Connacht FBD League

Leitrim 1-09 Galway 0-13

Leitrims second outing of the year was a frustrating affair. While it was not a particluarly physical encounter it was a game that saw 11 yellow and 3 red cards issued. Galway dominated the first half and Leitrim gave a very spirited effort in the second.

The first half saw a very strong Galway midfield dominate as they played at a lively pace into the scoreboard end of the field. Leitrim opened the Scóring with a James Glancy point which was followed by a Michael Meehan point and then a point by David Ward.  Leitrims Emlyn Mulligan replied with a point but Galway hit their purple patch as they registered 5 points unanswered. Emlyn Mulligan scored another point followed by Declan Maxwell late in the half.  Ward and Meehan both scored one point each and the final score of the half came from Leitrims Emlyn Mulligan from a free.  Despite their dominance in the middle sector Galways tally was only 4 points ahead of Leitrim.  Half time score Leitrim 0-5 Galway 0-9

The second half was a red affair as 3 players were sent marching in various different incidents. The first, early in the half was a controversal decision as Leitrims Michael Duignan received a yellow and then was shown a red.  It appears that no previous yellow card had been issued to Duignan.  Towards the end of the game the Galway team ended with 13 players as as their captain Kieran Fitzgerald and and half back Darren Mullahy were shown the line in seperate incidents late in the second half.

Despite the early sending off of Duignan this was Leitrims better half.  Points were traded early as it was Meehan, Mulligan twice and Meehan again all from frees. James Glancy scored from play and Emlyn Mulligan registered his 6th point from frees.  Galway took the next two points, one each from Meehan and Fiacra Breathnach.  This brought Galways score difference back to 4 points.  A fumble in the Galway small rectangle and a subsequent foul on Declan Maxwell resulted in a penalty which Mulligan cooly slotted home.  A one point game that Leitrim have seen all too often.  A gallant final push from Leitrim was not enough to breach the Galway defense for a final score and the game ended in a Galway win by the smallest of margins. – Leitrim 1-09 Galway 0-13

LEITRIM: nÓgill; D Reynolds, J McKeon, A OFlynn; B Prior, B McWeeney, S Foley; G McCloskey (Capt.), M Duignan; C Regan, E Mulligan (1-6f), M Foley; J Glancy (0-2), D Brennan, D Maxwell (0-1).

Subs: C Duignan for D Brennan. D Duignan for B Prior.

GALWAY: A Flaherty; K Fitzgerald (Capt.) F Hanley, D Burke, N Coyne, D Blake, D Mullahy, J Bergn, M Lydon (0-1), N Coleman, F Breathnach (0-3), D Meehan, D Dunleavy, M Meehan (0-6f), D Ward (0-3).

Subs: B Cullinane for D Meehan.

REF: D Corcoran (Mayo).

14-Jan-08 by Brendan Doyle – PRO

This weekend its all action for the Green and Gold followers as Leitrim County teams participate in 3 competitions in football and hurling.

Starting tomorrow at 2pm the Leitrim U21 team open their Hastings Cup season with a home game to Longford. This competition was in doubt for some time but with representations from all participating counties made to Croke Park the National CCC gave it the go ahead. The game is scheduled to be played in Leitrim Gaels grounds and the throw in time is 2pm.

At the same time in Annaduff the Leitrim Hurlers are in action against Sligo in the Connacht Hurling League. This is the preliminary round with the winners progressing to the Cup semifinal between NUIG or Mayo. Both of tomorrows losers will play in the Shield semifinal. All semifinals are scheduled for Saturday week 19th Jan.

The County Footballers play Galway in Round 2 of the FBD League. The opening game last weekend saw a slightly rusty team perform well against GMIT and with a determined effort came out winners. This weekends game will be interesting as the new Galway Manager Liam Sammon is using the opportunity to experiment with quite a few new comers to the Galway senior county scene. The game is on Sunday in Páirc seán at 2pm.

A full weekends entertainment in store for our loyal supporters which our players would love to see in numbers at our games.

11-Jan-08 by Brendan Doyle – PRO

The month of February will be very interesting as we embark on the new structure of the National League.

Leitrim will compete in Division 3 and our competitors are: Limerick, Fermanagh, Louth, Down, Wexford, Sligo & Longford.

Its early days yet but we are listing the teams performances in the order that Leitrim will meet them in the League. We map their progress in their respective provincial competitions as they shape themselves for the new national league.

Fermanagh: – McKenna Cup

January 6th: Fermanagh beat St. Marys 1-18 to 1-11 in Lisnakea

January 9th: Fermanagh beat Armagh 1-11 to 0-10 at Kingspan Breffni Park

January 13th: Fermanagh lost to Derry 0-08 to 0-13 at Celtic Park

January 24th: Fermanagh lost to Derry 1-10 to 2-12 in Dr McKenna Cup semi-final

Longford: – OByrne Cup

January 6th: Longford beat Kildare 0-9 to 0-7 in Newbridge.

January 13th: Longford beat Meath 0-14 to 1-06

February 9th: Longford progress to OByrne Cup final to play Dublin in Parnell Park at 5pm

Louth: – OByrne Cup

January 10th: Louth lost to D.C.U. 0-11 to 1-14 in Darver

January 13th: Louth beat Athlone IT in the OByrne Cup Shield 1-12 to 1-10

January 20th: Louth lost to Kildare in the OByrne Cup Shield Semi final 0-7 to 1-09