Exiles face uphill battle against Leitrim

By Simon Lewis, New York, Sourced on IrishExaminer.ie

AS IF life isnt difficult enough for the New York footballers, an injury crisis has been added to the list of exiles woes ahead of tomorrows Connacht SFC clash with Leitrim at Gaelic Park.

The usual complaints of a continuing player drain from the Big Apple and lack of match practice still apply, not that you will hear them from New York Manager Paddy Kearney and his selectors Pat Scanlan and Willie Lowry. Yet Kearney now has to cope with the loss of some of the key players he did actually have at his disposal. Kearney has a quartet of fellow Kerrymen either missing or doubtful while he lost the services of goalkeeper David Hopkins over a player registration issue with the North American board.

 

Beauforts Damien Breen and Spas Ross Donovan will both be absent through injury while Glenbeigh midfielder Ken OConnor and Beaufort forward Dan Doona, are both struggling with injury. Given their experiences with the Kingdoms panels at minor, U21, and in Doonas case, senior level, their absence would be another cruel blow to the New York cause.

Kearney places some of the blame for the injuries on the new all-weather Fieldturf surface at the redeveloped Gaelic Park, which played host to the first All-Ireland Championship match on an artificial surface 12 months ago when Sligo beat New York.

Greeted as a godsend as it enables training through the harshest of New York winters, particularly now that lights have been installed, Kearney is aware of the irony of it having also brought a spate of injuries.

"I know its beenÓgreat for Gaelic Park and to be able to train there, but I dont think its the best for training," said Kearney.

"The two big injuries that were getting now seem to be shin splints and quads which is very strange. And a lot of boys have beenÓgoing over on their ankles.

"Some blame it on not wearing the right boots but weve had different people going over and theyve nearly all had different types of boots on so it cant be that."

Doona is coming back from a quad muscle injury and missed a recent run out against a hastily-assembled scratch Boston side at Gaelic Park in the Bronx, in which the home side were beaten by the visitors.

"That was not a good sign," Kearney said of the defeat before adding, "Dan was not sure about playing but he gave it a shot and lasted about 15 minutes."

Match practice has been Scórce, with the only other tune-ups coming against visiting Kerry champions Feale Rangers and an Irish Army side.

"One national league game (for the inter-county sides) is as good as two months training for us," Kearney said.

"But we wont cry. Leitrim will be bringing a very strong squad and the most we can do is give it a shot."

One of the plus sides for Kearney is the emergence of a core of homegrown New York footballers on the senior panel.

"On the panel I would say we have seven or eight Irish-American players that have come through from the minors and that bodes well for the game here. I really enjoy working with these young fellas because they absolutely love playing."

Due to the injury doubts, Kearney will wait until the last possible moment before naming his team, but based on previous selections against Feale Rangers and the Army, New York could lineout with American youngster CJ Molloy, nephew of Donegal All-Ireland winning captain Anthony Molloy, among the forwards. Leitrim native Alan Foley could face his brother, free taker Michael Foley, while defensive cohort Sean Munnelly will also be playing against his home county and American forward Thomas McGovern has a father from Leitrim.

If the 6ft 5in OConnor overcomes knee and hand problems he will lineout in midfield alongside his 6ft 7in brother Adrian OConnor. If he fails to pass fit, Robbie Moran will drop from the forwards into midfield.

NEW YORK probable (SFC v Leitrim): P Ryan; S Munnelly, J Mitchell, A Power, A Foley, D Keane, L Maguire; A OConnor, R Moran; M Higgins, D Hartnett, M Dobbin, D Doona, L ODonnell, CJ Molloy.

 

 

10-May-08 by IrishExaminer.ie

In the last news item I mentioned that the squad will be acclimatising to the weather – well as I write this its 6:30am and its spilling out of the heavens, not much acclimatising required today ! Interesting to see later this afternoon how the artificial surface fares in the wet weather.

The forecast for Sunday is dry and cloudy.

In case you havent seen it there is a weather forecast prediction chart available on the dedicated New York page, see the yellow menu link at the top on the left. On this page there is supporters information on the 3 main events this weekend and also detailed maps and directions to Gaelic Park.

 

 

09-May-08 by Brendan Doyle – PRO

The Leitrim team have arrived safely in New York and are currently settling down in their base in upstate New York after a long days travel. Tomorrow will be spent getting acclimatised to the local weather and time difference with some time spent in gaelic Park in the afternoon on the artificial surface. A further run out on the new surface is scheduled for Saturday.

It is not expected that a team will be announced until Sunday afternoon in order to give injured players James Glancy and Michael Duignan the maximum time possible.

 

 

 

09-May-08 by Brendan Doyle – PRO

Under 8 & 10 blitz club blitz.

The next series of games in our under 8 & 10 blitz, will take place over the weekends 31/05 and 07/06 again commencing at 10.30am approx. A full list of games will be published in these notes and also advised to the each club coaching officer, in advance of these dates.

Hurling gear promotion.

To assist everybody interested in the promotion of hurling within the County, we have put together a very special deal with a number of suppliers of hurling gear and can now offer fully approved hurling helmets at the bargain price of € 50.00 each and full size hurley’s at € 14.00 each. Further information can be had by contacting Thomas Keenan 087-6591049 or Andrew Keary 087-7530888. Information leaflets will be distributed in both schools and clubs this week.

Vhi GAA Cul Camps 2008

Application forms and information leaflets will have been distributed to all schools. Forms can also be down loaded from the national GAA website at www.gaa.ie. We would urge parents to return their forms as quickly as possible as this will greatly assist with the smooth running of our camps. Return all forms to Thomas Keenan, Pairc Sean, Ck – on – Shannon, Co.Leitrim. List of camps for 2008 are as follows.

Monday 30/06/2008 – Manorhamilton, Ck-on-Shannon, Aughawillan.

Monday 07/07/2008 – Kinlough, Drumshanbo, Mohill.(Bornacoola GAA grounds)

Monday 14/07/2008 – Aughavas, Gortletteragh, Dromahair.

Monday 21/07/2008 – Fenagh, Drumkeerin, Leitrim.

 

 

07-May-08 by Thomas Keenan

ESB Connacht Minor Championship – Round 2

Sligo 3 – 9
Leitrim 1 – 7

Leitrim, who shot fourteen wides as against Sligos six over the course of the game, bowed out of the Connacht Minor championship after a second half collapse in Kilcoyne Park, Tubbercurry on Monday evening.

Sligo employed a two man full-forward line of Vincent Frizzel and Luke McDonagh to good effect in the final fifteen minutes of this game when they blew Leitrims challenge out of the water. It was a tactic that Leitrim very much failed to counter to their cost.

After a quite a physical set of exchanges in the opening eight minutes, Sligo managed to register the games opening score when Padraig Clarke shot over. But Leitrim got on level terms three minutes later when Philip McGourty dashed down-field on a fine run from his centre back berth and fired over.

Leitrim dominated the exchanges for the next eleven minutes when Shane Flanagan put over two frees that were awarded for fouls on Sean McKeon. Vincent Frizzel shot a 25th minute Sligo point from play that reduced Leitrims lead to the minimum.
Mark Beirne replied with a similar Leitrim score seven minutes later. However a Padraig Clarke goal on the stroke of halftime put Sligo on top and probably changed the course of the game.
The home side led by 1 – 2 to 0 – 4 at the break but Shane Flanagan levelled matters within two minutes of the restart when he tapped over a Leitrim free. However Sligo regained the lead within the space of another minute when an unmarked David Maye blasted to the Sligo net.
Leitrim fought back over the next two minutes and went back in front after Shane Flanagan put over another free and sub Niall Clancy hammered home a well-takenÓgoal soccer style. Sligo got back on level terms by the 38th minute after Barry OBoyle fired over a point.
The stalemate was maintained over the next five minutes with Niall OConnor hitting over a Leitrim point and Vincent Frizzel answering for Sligo in a similar manner. However a long range Sligo point that Padraig Clarke shot at the end of the third quarter initiated a rout of Leitrim during the remainder of the action.

Sligo went on to add a further unanswered 1 – 4 to their tally in this period. Man-of-the-match, David Maye hit a goal and two points during this spell and Vincent Frizzel added two points.
Galway will be Sligos Connacht quarter-final opponents in two weeks time.

Sligo: Bryan McGovern, Barry Kelly, Conor Davey, Mark Herrity, Sean Cawley, DarrenÓgilsenan, Darren McManus, James Clarke, Niall McDonagh, Barry OBoyle 0 – 1, David Maye 2 – 2(1f.), Stephen Maher, Luke McDonagh, Padraig Clarke, 1 – 2, Vincent Frizzel 0 – 4.

Subs Brendan Coleman for Cawley (20 mins.), David Reilly for Coleman (31 mins.), Gary Cawley for OReilly (56 mins.), Brian Harris for Frizzel (59 mins.).

Leitrim: Philip Farrelly, Jim McTague, Sean McWeeney, James OBrien, Ciaran Egan, Philip McGourty 0 – 1, Morgan Quinn, Emmet Mahon, Niall OConnor 0 – 1, Eoin Ward, Sean McKeon, Kevin Conlan, Sean McNabola, Mark Beirne 0 – 1, Shane Flanagan 0 – 4(4f.).

Subs Niall Clancy 1 – 0 for McNabola (20 mins.), Seamus Mulvihill for Conlan (HT), Paul Hackett for McKeon (52 mins.), Shane Ryan for McTague (60 mins.).

Referee: Pat McGovern (Galway).

 

(Thanks to PJ Leddy for providing this report) 

 

 

06-May-08 by PJ Leddy

Leitrim1-12 Sligo 2-7.

After 80 minutes of tense football Leitrim held their nerve to qualify for the Connacht Junior final with a 4 point win over neighbours Sligo in Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada on Friday evening. This game had to go to extra time as the teams were locked on points after normal time.

In the first half Leitrim lead all of the way through after a bright start with points from James Holohan and DeclanÓgilhooley. Sean Flannery for Sligo stood out and he registered 2 of Sligos 3 points from frees. Leitrim dominated the half adding 5 more scores 4 of which were from play while a goal from Flannery and another point was the quota from Sligo. Half time Leitrim 0-08 Sligo 1-03

The second half saw a Sligo resurgance and Leitrims first goal which came from James Holohan was neutralised by another Flannery goal for Sligo on the 14th minute. Points were exchanged by both teams through the half but a notable tally of 6 Sligo wides to Leitrims 2 told its own tale.

Leitrim scored their final point on the 28th minute and with 3 minutes of injury time to play had to try and hold out but Sligo held their nerve and came through in the dying seconds to put over the vital point to bring the game to extra time.

The 10 minutes each way was telling on players as both teams worked hard to make a head start. Leitrim scored first after 3 minutes followed again by Sligo 1 minute later. A Sligo wide by Flannery was followed by a Leitrim wide by Gilhooley. A second yellow for Noel Gaughan left Sligo struggling with 14 men as Leitrim went to the short half time break 1 point up thanks to a DeclanÓgilhooley free.

The second 10 minute half was all Leitrims and the extra man proved imperative as a fast move from defense to Karol Scollan who passed into the path of Gillhooley lead to a perfect goal and it was game over for Sligo.

A good all round performance from Leitrim justified the win with 5 of the 6 forwards getting on the scoreboard. Sligo playing some of the Senior squad tried hard but being reduced to 14 men left then struggling.

 

Leitrim Team:
C McCrann, W Gilgunn, D Flynn, L Ferguson, A Bohan, J MCGuinness, D Beck (0-1), D Lowe, N Doonan, M Quinn, D ODonnell (0-2), P McGowan (0-3), R Cox (0-4), D Gilhooley (1-4), J Holohan (1-1).

Sligo Team:
J Farrell, P McGuinness, K Carden, nÓgaughan, M McGowan, M Doddy, D McDonagh, S Henry, M Butler, P Wilson (0-1), E Cawley (0-3), D Davey, P Lyons (0-2), S Flannery (2-5), J Scanlon.

Referee: O Kelly (Roscommon)

 

 

03-May-08 by Brendan Doyle – PRO

 

Below is the panel for the Connacht Junior Championship game against Sligo on Friday evening at 7pm. The winners of this game will play either Roscommon or Mayo in the Connacht Final on Sunday May 18th in Pearse Stadium as a warm up game to the Galway v Roscommon Senior Championship game.

The Junior Manager Martin McGowan is assisted by Jimmy Holohan and below is the full panel listed alphabetically by first name.

 

Adrian Cullen Gaeil na hAilne
Aidan Bohan Cill Tiobraid
Anthony Conway Naomh Muire
Brendan Guckian Eanach Dubh
Cathal McCrann Gortleitreach
Christopher Prior Achadh Mhaolainn
Colm Farrell Barr na Cuille
Damien ODonnell Cluain
Daniel Beck Maothail
Daniel Lowe Naomh Muire
Dara McKiernan Cill Tiobraid
David Flynn Carraig Alainn
DeclanÓgilhooley Gaeil na hAilne
Emmett Lee Cill Tiobraid
Fabian McMorrow Gaeil na Meilge
James Holohan Droim Oir Bhealaigh
John Cullen Droim Caorthainn
John McGuinness Barr na Cuille
Jonathan Cassidy Naomh Muire
Karol Scollan Cill Tiobraid
Liam Ferguson Sean Ui Eislin
Michael Greene Naomh Muire
Mick Quinn Achadh Mhaolainn
nÓgel Maguire Droim Oir Bhealaigh
Noel Doonan Carraig Alainn
Patrick McGowan Droim Da Eithear
Ray Cox Eanach Dubh
Seamus Maguire Cluain
Wayne Gilgunn Achadh na Sileann

 

 

 

01-May-08 by Brendan Doyle – PRO