Its crunch time in the Intermediate and Senior championships this weekend as the group stages come to a close and so many quarter final places to fight for. In the Intermediate section 2 places are confirmed as Cloone and Aughawillan are through. InÓgroup 4 Glenfarne/Kilty are guaranteed a place but this weekends remaining fixture will decide their placing. Gortletteragh look healthy inÓgroup 1 but this group have 1 game outstanding after this weekend so it may not be clear until next weekend.

Tomorrow, Saturday, 3 of the 4 games are scheduled starting at 5 pm in Drumshanbo with the clash of Drumkeerin and Dromahair. Both teams lost to group toppers Glenfarne/Kilty and have it all to do in this close encounter. Annadufff take onÓgortletteragh at 5:45pm in Carrick and Gort have 1 win under their belt and will be gunning to top their group after this weekend. Back in Drumshanbo at 6:30pm its the turn of Fenagh St Caillins and Ballinaglera in a survival battle of group 3. The final game of the weekend will be played on Sunday at 4:30pm in Ballinamore as Allen Gaels and St Marys fight for the last place inÓgroup 2. Only 1 more game remains in the group stages which will be played the following weekend.

In the Senior campaign its very very tight as only Kiltubrid are sure of their place in the next stage as are GlencarManor. All other places are up for grabs and its going to be very interesting to see who makes the progression to quarters or who ends up in the relegation zone.

Tomorrow at 5:45pm in Cloone its Drumreilly who will meet neighbours Ballinamore Sean O Heslins in a cracking encounter in the Senior section. Both of these teams need to win to guarantee a place but a draw will favour Ballinamore on score difference. This will be followed by Aughnasheelin and Bornacoola at 7:15pm in the same venue where Carrigallen followers will be watching in ernst to see if they have done enough to get through.

At the same time in Páirc Seán St Marys and Mohill will catch the interest of many to see who will survive the group of death. If Mohill win they will bring Annaduff through on 2nd place. If St Marys win then it will be down to score difference and Marys will be through as they have a better score difference than Annaduff. Mohill must watch the score difference also as they could be in trouble, its possible that score difference may determine 1st and 2nd placings.

The final game of the group stages is on Sunday evening at 6pm in Páirc Seán with the northern clash of last years league winners and last years championship winners meet in the Group 1 decider. Allen Gaels will look on nervously as their tentative position will be determined by the 2 forces on the field. A win or draw for Melvin Gaels and a draw for Glencar/Manor guarantees both of them a place in the quarters but a loss for Melvin Gaels will open the door for Allen Gaels and score differences will determine who goes through the door.

The Junior A competition continues at round 2 stage and games commence on Sunday at 4:30pm in Carrick as Drumkeerin meet Leitrim Gaels and Carrigallen face Mohill at the same time in Cloone. The final games are at 6pm with Bornacoola and St Maryss in Ballinamore and Eslin v Kiltubrid in Cloone. Carrigallen, Aughavas and Gortletteragh lead the way and Bornacoola and Melvin Gaels shared the spoils from last weekend.

The Junior B campaign will commence next weekend and the fixtures will be announced here as soon as they are known.

07-Aug-09 by Brendan Doyle – PRO

In the Senior and Intermediate Championships there are 4 teams facing their second games in as many weekends, while there are 4 playing their first game and 4 resting after last weekend. The Junior A s commence this Sunday in round 1 which gives us 12 action packed fixtures over the 3 days of the bank holiday weekend.

The action starts in earnest tomorrow evening at 6pm in Cloone and Páirc Seán with Kiltubrid & Ballinamore Sean O Heslins inÓgroup 2 and Annaduff & St Mary s inÓgroup 3. Kiltubrid will be eager to put together back to back wins while Ballinamore will be looking to get the best possible start to the championship with a win. A local derby is in store in Carrick as Annaduff and St Mary s face off in what is Annaduffs 2nd and final game in the group stages and St Mary s first, this one will wet the appetite of many as these two teams have made their mark in the championship through out this decade.

At 7:30pm in Páirc Seán Allen Gaels meet champions Glencar/Manor who will be looking to start their back to back campaign with vigor. Allen Gaels need to repeat their performance of last week and carry it through for the full game. Glencar Manor had the advantage of being spectators last weekend but championship opening nerves can always do strange things to teams and they need to be fully awake this weekend.

Meanwhile in Cloone group 4 leaders Carrigallen take on Bornacoola who have their opener after a break last weekend. Carrigallen are an in form team and will pose a difficult challenge for the Bors.

Intermediate action commences on Saturday evening at 6pm in Drumshanbo as Glenfarne/Kilty meet Dromahair. This is the only Intermediate fixture on Saturday evening and will be a key game for both teams as Glenfarne/Kilty drew against Drunkeerin last weekend and Dromahair need to find themselves after their heavy schedule so far in 2009.

Sunday brings us the remaining 3 games in Intermediates with Aughawillan meeting Ballinaglera in Drumshanbo at 4:30pm. Glencar/Manor face Gortletteragh at 5pm in Páirc Seán which is part of a double header as Cloone play St Mary s at 6:30pm.

It s the opening weekend of the Junior A and this competition commences on Sunday eve at 5pm in Cloone with Aughavas s first team against Kiltubrid s second followed at 6:30pm when Ballinamore Sean O Heslins meet Carrigallen.

On bank holiday Monday in Leitrim it s the turn of Melvin Gaels v Bornacoola and at 3:30pm it s Gortletteragh v Drumkeerin.

Lot s to see and do on the championship trail this weekend.

31-Jul-09 by Brendan Doyle – PRO

The smell of fresh cut grass, flags and paint brushes at the ready, frantic last minute preparations and of course the championship haircut. All part of the pinnacle of the club season as the championship opening weekend approaches. First up, following tradition, the senior and intermediate competitors take to the fields on Saturday evening as last years title holders attempt to defend their crowns while aiming to put titles back to back. Everyone else has their eye on re-homing the holy grails on county finals weekend which is scheduled for 25-26th September, one week after the All Ireland final.

This Saturday evening at 6:00 pm Mohill and neighbours Annaduff take to the field in Páirc Seán in the Senior championship opener while at the same time in Ballinamore the Intermediate games commence as Fenagh St Caillins face Aughawillan. Both of these are group 3 games in their respective grades.

At 7:30pm in both venues Melvin Gaels meet Allen Gaels in Carrick while in Ballinamore Kiltubrid play Drumreilly both Senior championship games inÓgroups 1 and 2.
The Intermediates continue on Sunday at 2pm in Ballinamore as group 2s Allen Gaels meet Cloone followed by the last of the Senior clashes as Aughnasheelin take on Carrigallen at 3:30pm in the Group 4 tie.

In Ballinaglera its the Intermediate Group 4 decider between Drumkeerin and Glenfarne/Kiltyclogher.

Junior A will commence on the following weekend on Sunday Aug 2nd.

Follow your team………Leitrim Club Championships

23-Jul-09 by Brendan Doyle – PRO

In the run up to the Club Championship it is desired to have the forthcoming years county management team in place and available to attend as many games as possible where they can observe club players playing at their peak.  This will be the case for this years championship starting on Saturday as Mickey Moran and John Morrison have been ratified as the team Managers at last nights county board meeting held in Páirc Seán.  The clubs of the county reflected on the new managements first year which didn’t live up to earlier expectations but none the less voted in favour of returning the outgoing Managers and selector Martin McGowan to the helm for 2010.

22-Jul-09 by Brendan Doyle – PRO