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

League Finals:

The first of this years league finals was played on Sunday afternoon whenÓglencar/Manor claimed the first cup of the year with their 2 point win over Ballinaglera in the Division 3 decider.

The second league final of the year will be played on Wednesday night at 8pm in Páirc Seán and its the Division 2 header between Carrigallen and Dromahair.

A third league final will be played before the championship season commences in 2 weeks.  This time round its the Division 5 Final between Aughnasheelin & Carrigalln and its scheduled for Saturday at 6:30pm in Páirc Seán.  

Championship News:

Also note that Fixtures for SFC/IFC Rd 1 25-26/07-2009 will be issued following CCC Meeting of Thursday night next 16 Iuil. There is a possibility that Fixtures for 01-03/08-2009 may be confirmed following this meeting also.

14-Jul-09 by Brendan Doyle – PRO

With the Championship just around the corner and on track for 3 weekends time the next two weekends are going to be taken up with league fixtures including 2 league finals.

Division 1 – Kiltubrid lead the way with Glencar/Manor and St Marys in close pursuit. Kiltubrid have led for some months now but they and Glencar/Manor have 8 played while 5 teams directly below have games in hand so it will be a very tight and interesting finish to the league which will not be completed this side of the club championship. Gortletteragh look to be in trouble at the bottom and Aughawillan, Melvin Gaels and Ballinamore/SOH will all be trying to avoid the other relegation place.

Division 2 – We have a Final here and it is scheduled for Wednesday week at 8pm in Páirc Seán. Carrigallen and Dromahair have been head to head all season and have been clear leaders for some time. 3 other fixtures will be played this weekend and Round 9 is the full round that remains to finish up the season and decise the relegation placings. Annaduff, St Marys, Cloone Drumkeerin and Glenfarne/Kilty are in the danger area.

Division 3 – Ballinaglera and Glencar/Manor are in the Final which will be played on Sunday in Páirc Seán at 2pm. Only one other fixture remains which is not needed to calculate relegation places and with that Drumkeerin and Annaduff will move down a division for the 2010 season.

Division 4 – Kiltubrid lead the way here with Leitrim Gaels first team close by. There was the distinct possibility of a final this weekend had Leitrim Gaels overcome Allen Gaels to remain in the top berths but that loss may be costly as the door is now open for Ballinamore to cause an upset and create a playoff situation should they win their remaining 2 fixtures. St Marys and Glencar/Manor are sweating at the other end.

Division 5 – There is only one direction to go in this division and thats up as the bottom teams dont have relegation to worry about. At the business end of this mammoth 14 team division Carrigallen and Aughnasheelin are flying and with 15 fixtures in total left to play they are almost safe. Friday nights game between Aughnasheelin and Allen Gaels will determine when the final will be played.  The boots will definitely be well worn after this division is played out as it contained 91 fixtures in total.

So two finals to look forward to before the Club Championship which is on schedule for the July 25th throw-in. The league situation never looked better for the time of year and the early start to the year looks to have paid off handsomely.

07-Jul-09 by Brendan Doyle – PRO