History awaits Glencar Manor as St. Mary’s lie in wait
The two teams heading into Sunday’s senior football championship final couldn’t be approaching the game from more differing perspectives.
The men from Glencar Manorhamilton are seeking to emulate the great Melvin Gaels team of the 1950s and ’60s by becoming only the second team in the county to win four consecutive senior titles in a row. The manner in which this team has come to dominate the senior championship has been remarkable, but not surprising.
Glencar Manorhamilton has been recording consistent successes at all underage levels for well over a decade now and the club has rightly become the envy of all others in the county. And not just because they have been able to carry that success into their various senior ranks, but because of the structures that have been put in place to allow this happen. Add to this the fact that the team has the most loyal and enthusiastic set of supporters in the county and there is a lot to be admired in what Glencar Manorhamilton are doing.
True, they boast a population few other clubs in Leitrim can match. But that population engages with the GAA in ways few others do in Leitrim either. Not only do they have a fabulous tradition in Scór but hurling is pushed and promoted in the club at every opportunity too. And let’s not forget the ladies who were winning around them when the lads were still ‘also rans’ in senior circles. The club now caters from U12 level up for the fairer sex.
Even a brief look to county board level ‘ with Diarmuid Sweeney and Collette Fox holding the important posts of Secretary and PRO respectively ‘ would suggest best governance practice has also been in place in the club for some time.
The sort of community buy-in evident in Manorhamilton and Glencar generates a feel good factor that makes participation in our games fun. If you start enjoying playing for your club and feel appreciated by those running it, the next thing you seek out is success.
The first taste of success in the modern senior era for the club came in 1999. I was reporting on that match for the Leitrim Observer and I can honestly say Fenagh were robbed. They kicked away a game they deserved to win but, like the Dubs on Sunday, the boys from the north were hungry to the death and a fabulous goal stole only the second senior title in their club’s history.
From there they have kicked on in the new millennium to become the team to beat. So how do St. Mary’s Kiltoghert try to achieve exactly that come Sunday? There is a perception that the big town team should always dominate club championships but the reality consistently shows this is not the case. St. Eunan’s in Letterkenny are a fine point in case. They have the pick and the players on paper but don’t always manÓge to turn this in success.
St. Mary’s are only one behind their opponents in the Leitrim club championship leadership board with wins in 1958, 1995, 2003, 2007. Last year’s defeat should stand them inÓgood stead this weekend, you often learn more in defeat than in victory. The experience the Lowe brothers had at county level this year should give them an opportunity to edge the vital midfield battle if they are both on their game. However, Manor’s own county men had great years too with Adrian Croal and Paddy Maguire the pick of the bunch.
In the end it will come down to winning primary possession and the ability to turn that possession into scores. Glencar Manorhamilton has proven they are the best at this over the past three years. St. Mary’s will need the performance of the year from every one of their players to stop that becoming four.
23-Sep-11 by Colin Regan- PRO
Coiste Chontae Liatroma Meeting – 21 Jan 25 – How the Motions Fared22nd January 2025 - 7:52 pm
U13 Regional Competition Final
Coiste na nÓgThis is the second year of the U-13 Regional Competition. This competition was set up to give players from the smaller clubs who traditionally participate in the smaller sided competitions exposure to competitve football at the 15-a-side level.
Sheemore Gaels and Yellow River Gaels will contest the 2011 Final at 3.30pm tomorrow evening in Ballinamore. The game will be the curtain raiser to the Intermediate Final. Congratulations to the two teams on reaching the final and everyone is looking forward to what promises to be a very competitive game.
May the best team win…
23-Sep-11 by Colette Fox – PRO
History awaits Glencar Manor as St Marys lie in wait – by Colin Regan
Club FootballHistory awaits Glencar Manor as St. Mary’s lie in wait
The two teams heading into Sunday’s senior football championship final couldn’t be approaching the game from more differing perspectives.
The men from Glencar Manorhamilton are seeking to emulate the great Melvin Gaels team of the 1950s and ’60s by becoming only the second team in the county to win four consecutive senior titles in a row. The manner in which this team has come to dominate the senior championship has been remarkable, but not surprising.
Glencar Manorhamilton has been recording consistent successes at all underage levels for well over a decade now and the club has rightly become the envy of all others in the county. And not just because they have been able to carry that success into their various senior ranks, but because of the structures that have been put in place to allow this happen. Add to this the fact that the team has the most loyal and enthusiastic set of supporters in the county and there is a lot to be admired in what Glencar Manorhamilton are doing.
True, they boast a population few other clubs in Leitrim can match. But that population engages with the GAA in ways few others do in Leitrim either. Not only do they have a fabulous tradition in Scór but hurling is pushed and promoted in the club at every opportunity too. And let’s not forget the ladies who were winning around them when the lads were still ‘also rans’ in senior circles. The club now caters from U12 level up for the fairer sex.
Even a brief look to county board level ‘ with Diarmuid Sweeney and Collette Fox holding the important posts of Secretary and PRO respectively ‘ would suggest best governance practice has also been in place in the club for some time.
The sort of community buy-in evident in Manorhamilton and Glencar generates a feel good factor that makes participation in our games fun. If you start enjoying playing for your club and feel appreciated by those running it, the next thing you seek out is success.
The first taste of success in the modern senior era for the club came in 1999. I was reporting on that match for the Leitrim Observer and I can honestly say Fenagh were robbed. They kicked away a game they deserved to win but, like the Dubs on Sunday, the boys from the north were hungry to the death and a fabulous goal stole only the second senior title in their club’s history.
From there they have kicked on in the new millennium to become the team to beat. So how do St. Mary’s Kiltoghert try to achieve exactly that come Sunday? There is a perception that the big town team should always dominate club championships but the reality consistently shows this is not the case. St. Eunan’s in Letterkenny are a fine point in case. They have the pick and the players on paper but don’t always manÓge to turn this in success.
St. Mary’s are only one behind their opponents in the Leitrim club championship leadership board with wins in 1958, 1995, 2003, 2007. Last year’s defeat should stand them inÓgood stead this weekend, you often learn more in defeat than in victory. The experience the Lowe brothers had at county level this year should give them an opportunity to edge the vital midfield battle if they are both on their game. However, Manor’s own county men had great years too with Adrian Croal and Paddy Maguire the pick of the bunch.
In the end it will come down to winning primary possession and the ability to turn that possession into scores. Glencar Manorhamilton has proven they are the best at this over the past three years. St. Mary’s will need the performance of the year from every one of their players to stop that becoming four.
23-Sep-11 by Colin Regan- PRO
Doing a Cluxton – by Tommy Moran
Club FootballDoing a Cluxton Maybe we’ll never have to watch that Paddy CullenÓgoal again. Of all the blessings that may befall all of us in the GAA as a result of the Dubs last gasp victory in the All Ireland last Sunday, the relegation of that goal to the deepest bin in RTE would top the list. You would imagine the whole history of Kerry and Dublin was all about Mikey Sheehy stealing a march on poor Paddy, who hadn’t even fouled anyone in that particular episode. Anyway, the film footage from now on can focus on a different Dubs goalkeeper, Cool Hand Luke himself, Stephen Cluxton. Match previews can be like that, delving into the past, checking score lines from an age when the players weren’t even born, as if the hand of history was going to decide the result of the next game. If the Dubs gauged their chances by the result of a lot of their previous meetings with Kerry, then they would have stayed at home last week; but there is a new generation of player now. What happened when his grandfather played inÓgoals in his trousers doesn’t really weigh heavily on his mind in the build up to any final. What matters is now. And so to a busy weekend of finals in Leitrim. Will Glencar Manorhamilton tremble at the thought that Leitrim’s last four in a row was fifty years ago? Hardly. They are where they want to be, that’s all. The Bor’s should have rid them of any complacency in the round robin, though their ‘keep ball’ tactics at the end of an easy semi final win over Ballinamore might indicate that Glenn Young needs to get their heads right for Sunday; there will be no chance for show boating. St. Mary’s are just where they want to be too and their tigerish performance against Annaduff will have done no harm to their confidence. Brendan Guckian well knows the pain of a losing dressing room from his long career in the club and county jersey, so a motivational few words to his charges will be no bother to him. Gortletteragh and MelvinÓgael have each had great glory days on Leitrim’s championship fields, but they won’t be scouring the history books either to weigh up their chances in the Intermediate Final. Statistics in this grade mean nothing to them. The only concern they will have is how they perform on the day, with the big prize of Senior championship participation next year awaiting the winners. For the Minor Final there will be no scouring of archives to figure out the likely winners. The players themselves will look no further back than their last meeting, they couldn’t care less how many titles Ballinamore or Glencar Manor have already. The only title of interest to them is the one at stake on Sunday. In the Under 13 Regional Competition Final the hands of history have surely no input, for this is a new initiative, a chance for our budding stars to get a taste of a big championship day. And who knows – it could be an Under 13 or a Senior goalkeeper who might do a Stephen Cluxton this weekend.
22-Sep-11 by Tommy Moran
Accolades on County Final Day
GeneralAccolades on County Final Day
Leitrim Co. Board GAA is conscious of the need to honour particular contributions to the work of the Association. So, on County Final Day next Sunday in Pairc MacDiarmada, spectators will be asked to give due honour to stars of the past, the 1961 County Senior Champions ,Melvin Gaels, and also to our young GAA stars of the present, the Carrick on Shannon Area Community Games team, recently crowned All Ireland Champions.
Leitrim GAA will also accord special recognition to the memory of the late George O’Toole with the unveiling of a memorial to this renowned Gael by Uachtarán CLG Liatroma, James McGovern. The George O’Toole Memorial is located at the entrance to Ardán Mhic Shamhráin and the unveiling ceremony will take place at 3pm.
22-Sep-11 by Colette Fox – PRO
Extensive Coverage of Weekend Finals
GeneralFOR THOSE WHO CANNOT MAKE THE WEEKEND GAMES AND FOR THOSE WHO LIKE TO TUNE IN EN-ROUTE OR AT THE GAME………
SHANNONSIDE Shannonside will have live coverage of the Senior Final on Sunday and regular up-dates from the Intermediate on Saturday evening and Minor on Sunday. From 2.30 – 3pm on Sunday they will have an extensive build up with interviews from both senior camps.
OCEAN FM Ocean FM will have both the Intermediate and Senior Finals live and in full on next Saturday and Sunday. They will also have extensive updates of the Minor decider betweenÓglencar/Manorhamilton and Ballinamore in Pairc Sean on Sunday. This Friday evening (September 23) they will have a two-hour Final Whistle Show special (7-9pm), where they will be previewing the finals and speaking with players and management from all the teams involved. For supporters living abroad, both local radio stations are available on the web (www.shannonside.ie) and (www.oceanfm.ie).
WANT TO WATCH IT AGAIN…. Highlights on TG4 Highlights of Sundays Senior Final can be seen on TG4 on Monday night on the GAA 2011 programme, in its usual 8.30 timeslot. This is TG4s third visit to Leitrim, having been here previously in 2003 and in 2007. The programme will also feature the Antrim county finals in both football and hurling, as well as the best from Sundays All Ireland Ladies Football finals.
22-Sep-11 by Colette Fox – PRO
Minor A Football Championship 15-aside Final
Coiste na nÓgThis Sunday the 25th of September, Glencar/Manor v Ballinamore-SOH in the 15aside Minor A Football Championship Final in Pairc Sean.
On behalf of Coiste na nÓg we would like to wish the two teams, their management and supporters the very best of luck and a very enjoyable day….
Throw in is at 1.30pm
Referee: Cyril McKeon
21-Sep-11 by Gerri Mulhern – PRO – Coiste na nÓg
Junior B & C Championships
Club FootballThere are two 2 games in the Junior C Championship this weekend. Bornacoola play Glenfarne Kiltyclogher inÓgroup 1 while Glencar Manohamilton face Mohill inÓgroup 2. In the Junior B Championship Quarter Finals there is only one game with Ballinamore Sean OHeslins and Aughavas both hoping they will be the first team into the semi finals.
15-Sep-11 by Colette Fox – PRO
Leitrim Senior Football ManOgement Team
GeneralThe Leitrim Football Management Team for 2012 is now complete following the ratification of George Dugdale as selector at last nights County Board meeting. George joins Manager Mickey Moran and selector Barney Breen for the 2012 campaign. We wish George all the best in his new role.
14-Sep-11 by Colette Fox – PRO
ACL Divsion 2 League Final
Club FootballThe much anticipated Division 2 League Final between Ballinamore SOH and Kiltubrid takes place this Saturday (17th September) at 4pm in Cloone.
Ballinamore SOH topped Division 2 on 17 points while Kiltubrid were hot on their heals on 16 points. Although both teams are promoted to Division 1 next year they will still be anxious to lift the all important silverware. They met in the League on the opening day way back on the 5th of March and Ballinamore were away winners on a scoreline of 0-10 to 2-6. A league title would be some consolation to both teams who have exited the Senior Championship – Kiltubrid exited at quarter final stage while Ballinamore SOH lost out at semi final stage.
We wish both teams the best of luck at the weekend.
13-Sep-11 by Colette Fox – PRO
GWP Junior A Finalists
Club FootballThis years GWP Junior A Championship Final will be contested by Mohill and Melvin Gaels. Mohill were 2 point winners over Ballinamore SOH in a very keenly contested encounter while Melvin Gaels recorded a 3-8 to 1-9 win over Annaduff. Melvin Gaels will now contest the 2011 Intermediate and Junior A Finals. Well done to Mohill and Melvin Gaels on their victories and best of luck to both in their preparations for the Final.
12-Sep-11 by Colette Fox – PRO
Change of Venue
Club FootballACL Division 1 League game betweenÓglencar Manor and Annaduff scheduled for tomorrow Sunday 11th September has been switched from the Bee Park to Belcoo, Co Fermanagh.
Throw in 2.30.
10-Sep-11 by Colette Fox – PRO
GWP Junior A Championship
Club FootballGWP Junior A Championship
Annaduff v Melvin Gaels on Saturday at 6pm in Cloone
Ballinamore SOH v Mohill on Saturday at 6.30 in Drumshanbo
The GWP Junior A Championship has thrown up some surprises already. Annaduff dumped the favourites Leitrim Gaels out and now see themselves shot into the limelight as favourites. They face a very impressive Melvin Gaels outfit whose first team have already qualified for the Intermediate Championship Final. Annaduff will be hoping to make up for the disappointment of loosing out at semi final stage in the senior while Melvin Gaels will be determined to join their Intermediate team in another final. We suspect the Mohill v Ballinamore SOH game will be a very tight affair. Both clubs first teams have exited the senior championship so both should field very strong sides.
In the Junior B Championship its Round 3. Aughawillan take on Dromahair and rivals Leitrim Gaels and St Marys face each other. The Junior C Championship kicks off this weekend with three fixtures:-
Eslin v Bornacoola
Glenfarene Kiltyclogher v Kiltubrid
Glencar Manor v Cloone
BEST OF LUCK TO ALL THE TEAMS
09-Sep-11 by Colette Fox – PRO