Leitrims spirit and character were the determining factors in last Sundays victory over Wicklow according to Manager Mickey Moran who succinctly summed it up with "A day like that comes down to character."

Speaking after an exciting finale, Mickey told the Observer "A day like that comes down to character. We can do so much but it is getting the lads to produce that on the pitch on a consistent basis. We knew it was always there and that was what won it today and were absolutely delighted.

"It was a great win in the end, we played very well in the first half but we didnt take the scores which was a bit worrying. But as I said at halftime, this was the first time we went in leading at halftime and we wanted to stay ahead.

"The questions were asked in the second half and Wicklow put it up to us but I think the lads responded and showed the great heart and character that is there. Then they decided to open up and they showed great touches and flair in coming back and eking out that victory, especially the last score."

The management team were also rewarded by the decision to stick with Ray Cox as the Annaduff man scored four points after an off-day against Antrim – "You have to be loyal to lads, when somebody goes on and it goes well for him.

"It didnt go well for Ray the last day but you have to have a bit of faith, you just cant diScórd somebody like that. We said go out there and prove it and it sets a lad up for a good game."

Mickey also emphasised the importance of the team ethic, particularly as Leitrim were without top scorer and talisman Emlyn Mulligan – "The match really was for Emlyn. Emlyn has the shingles, it was an honest decision by him and by the management.

"He could have given us 20 minutes near the end but it mightnt have worked out. This shingles leaves a loss of energy. At the start, I told the lads that Emlyn carried us with his frees and his scores and it was up to us to carry him.

"We made substitutions when lads were tiring and we needed that. But as I told the lads at the end of the match, it was the 15 lads starting or the subs who came on, it was all the other lads who werent in the 24.

"They are the lads at training, pushing them on. There is great spirit.I told them if they are patient, theyll get their chance and if they are patient, theyll get support from us."

Moran also professed that he didnt hear vocal criticism from the stands during the previous match against Antrim – "I didnt hear any and Ive no more grey hairs. Were loving every minute of it, criticism and all and I didnt hear any criticism."

And Moran returned to the theme of attitude as they prepare for the final three matches of the season – "We just have to work on the mental attitude, were as good as anyone. Were not better than anyone, but we are as good as anyone. Its not arrogance, just a pride in your county and take that belief in. I think we saw it out there today.

"Its a big win but at the end of the day, everybody talks about this might happen and that might happen but nothing will happen unless you win your games. Antrim need to be beaten or Sligo need to be beaten twice.

Were still playing catch-up but were just doing our bit, taking it one match at a time. Next Sunday against Waterford is a hard one, Waterford kicked something like 13 chances wide. Theyre be smarting and itll be a tough test for us.

"You can do nothing about other results but your own to be in with a chance. It is precariously balanced," concluded Mickey.

 

 

 

 

This full report is available thanks to John Connolly  for the Leitrim Observer
– it s available in this weeks edition of the Observer and online here

 

 

 

 

19-Mar-09 by John Connolly – LeitrimObserver.ie

Leitrims hopes of promotion were boosted with victory over Wicklow at Pairc Sean Mhic Diarmada yesterday.

A return to form by man of the match, Michael Foley, was the high point here. Foley scored four points.

Leitrim were 0-8 to 0-5 ahead at the break, but Wicklow fought back on the resumption with a John McGrath point.

And three Wicklow points levelled the scores with three minutes left, but two late Leitrim points — from Declan Maxwell and BrendanÓgallagher — sealed the well-earned victory.

ScórERS:

Leitrim: R Cox (0-1f), M Foley (0-2f) 0-4 each, D Maxwell 0-2, B Gallagher, P McGuinness, B McWeeney 0-1 each.

Wicklow: T Hannon 0-4 (0-3f), S Furlong (0-1f), D Odlum, J McGrath 0-2 each, L Glynn 0-1.

LEITRIM — nÓgill; D Reynolds, J McKeon, B Prior; B McWeeney, A OFlynn, J Glancy; G McCloskey, T Beirne; P McGuinness, M Foley, D OConnor; R Cox, D Maxwell, J Holohan.

Subs:
S Canning for T Beirne;
D Beck for D Reynolds;
B Gallagher for D OConnor;
D Duignan for R Cox;
S Foley for A OFlynn.

WICKLOW — M Travers; C Hyland, D Power, A Byrne; L Glynn, P McWalter, R Nolan; D Jackman, J P Dalton; P Earls, T Hannon, J McGrath; D Odlum, S Furlong, D OSullivan.

Subs:
P Dalton for D OSullivan;
A Nolan for D Power (y/c).

Ref — R ODonnell (Donegal).

 

 

16-Mar-09 by Irish Independant.ie

The past is definitely the past according to Leitrim selector Martin McGowan who stresses that Leitrim are focused solely on next Sundays massive Allianz League Division Four show-down with second placed Antrim in Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada at 2.30 pm.

The Allen Gaels clubman is the local member of the new management team but he is definitely working from the same script as his colleagues when he stresses that Antrim is the only thing Leitrim are concentrating on at the moment.

"Were most definitely looking forward to it," Martin told the Observer, "It is another game for us and hopefully another step on the road to trying to win promotion.

"Everybody would have been looking at Antrim, Sligo and Wicklow as the main teams in the Division but we will be looking on Antrim as another team we are trying to beat. We will focus on the game in front of us and that is all and hopefully, that will see us through."

The value of that approach is two-fold – it concentrates the minds on the challenge of the Saffron men and immediately reminds everyone that the Sligo and Carlow results are now nothing but history.

"The games are coming hard and fast in the coming weeks but you cant allow your mind to wander, your focus has to be on the next game and until 4 pm next Sunday evening, our total focus will be on Antrim.

"No doubt about it, the result against Sligo was very disappointing for the players and us as a management group but we bounced back in an impressive fashion against Carlow and got the victory. And I think the scoreline against Carlow was a poor reflection of our dominance on the day.

It was important to get a game quickly after the loss to Sligo but perhaps if we had the Carlow game when it was scheduled, we wouldnt have been as sluggish and we would have gone into the game in a better frame of mind – it works both ways.

"If were going to be in with a chance of promotion, we need to be taking our chances but the last day is gone. We will just concentrate on winning the game in front of us and the Sligo game and the Carlow game are gone now, they are in the past."

While acknowledging that the amount of missed chances in the Carlow game was was a concern, Martin has obviously inherited the positive out-look of his late father, Tony, when he takes a different view-point on those misses – "While we would be concerned about the amount of chances we missed against Carlow, Id more be concerned if we werent creating the chances."

Martin also believes that the new set-up has reinvigorated the County side, creating far more competition for places and rising standards as a result – "In the past, the Leitrim team might have been picked from a pool of 18 to 20 players but already we have used 26 players this year and we have lots of other guys in contention for a place on the team.

"The hardest thing is picking a panel of 24 for match days, whatever about the first 15. There is great competition in training and as long as we keep that competitionÓgoing, it will bring us on a lot.

"At this time of the year, you settle into a routine.
A lot of football is establishing good routines and it is important to set down standards that breath competition into training and that augers well for match days. A few of the lads are carrying knocks from the League games. Ray Cox had a bit of a hamstring worry but there is nothing serious and hopefully, we will have a clean bill of health.

Asked if the reality of being a selector for the County Senior team lived up to his own expectations, Martin said “It is every bit as much of a thrill as I expected it to be, maybe even more so. It is a great thrill for me to be involved with the Leitrim Senior team and a great honour especially to work with two men as committed and passionate as Mickey Moran and John Morrison.

“They have a great way of dealing with the players and you learn so much from them. If you look at the fact that they only get to pick 15 players for each game, it’s a great compliment to Mickey & John that they are still getting a full compliment of players turning out for every training sesssion, I think that speaks volumes for the impact they have had.”

As for a prediction, Martin said “You have to be confident, particularly when you are playing at home. We are always very difficult to beat in Carrick but we have to establish a good record of getting the wins as we did against Carlow.

“And if we continue in that same vein of form, we will have a very good chance. It is not going to be easy but I’d be confident that we can get a result if we work as hard as we did against Carlow."

 

 

 

This full report is available thanks to John Connolly  for the Leitrim Observer
– its available in this weeks edition of the Observer and online here

 

 

 

06-Mar-09 by John Connolly – LeitrimObserver.ie