GAA Football and Hurling Championship for 2008

The draw for GAA Football and Hurling Championship for 2008 was made this evening in Croke Park and was aired live on RTE.

The following is the format for the 2008 Championship season:

 

Connacht- Football

Quarterfinals:

Leitrim v New York

Sligo v London

Galway v Roscommon

Mayo – Bye

 

Semis:

Mayo v Sligo/London
Leitrim/New York v Galway/Roscommon

 

 

Leinster – Hurling

Dublin v Westmeath
Offaly v Laois

Semis
Wexford v DB/WH
Kilkenny v LS/OY

 

Munster – Hurling

Clare v Waterford

Semis:
Cork v Tipperary
Limerick v CE/WD

 

 

Leinster – Football

A – Kildare v Wicklow
B – Meath v Carlow
C – Longford v Westmeath

 

QFs:
Laois v A (KE v WW)
Wexford v B (MH/CW)
Offaly v C (LD/WH)
Dublin v Louth

Semis:
LS/KE/WW v WX/MH/CW
OY/LD/WH v Dubs/LH

 

 

Munster – Football

A – Limerick v Tipperary
B – Clare v Waterford

Semis:
Kerry v B
Cork v A

 

 

Ulster – Football

Prelim – Antrim v Cavan

QFs
A – Fermanagh v Monaghan
B – Donegal v Derry
C – Tyrone v Down

D – Prelim v Armagh

Semis
A v B

C v D

 

 

14-Oct-07 by Brendan Doyle – PRO

Leitrim Supporters Club trip to New York

 

On Sunday May 11th 2008 Leitrim play New York in gaelic Park in the first round of the 2008 Connacht Championship. It will be 5 years since the last trip to New York and on that occasion the Leitrim Supporters Club arranged a group package deal for supporters. It has been decided that a similar arrangement will be put in place for 2008. The finer details will not be announced until the end of January when a committee will be in place to manÓge the task. Please note that further information will be available here on the website and in local press in the New Year.

 

 

12-Oct-07 by Brendan Doyle – PRO

Three All-Irelands means three winners in Connacht awards

A super September in which Connacht won three All-Ireland titles has led the judges in the Connacht GAA Writers Personality of the Month Award to share the September award between three of the province’s top sportspeople.
 
Galway pair John Lee and Damien Redington are honoured for their roles in the county’s All-Ireland U21 hurling and minor football triumphs. Lee was an inspirational presence as Galway defeated Dublin in the U21 decider, while Redington was the late goal-Scóring hero for the Tribesmen as they eclipsed Derry in a thrilling All-Ireland minor final.
 
Leitrim stalwart Maeve Quinn helped her county bridge a 19-year gap since they last won an All-Ireland ladies football title. In 1988, it was the Junior title, and this year they went a step further by taking the Intermediate trophy. Quinn played superbly at midfield and there were emotional scenes as they lifted the memorial cup named after her mother Mary Quinn for the first time.
 
The monthly award winners will receive their presentations at a special function in the TF Royal Theatre and Hotel, Castlebar, after the season is over, at which the Michael McDonnell Award for the Personality of the Year will be announced.

 

 

09-Oct-07 by Liam Horan

Scór News

Scór na mBunscoileanna

 

Dates have now been set for Scór na mBunscoileanna and details have been circulated to all schools in Leitrim this week. This competition which was started in Leitrim three years ago by the late Cormac MacGiolla has now spread to a number of counties. In Leitrim there has beenÓgood participation up to now from the schools of the county and it is hoped many more schools will take part this year.

 

Like last year there will be competitions for solo dancers and solo musicians in addition to the regular eight Scór competitions in Rince Foirne, Amhranaíocht, Ceol Uirlise, Aithriseoireacht, Nuachleas, Trath na gCeist, Bailéad Ghrúpa agus Rince Seit. The last date for receipt of entries is 26 October.

 

The venues are:

Thursday 8 November in Gortletteragh GAA Centre starting at 6.30

Friday 9 November in Ballinamore Community Centre starting at 6.30

 

There will be medals for the winners of each event on each night and the Cormac MacGiolla Shield will go to the best school from the two nights.

 

Scór na nÓg

 

Dates have also been set for Scór na nÓg and they are as follows

 

Semi Finals

Saturday 8 December in Ballinamore Community Centre starting at 6.00

Sunday 9 December in St Marys Hall, Carrick on Shannon starting at 3.00

 

Finals

 

Sunday 6 January 2008 in Bee Park Centre, Manorhamilton starting at 3.00

 

Scór Sinsear

Although it is a long while away yet, dates and venues have also been set for next years Scór Sinsear and they are as follows:

 

Semi Finals

Friday 29 February in Bornacoola starting at 8.00

Saturday 1 March in Drumreilly starting at 8.00

 

Finals

Saturday 8 March in Bee Park Centre, Manorhamilton starting at 8.00

 

 

09-Oct-07 by Sean O Suilleabhain

Coaching news

Fun do Launch.

The launch of the new Fun do resource pack will take place in Pairc Sean, to night Monday 08/10 at 7.30pm. John Tobin will conduct the launch and all clubs and primary schools are asked to send a representative. This new Learning resource pack contains manuals on both football and hurling coaching along with a DVD and CD Rom on both. It will allow coaches to create their own sessions from the various exercises on the DVD, while also demonstrating how to teach the skills and recognise the common errors that occur with children. The new resource will be available to both clubs and schools at the discounted price of €50 and should become the standard manual for all coaching of children up to 12 years of age.

 

Coaching Coaches

A series of pratical workshops for club coaches working with children from 8 to 12 years of age will be held during October. These workshops will take place on the following dates. Workshops will commence at 7.30pm.

 

Manorhamilton – Thursday 11/10/07 – St. Clares PP school Gym.

Ck-on-Shannon – Thursday 18/10/07 – Sports Complex

Mohill – Thursday 25/10/07

Ballinamore – Thursday 01/11/07

 

 

08-Oct-07 by Thomas Keenan

Sarah wins Lucozade SportIrish Independent Player of the month

A second national award has come to a Leitrim player as Sarah McLoughlin’s player of the match performance earned the Ballinamore girl the Lucozade Sport/Irish Independent Ladies player of the month for September. This award is all the more noteworthy taking into account performances by players in all of the semi finals at Senior, Intermediate and Junior level in addition to the three All Ireland finals would have been considered. Well done to Sarah.

 

 

07-Oct-07 by Patricia Bohan – Ladies PRO

County Senior Fixtures 2008

 

Connacht Council have released the schedule of games which concern the County Senior Football Team in 2008:

2008 FBD League:

 

(All FBD Games are home games for Leitrim)

6th Jan 08 – Round 1 – Leitrim v GMIT

13th Jan 08 – Round 2 – Leitrim v Galway

20th Jan 08 – Round 3 – Leitrim v Sligo

 

Connacht Senior Football Championship

Leitrim v New York on Sunday May 11th in Gaelic Park.

 

Meanwhile the Leitrim Juniors are scheduled to play the Connacht Junior Semi final on Friday 2nd May 2008 against Sligo at a Leitrim venue.

 

 

 

 

02-Oct-07 by Brendan Doyle – PRO

Conclusion of Leagues 2007

 

 

At the conclusion of the 2007 regular rounds of League games the following will apply:

League Finals and Promotion

InÓgeneral the top two teams in each Division will contest the League finals in each respective division and will, ordinarily, be promoted to the next highest division for 2008. There will be no semi-finals.

Exception (promotion): A team will not be promoted if its club already has a team in the higher division that is not due to be relegated, or has a team that is due to be relegated into this division from the next highest division. In this case, one team only will be promoted and one team relegated between these two respective divisions. Example-if a club has a team that is due to be promoted from Division 5 to Division 4 and also due to have a team relegated from Division 3 to Division 4 then the relegation will take place of the Division 3 team but the promotion of the Division 5 team will not take place, and only one team, in this case, will be promoted from Division 5 to Division 4 and one team relegated from Division 4 to Division 5.

 

Relegation

The teams in last and second last positions in each Division will, ordinarily, be relegated to the next lowest Division for 2008.

 

Exception (relegation): Only one team will be relegated from Division 3 to Division 4 at the conclusion of the 2007 Leagues only, to take account of the fact that Achadh Mhaoileann second team was placed in Division 4 for 2007, instead of Division 3, and this will bring Division 3 for 2008 up to 10 teams and Division 4 down to 12 teams in 2008 also, with the promotion of two teams from Division 4 to Division 3. This decision was taken at the meeting of Coiste Chontae Liatroma of March 12, 2007.

 

score Difference

At the conclusion of the regular rounds of League Competition, score Difference will be the primary deciding factor, should there be an equality of points on the League table. This is in accordance with Rule 136 TO 2007 which specifies that the following from Rule 116 shall be used:

 

Qualification for the Concluding Stages or for Promotion or Relegation, the tie shall be decided by the following means and in the order specified:

(i) Scóring Difference (subtracting the total scores Against from total scores For)

(ii)Highest Total score For.

(iii)Where two Teams only are involved – the outcome of the meeting of the two Teams in the previous game in the Competition.

(iv)Scóring Average (divide total score Against into total score For).

Exception: If the accumulated scores of a team, so involved, are affected by a disqualification, retirement or walk over, the tie shall be decided by a play off.

 

 

Mise le fíor mheas

 

Déaglán Ó Buacháin

Rúnaí

 

 

02-Oct-07 by Brendan Doyle – PRO

Connacht Club Fixtures – Senior & Intermediate

AIB CONNACHT CLUB SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Pre-Lim Round Sunday 14th October at 2.00pm.

St Marys (L) v Eastern Harps/Tourlestrane(S) in Carrick-on-Shannon

Referee: O Kelly (R )

 

CONNACHT CLUB INTERMEDIATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Pre Lim. Round Sunday 14th October. at 2.00pm.

 

Ballintubber(M) v Drumreilly (L) in Castlebar

Referee: D Mullaney (S)

Extra Time if necessary

 

 

02-Oct-07 by Brendan Doyle – PRO

Kiltubrid enjoy Connacht Club Success

VHI Connacht Club Intermediate Championship Quarter Final:

Kiltubrid 6-11

Swinford (Mayo) 1-06

 

Played in sunny conditions in Leitrim Gaels Community pitch, Kiltubrid made little of their previous days exertions to fashion a wonderful first half performance and left the result in no doubt by half time. Visibly tiring in the second half, they still managed some crucial scores to prevent any possibility of a Swinford comeback. The difficulty in scheduling the county final due in the main to the All Ireland run of the county team, meant that Kiltubrid had to face games on two successive games as there was no possibility of rescheduling the Connacht championship dates.

 

Both teams missed an early opportunity to open the Scóring before a wonderful pass from Aine Tighe set up Aoife McWeeney for a super finish to the net to give the Kiltubrid the perfect start. Niamh Cunningham, Swinfords most dangerous forward replied with a fine point from play. Swinford recoginsed the threat of Tighe almost immediately and brought in Susan Lavin to mark her. Miranda Burke fired over a point from play as Kiltubrid found a great rhythm to their play. Lisa McWeeney pointed from distance and Siobhan Kelly added to the growing tally. Lisa McWeeney pointed again after Aoifes original shot was well blocked. Another fine run by Aine Tighe resulted in another point under tremendous pressure. With a rare attack at the other end, Cunningham found herself unmarked in front of goal and gave Emer Horan no chance with a goal. Any possibility of a Kiltubrid collapse was certainly not on the cards as they responded almost immediately when Siobhan Kellys effort founfd the far corner of the net. Kiltubrid did have a let off with ten minutes of the half remaining when a penalty was awarded to Swinford. Cunninghams effort hit the post but Emer Horan went down well to save the rebound and clear to safety. With Aine Meehan, Sinead McKieran and Clare Kelly in brilliant form in the defence, Kiltubrid easily repelled all of the Swinford attacks. Emer Horan was equally inÓgood form and saved brilliantly from Tara Henry. Aine Tighe relieved the pressure with a pointed free while Cunningham pointed from play at the other end. Miranda Burke turned proveder for Tighe as she fired to the net and Kiltubrids confidence grew with some wonderful free flowing football. Another goal from Aoife McWeeney when Lisas original shot was only parried by Sinead Loftus with five minutes remaining was added to with points from Miranda Burke and Aoife McWeeney to leave Kiltubrid leading by 4-8 to 1- 2 at the break.

 

Swinford attacked first in the second half and Sinead Fadden pointed before Siobhan Kelly responded with another fine point from play. Three unanswered points from Fadden (2) and Cunningham signalled a mini revival as Kiltubrid began to tire. Sandra Early pointed well to keep distance between the teams as the defence came into their own with many crucial blocks and interceptions while Clare Kelly moved back to mark the dangerous Cunningham. There was stalemate for fifteen minutes as the half wore on and indeed it was Kiltubrid that finished the strongest with a goal from Siobhan Kelly, another Tighe point and to put the icing on the cake and seal a famous win, hard working midfielder Sinead Tighe goaled in the final minute to start a double celebration.

 

Kiltubrid: Emer Horan, Aine Meehan, Sinead McKiernan ,Breda Holohan, Siobhan Carroll, Claire Kelly, Jenny McKiernan, Sinead Tighe, Lisa McWeeney, Miranda Burke, Siobhan Kelly, Regina Bohan, Aoife McWeeney, Sandra Earley, Aine Tighe. Subs: Carol Keaney, Anya Auhl, Niamh Tighe, Helene Duignan, Sinead Byrne, Clodagh Foley, Ciara McWeeney, Aisling McGourty, Emma Burke, Claire Judge.

 

Swinford: Sinead Loftus, Dorothy Cassidy, Heather Walsh, Sarah Ansboro, Claire Tierney, Melissa Coleman, Linda Kenny, Tara Henry, Leanne Lenehan, Deirdre Callaghan, Ciara Price, Sinead Fadden, Niamh Cunningham, Jessie Coleman,Michelle Gavin

Referee: J Cox (Roscommon)

 

 

01-Oct-07 by Patricia Bohan – Ladies PRO

Aughawillan second half comeback denies Sean OHeslins double bid

Ladies Division 3 League Final:

Aughawillan 2 – 10

Sean O Heslins 2 – 07

Leading by six points to three at the break, O Heslins looked to be on their way to victory despite missing a number of chances to have put the game beyond doubt. However, led by the impressive Niamh Flanagan at midfield, Aughawilan punished a wasteful O Heslins and finished the strongest to take the title.

 

Nora McGovern hit two wides before firing opening the opening point for Aughawillan after three minutes of play. A Deborah Gilheaney free levelled matters almost immediately. O Heslins dominated the next ten minutes an missed a number of chances before a Gilheaney free put them in front. Midway through the half LeighannÓgallagher extended the O Heslins lead and had a goal chance almost immediately but was fouled with Gilheaney adding another free. Aoife Fox missed a good Aughawillan chance while at the other end a Carmel MCCartin effort onÓgoal went narrowly wide. Gallagher added a fine point as O Heslins continued to dominate the half. With five minutes remaining Aoife Fox pointed a free to cut the gap but McCartin replied with a point from play. The final action of the half resulted in a 10 minute sin bin for McCartin for a foul and Fox pointed the free to leave Aughawillan six points to three in arrears at the break.

 

Niamh Smith was called on to make a fine save from Nora McGovern shortly after the restart. O Heslins had the ball in the Aughawillan net two minutes later but it was disallowed as a free had been called earlier. Smith had to make a second save to keep her goal intact as Aughawillan sought to take advantage of the extra player. However it was O Heslins that scored in thes period with a point from Caroline McGrory as McCartin returned. Kirby Gilgunn was unlucky to see a fine effort fall just short following a fine run before a half blocked McCartin effort bounced around in the goal area and was finally touched to the net by Ciara O Dowd as O Heslins extended their lead to seven points. Their joy was short lived as Aughawillan responded in typical fashion with a long range effort from Josephine Maguire that was too high to handle for Smith in the goals and the lead was cut to four. Two Aughawillan wides were followed by a McGovern point to narrow the gap to three. It was back to six two minutes later as somehow McCartin found a gap with a low shot for her teams second goal. With ten minutes remaining the Aughawillan fightback gathered momentyum, points from Maguire, a great effort from McGovern and a third from Yvonne Williams cut the gap again. O Heslins were unlucky to see an effort hit the post and cleared to safety as again Aughawillan pushed forward. A point from Niamh Flanagan was immediately followed by a second goal as Williams effort went into the top corner an suddenly Aughawillan were a point in front with two minutes remaining. They closed the game with two points from Maguire and an Aoife Fox free to register a three point win.

Sean O Heslins: Niamh Smith, Claire Fanning, Lauren McGrory, Katie Duignan,Kirby Gilgunn, Gillian Layden, Michelle Fanning, Carmel McCartin, Orla McWeeney , Deborah Gilheaney , Ciara O Dowd, Caroline McGrory, LeighannÓgallagher.

Aughawillan: Laura Creamer, Yvonne Williams, Aisling Prior, Ciara Flanagan, Aoife Fox, Katie Prior, Niamh Flanagan, Mary Fee, Caoimhe Quinn, Nora McGovern, Sinead Maxwell, Catriona Quinn, Joesphine Maguire

Referee: Mary Shanley

 

 

01-Oct-07 by Patricia Bohan – Ladies PRO

Kiltubrid crowned Intermediate Champions

Pyramid Bookmakers Intermediate Championship Final

Kiltubrid 4 – 11

Mohill 2 – 11

Kiltubrid joined Aughawillan and Cloone in the senior club ranks with a six point win over Mohill in Leitrim Community Pitch on Saturday evening. This was a close tough competitive game with the sides level at half time and it was only well into the second half before Kiltubrid put some daylight between the teams.

 

Mohill missed the first effort for a point at a shot hit the post and rebounded to safety before Siobhan Kelly opened Kiltubrids account with a point from play after Sinead Tighe intercepted a Mohil move in the middle of the field. A minute later the sides were level with an Eimear Beirne free following a foul on Katie Tyrrell. Mairead Stenson carried the ball from full back line into the heart of the Kiltubrid defence and her pass to Beirne was pointed to put Mohill into the lead after eight minutes. Siobhan Kelly saw her effort hit the crossbar and in a scramble for the ball Aine Tighe was fouled and pointed the free to level the game. Christine Quinn and pointed for Mohill and after thirteen minutes Caroline Egan was first to react to a dropped ball from a Deridre McDermott free to hit the back of the net as Mohill got on top. Twoi minutes later Kiltubrid responded with a fine goal from Aoife McWeeney after a great run by Lisa McWeeney. A Caroline Egan shot was saved by Emer Horan as the play moved from end to end. Eimear Beirne fired over a fine point but missed an easy free to increase the Mohill lead. Some fine defending by Kiltubrid set up Aoife McWeeney for a great point as Kiltubrid dominated the next five minutes. An Aine Tighe free levelled the game again and was involved in a great move that was finished to the net by an inrushing Aoife McWeeney. Caroline McGarry had to be alert and made a fine save from McWeeney before Regina Bohan pointed from play. However Mohill fought their way back and finished the half on top when a Deirdre McDermott point and Eimear Beirne free cut the gap to two. Beirne pointed another free before Charlene Tyrrell won the kickout and hit a long range point to leave the sided level at 2-5 to 1-8 at the break.

 

Emer Horan was in action in the Kiltubrid goals immediately after the restart as she made a god save from Caroline Egan. Beirne pointed a free as Mohill pushed forward strongly but some great defensive work from the Kiltubrid defence kept their goal intact. Mohill increased their lead to two points after ten minutes with a Caroline Egan effort that hit the crossbar an went over. The next twelve minutes proved the winning of the game for Kiltubrid with a point from Lisa McWeeney and a goal from Player of the Match Miranda Burke following great combination play from Sandra Early and Aoife McWeeney. The goal was quickly followed by points from Aine Tighe, Sandra Early, Siobhan Kelly and another Tighe point all from play. Mohill tried to respond but wides from Deirdre McDermott and Eimear Beirne didnt help matters. With ten minutes remaining Kiltubrid seemed secure in their lead, however Mohill fought back again and Erin Reynolds found the far corner of the net from a long ball in to leave only a goal between the teams. An Aine Tighe point was matched by an Eimear Beirne free as the final seconds were played. The last action of the game saw a long clearance from Kiltubrid find Aoife Mcweeney in space and she made sure of the win with a well take goal before the final whistle blew.

 

Kiltubrid: Emer Horan, Aine Meehan, Sinead McKiernan,Breda Holohan, Siobhan Carroll, Claire Kelly, Jenny McKiernan, Sinead Tighe, Lisa McWeeney, Miranda Burke, Siobhan Kelly, Regina Bohan, Aoife McWeeney, Sandra Earley, Aine Tighe

 

Mohill: Caroline McGarry, Paula McGarry, Mairead Stenson, Olivia Gilmartin, Christine Quinn, Deirdre Ward, Kathy Keegan, Bernie Egan, Charlene Tyrrell, Eimear Beirne, Deirdre McDermott,Katie Tyrrell, Ciara Keegan, Caroline Egan, Erin Reynolds

 

Referee: Maeve Quinn

 

 

01-Oct-07 by Patricia Bohan – Ladies PRO