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

The draw has been made for Round 1 of the GAA Football All-Ireland Qualifiers, with the meeting of Derry and Longford the pick of the round. Allianz Football League Division II champions Longford have been impressive so far this summer, and only exited Leinster after a narrow replay defeat to Wexford. Their meeting with Derry is a repeat of previous Qualifier meetings in 2002 and 2006, and it will be a tough test for both sides. Elsewhere, it will be an all-Ulster affair when Fermanagh meet Cavan, while Armagh take on Roscommon in what should be an interesting dual. Laois take on neighbours Carlow, while Louth also have a clash with a Leinster rival – they take on Westmeath. Offaly and Tipperary were both relegated from Division III in the spring, and they will now meet, looking to make the most of their summers. The final two games see London entertain Antrim, and Wicklow take on Waterford. The matches will all take place on Saturday, June 30. Fixture details will follow shortly. GAA Football All-Ireland Qualifiers Round 1 Laois v Carlow Westmeath v Louth Roscommon v Armagh Fermanagh v Cavan Tipperary v Offaly London v Antrim Wicklow v Waterford Longford v Derry

18-Jun-12 by Colette Fox – PRO

The draw will also be carried live on the RTÉ News Now channel as well as being streamed live on the RTÉ News and Sport website, RTÉ.ie.

Live updates will be sent out as the draw unfolds from the GAA’s official Twitter account @officialGAA and full details of the Round 1 fixtures will be available on the GAA’s website, GAA.ie, shortly after the draw is completed.

The teams that have already confirmed their places in the first round draw are Antrim, Cavan, Fermanagh, Armagh, London, Roscommon, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Louth, Longford, Wicklow and Laois.

The losers of three further provincial games taking place next weekend – Derry-Donegal, Kildare-Offaly and Meath-Carlow – will also be added to the draw.

12-Jun-12 by Colette Fox – PRO