williams has watched the Johnston debate with added interest over the spring and summer and he cant help but empathise with the former Cavan star whose move to Kildare has dominated the airwaves.  “Seanie Johnston was probably thinking more or less the same thing I was,” he says.  “He is a similar age to me and he wants to play county football and wants the opportunity to test himself against the best.  “It has been blown out of proportion. If he hadnt moved hed be sitting there with his inter-county career petering out.”  

Tomorrow, Williams will take the field for a provincial semi-final for the first time in his career.  His father, Tommy, didnt live to see him wearing the green and yellow of his native county, but hell be looking down tomorrow as the centre half-back anchors the defence against Mayo.  Two years ago his son was at the heart of a Longford effort that ended John OMahonys reign as Mayo Manager with a qualifier shock at Pearse Park, but while he cant wait for the action to start at Castlebar, he reckons the 18/1 outsiders chances of catching the Connacht champions again is a taller order.  “Mayo have moved on a lot from that day,” he admits.  “They are one of the top five teams in the country.  “For me personally, this is the biggest game of my life and for a lot of the team it will be the same.  “Ive never played in a provincial semi-final before, so while were overwhelming underdogs, were looking to put in a performance and well see where that performance takes us. Thats all we can control.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

24-Jun-12 by Colette Fox – PRO

Electric Ireland Connacht GAA Minor Football Championship

Electric Ireland Connacht Minor Football Championship Quarter Final 

Saturday 23rd June, 2012 at 5pm in Páirc Seán

Leitrim v Roscommon

It was a lovely evening in Páirc Seán Mhic Diarmada for the Electric Ireland Connacht Minor Football Championship quarter final match between Leitrim and Roscommon.  It was well supported by both camps but it was not long after throw-in to see that the Leitrim team were up against a talented Roscommon side.  By half time the damage had been done and a stronger and more clinical visiting side powered all over the field and Leitrim’s challenge which was not good enough on the day, kept trying to the end.

We all acknowledge the game did not go well, the high expectations didn’t materialise, we were well beaten by a stronger side, by a team that definitely looks capable of winning a Connacht title.  We take this opportunity to say “Well done Roscommon” and to wish them the very best of luck going forward.  Next time we meet, today’s game will be forgotten and all will be back in the melting pot and the local rivalry will be as strong as ever!

This Leitrim group was made up of a combination of dedicated, committed, loyal and trusted souls both on and off the field of play, who were determined to give of their all for the Green and Gold, just as they have been doing year after year, proud to be our representatives, whether in the league, a tournament, a challenge game, but especially in the Championship.  Only those close to the scene can fully comprehend the effort made and rather than be critical of players and management, we should acknowledge that each of them gave of their very best.  

When the game ended a disheartened Leitrim team linked for one last time, their 2012 season had ended but their Green and Gold blood will have them on the road again. 

 

 

24-Jun-12 by Colette Fox – PRO

Match & Ticket Details Sunday 24 June 2012

 

Connacht GAA Football Championship 2012

Sunday 24th June 2012

 Elvery’s McHale Park, Castlebar

 

 

Intermediate Connacht Ladies Football Championship: Semi-Final

Sligo v Leitrim

Throw in: 12noon

 

Minor: Semi-Final

Mayo vs. Sligo

Throw In: 1.30pm

Referee: P. Neilan(R) 

 

Senior: Semi-Final

Mayo vs. Leitrim

Throw In: 3.30pm

Referee: Martin Higgins (Fear Manach)

 

Ticket Prices:

  • Stand €25, (Section 105- VIP’s & Sponsors)

  • Sideline Seating €20

  • Juveniles (U-16) €5

  • Students & OAP’s Full price must be paid

  • Family Tickets available for Stand: Adult full price & child €5

  • Group Tickets €30 (10 x Juvenile & 1 Adult) application from clubs directly to the Connacht GAA Council Office

  • Refunds of €10 will be paid to OAP’s and Students, (with current ID cards), for Stand & Sideline seating at Designated Stile only, (Turnstile #16, #17 & #48) 

  • Groups: Entry at Turnstile #38. All children must be accompanied by Group Leader(s) 

  • Season Ticket Holders- Entry through Turnstile #55

 

Tickets can be sourced from;      

 

Connacht GAA Office

Address: Clare Street, Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo

Ph: (094) 9630335

Email: reception.connacht@gaa.ie

www.connachtgaa.ie

 

 

Mayo County Board

Address: McHale Park, Castlebar, Co. Mayo.

Email secretary.mayo@gaa.ie

Office number: 094-9543035

www.mayogaa.com

 

Leitrim County Board

Address: Pairc Sean MacDiarmada, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim.

Email secretary.leitrim@gaa.ie

Phone: (071) 9620441

 

 

Sligo County Board

Address: Sligo GAA Office, Aughamore Near, Carraroe, Sligo.

Email administrator.sligo@gaa.ie

Phone: 087-0524574 (9am-5pm)

 

Tickets also available from clubs in the competing counties.

Tickets can also be sourced from www.tickets.ie and www.ticketmaster.ie

Tickets will also be on sale at selected Supervalu & Centra outlets in the competing counties, see www.connachtgaa.ie for details.

Mayo

KavanÓgh SuperValu, Castlebar, Co Mayo
Moloney’s SuperValu, Bunree, Ballina, Co Mayo
Cummins’ SuperValu, Ballinrobe, Co Mayo
Sweeney’s SuperValu, Achill Island, Co Mayo
O’Connor’s SuperValu, Westport, Co Mayo

Duffy’s SuperValu, Ballaghadereen,

Leitrim

Donohoe’s SuperValu, Ballinamore, Co Leitrim

Sligo

Surlis’ SuperValu, Tubbercurry, Co Sligo
Cosgrove´s Centra, Maugheraboy, Co Sligo
Whiteside´s Centra, Collooney, Co Sligo

 

For more information see www.connachtgaa.ie

 

 

 

 

23-Jun-12 by Colette Fox – PRO

Triple Decker

All roads will lead to Elverys MacHale Park on Sunday 24th June and what a day it promises to be.

If you want value for money then Castlebar will be the place to be. At 12.00pm the first of 3 games will take place where Leitrim Ladies play Sligo in the Connacht Ladies Intermediate Football Championship, following that the Mayo and Sligo Minors open their Electric Ireland Connacht Minor Football Championship campaigns, throw-in at 1.30pm. In between the Minor and Senior games at 2.55pm will be the official re-opening of Elverys MacHale Park where An Taoiseach Enda Kenny will be on hand to perform the proceedings. Finally the third of the days games will take place at 3.30pm in the Connacht GAA Senior Football Championship where Leitrim take on their hosts Mayo.  

This promises to be a tremendous day out for all the family with plenty of activities available to keep the kids happy as well. More details will be available in the lead up to the games but remember:

Nothing beats being there! 

 

 

22-Jun-12 by Colette Fox – PRO

Mayo team news

Mayo Manager James Horan has handed debuts to defenders Kevin Keane and Lee Keegan, while midfielder Danny Geraghty will make his first championship start in the Mayo side to take on Leitrim in Sundays Connacht SFC semi-final in Castlebar.

Keegan featured from the bench against Cork in last years All-Ireland quarter-final victory, while Geraghty replaces JasonÓgibbons in one of three changes from the side that were beaten by the Rebels in the NFL Division 1 decider.

In the full-forward line Alan Freeman and Jason Doherty replace Conor Mortimer and Michael Conroy, while Andy Moran is positioned at the edge of the square.

 

Mayo (SFC v Leitrim)

D Clarke, K Keane, G Cafferkey, K Higgins, L Keegan, D Vaughan, C Boyle, B Moran, D Geraghty, K McLoughlin, C OConnor, A Dillon, A Freeman, A Moran, J Doherty.

 

 

21-Jun-12 by Colette Fox – PRO

Up for Grabs!

Connacht GAA has kindly offered us two free stand tickets for the Connacht GAA Senior Football Championship Semi Final in Elverys McHale Park this Sunday (24th June) in Castlebar. 

 

Answer the following question and you will be entered into the draw for the two tickets.

 

Name the current captain of the Leitrim Senior Football team?

 

Email your answer and name, address and contact details to pro.leitrim@gaa.ie before 12 noon this Friday 22nd June.


 

 

21-Jun-12 by Colette Fox – PRO

Media Coverage

Eager ears will be tuned into Local and National Radio Stations on Sunday while tweeters will be following the action as it is continually updated by Leitrim GAA, Mayo GAA and by gaa.ie. 

Radio Coverage of the game:-

OCEAN FM

Ocean FM will have a special preview show for Sundays matches on The Final Whistle this Friday evening (22nd June) from 6-7pm.

On Saturday evening they will be doing live commentary from Pairc Sean of the minor game between Leitrim and Roscommon from 5.10pm.

On Sunday they will broadcast all three games live from Castlebar.  Darragh Cox and PJ Leddy will be covering the Ladies game from 12 noon, Darragh will also be doing the minor match, while Kevin Blessing and PJ Leddy will cover the senior game.

SHANNONSIDE

On Sunday, Shannonside will have regular updates on the Ladies game from 12noon.  From 2pm the big build will begin and at 3.30 they will have full live commentary of the senior game with John Lynch and Seamus Gallagher.  They will have reaction from all sides after the game.

MIDWEST

On Sunday, Midwest will be broadcasting updates on the first half of the Minor match and have full live commentary of the second half of that game. They will have full live commentary of the Senior game from 3.30pm.

NATIONAL RADIO

Newstalk  – LIVE

RTÉ Radio 1 – UPDATES

RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta – UPDATES

TV

Highlights from RTE on the Sunday Game.

PRINT MEDIA

Later in the week we can all soak up the reports and blow by blow accounts in the National newspapers and of course in the Leitrim Observer.

 

 

21-Jun-12 by Colette Fox – PRO

Connacht Football Championship Semi Final

Leitrim team to play Mayo

 

The Leitrim team announced features three changes to that which beat London in the quarter finals of the Connacht Championship.

Daniel Beck comes in for James Glancy at corner back, Enda Williams takes the centre back position with Fabian McMorrow moving to full back in place of Ciaran Egan and Shane Moran lines out at midfield in place of Daniel Lowe.

 

Foireann Liatroim

 

[ol]

  • Cathal McCrann Gortletteragh

  • Daniel Beck Mohill

  • Fabian McMorrow Melvin Gaels

  • Paddy Maguire (Capt) 

  • Colm Clarke Drumkeerin

  • Enda Williams Clonguish

  • Wayne McKeon Ballinamore Sean O’Heslin’s

  • Darren Sweeney Glencar Manorhamilton

  • Shane Moran Ballinamore Sean O’Heslin’s

  • Paul Brennan Melvin Gaels

  • Emlyn Mulligan Melvin Gaels

  • Paddy McGowan St Patrick’s Dromahair

  • Ray Cox Annaduff

  • James Glancy Glencar Manorhamilton

  • Adrian Croal Glencar Manorhamilton

     

    • [/ol]

    Bainisteoirí Barney Breen and George Dugdale

     

    We take this opportunity to wish the Leitrim team and management the very best of luck on Sunday.  Please come out and support our Senior Team who are a great bunch of lads and a big support behind them will make a huge difference.  

    Nothing beats being there!

     

     

     

    20-Jun-12 by Colette Fox – PRO

    Connacht Minor Football Championship 2012

    Our Connacht Minor Championship kicks off next Saturday June 23rd at 5.00pm in Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada. This is going to be a huge game for our minor team as Roscommon are very strong and are probably favourites to win the Connacht Championship after winning the Connacht League.

    In the Connacht League Roscommon had an impressive win Scóring 15 points to our 1 goal and 4 points and everyone was bitterly disappointed with the result but no one more than Mark and his team. They continued with their hard work and even though they were narrowly beaten by Longford they had a great win against Mayo with a score of 3-08 to Mayo’€’s 1-09.

    We all know that the Championship can be a lot different to the League and anything can happen. Roscommon won’€’t have it easy when they come to Carrick next Saturday evening after all the hard work that has been put in for this Championship.

    Mark Heslin and his backroom team of Gareth Foley, Derek Kellegher and Michael McGuinness have put in a huge effort and commitment to training in preparation for the Minor Championship and we would like to wish them the very best of luck.

    Please come out and support our Minor Team who are a great bunch of lads and a big support behind them will make a huge difference.

     

     

     

    20-Jun-12 by Gerri Mulhern – PRO – Coiste na nÓg

    Mayo v Leitrim

     

     Into the West from Largy

     

    Largy National School pupils were the delighted winners of the Leitrim Jersey Day, a Championship promotional competition, sponsored by Connacht Council GAA. There was a big welcome for the officials who called to the school with the prizes on Friday last, but the warmest Céad Míle Failte was for Leitrim corner forward Adrian Croal and his team mate, who had been coaching in the school for a number of weeks, Brian McDonald.

    The delight in the young faces to see two of their idols in their midst, chatting, giving advice and posing with them for photographer James Molloy, surely was proof positive that the young people of the county are fully behind this Leitrim team. It would have been a similar scenario in any school in the county.

    The parting shot from the pupils to Adrian Croal was to â€Å“score at least six pointsâ€Â against Mayo. That might be considered a tall order, but Adrian is well used to splitting the posts, whether in a Glencar-Manorhamilton or Leitrim jersey, so who knows!

    What we do know is that Adrian and all the county players have given of their all in preparing for the Championship, working themselves to the bone for joint team Managers Brian Breen and George Dugdale, as well as meeting the demands and heeding the advice of team Medical Officer Dr. Declan Loftus and all the other members of the backroom team. Nothing is being left undone.

    The players had their minds right in the run up to the London game, when the pundits and the papers said a win for London was on the cards. It’s the same story again, Mayo are odds on favourites.

    Of course, none of those making the predictions will actually be playing, none of them will be able to get inside the psyche of the men in the green and gold, none of them can be sure of the real story. The game is far from over yet.

    We certainly won’t be lacking in support, as Leitrim followers will be in Castlebar early to cheer on the Ladies Intermediate team in the Connacht Semi-final against Sligo, which gets proceedings underway at noon. Later in the day Leitrim teams, selected from schools throughout the county, will take to the field in the boys’ and girls’ Cumann na m-Bunscol ExhibitionÓgames against Mayo.

    There will probably be a lot of hoarse voices cheering on Leitrim, as supporters will have been in Pairc Sean on Saturday evening, urging on the county Minors in their big game against our friends and rivals from across the bridge. Roscommon always bring out the best in us!

    So a busy weekend lies ahead. Pride of place will, of course, be given to the Senior Semi-final, when we have about seventy minutes to produce a very unique Connacht Final for 2012.

    As Adrian Croal and Brian McDonald bounded down the steps from Largy school, one could detect a glint in their eyes. They and their fellow Leitrim players could have something up their sleeve!

    As we all head west on Sunday we will know that nothing beats being there.

     

     

     

     

    20-Jun-12 by Colette Fox – PRO

    Under 8 and Under 10 Blitz

    Under 8 & 10 Blitz 2012
    Round 4
Saturday 23/06/2012 at 10.30am

Fenagh St Caillins v St Marys
Drumkeerin v Glenfarne v St Osnats
Aughnasheelin v Garadice Gaels
Annaduff v Leitrim Gaels

Dromahair v Allen Gaels

Cloone v Kiltubrid
Carrigallen v Ballinamore SOH
Aughavas v Bornacoola

Host teams listed first.

     

     

     

    19-Jun-12 by Gerri Mulhern – PRO – Coiste na nÓg

    Under 12 Blitz Round 3

    Under 12 Blitz

    Round 3

    Garadice Gaels v St Marys
    Fenagh-St Caillins v Drumkeerin
    Ballinamore-SOH v Allen Gaels
    Glencar-Manorhamilton v Annaduff
    Aughavas v Mohill
    Leitrim Gaels v Carrigallen
    St Osnats v Cloone
    Bornacoola v Gortletteragh
    Aughnasheelin v Glenfarne-Kilty

    Home teams listed first

     

     

     

     

    18-Jun-12 by Gerri Mulhern – PRO – Coiste na nÓg