Ladies Football News

National League:
With last year?s exploits now history, Leitrim begin a new season with their first competitive outing in Division 2 of the National League next Sunday. In a very tough section Leitrim will have to travel to play Clare, Dublin and Limerick but first they welcome All Ireland Champions Sligo to Leitrim next Sunday. With a bye last weekend, all of their opponents started their campaign last weekend with Clare defeating Limerick but more significantly Sligo enjoyed a 1-11 to 2-5 over Dublin who were relegated from Division 1. Leitrim have been training since early in the New Year and the 2007 panel will see a number of new faces hoping to go one step further than last year. With their win over Dublin last Sunday, Sligo have obviously finished with their celebrations, but they know that they will face a stern test nest weekend. Leitrim will be hoping to consolidate their status in Division 2 and as the year progresses, they should make an impact on the final placings, however there will be no room for error as this promises to be one of the most competitive sections in all Divisions of the League. Best of luck to everyone involved on Sunday where the game will take place in Drumshanbo at 2.00pm.

Ready Steady Play Programme:
Mary Beades, Connacht Games Development Officer for ladies football was a welcome guest to a well attended county board meeting on Monday week last. Mary will be coordinating a Ready Steady Play programme in Leitrim starting the last weekend in March. The principal aim of the programme is to increase female volunteer participation in coaching in clubs in Leitrim. The target groups of participation in this new initiative is mothers of underage players, older sisters of underage players, former players, current players over 16 years of age and any adults wo regularly attend training that may be willing to help. Each club will ask current club coaches to introduce one or more volunteers to the club using a ?buddy system?. The volunteers will then attend a two and a half hour training course where they will be introduced to the basic skills of ladies football and given details of the Code of Ethics and good practice. Having completed the training course they will be required to participate with the coach in 4 training sessions with an underage team. On completion of an evaluation form to Head Office a coaching certificate will be awarded. It is hoped that the number of volunteers will increase using this system and they may continue on to complete the ladies FUNdamentals coaching course. We would encourage as many volunteers as possible to take part in this initiative.

FUNdamental Coaching Course:
A coaching course has been organised for Saturday 24th February in the Mayflower Hall, Drumshanbo. All under 12 and under 14 coaches should attend and the fee is ?20 per person.

Underage County Management :
The following management teams were ratified at the February county board meeting: Under 16 ? Brendan McCawley, Helen Tighe and Mary Quinn. Under 14 ? Pat McWeeney and Kieran Moran with a female selector yet to be appointed. Under 12 – Bernadette McLoughlin, Bernadette McCartin, Geraldine Creamer and Dympna Boylan.

 

 

14-Feb-07 by Patricia Bohan – Ladies PRO

Get well wishes

We would like to wish both members of our Senior Football management team good health as they are both recovering after recent bouts in Hospital.

Dessie Dolan was discharged from hospital at the weekend and is currently recuperating at home after spending many weeks in Portiuncala Hospital, Ballinasloe. Dessie has remained in regular contact with his management team during his 6 week absence.

Likewise Gerry McLoughlin, who was not available last week to travel to Clare due to a scheduled medical procedure, is now at home and recovering well.

We hope to see both men back on the sideline in the near future.

 

 

14-Feb-07 by Brendan Doyle – PRO

Start dates (confirmed and prov) for Club Compet

{UPDATE: The following is info. that was released to clubs in Feb. and gives prov. dates for the various Club competitions. I will update this item when more concrete dates are available from the CCC – Brendan PRO (21 Apr 07)

Following the meeting of Coiste Ceannais na gComortaisi Liatroma of 12 Feabhra 2007, I wish to inform you of the following agreed starting dates applying to All County Leagues 2007.

Division 1 WE 14/15 Aibrean

Division 2 WE 14/15 Aibrean

Division 3 WE 31 Marta/01 Aibrean

Division 4 WE 10/11 Marta

Division 5 WE 03/04 Marta

As Coiste na nÓg has scheduled Club MFL for 04 Marta, it is envisaged that Division 5 Round 1 games will be fixed for Satharn 03 Marta.

With regard to the Shield Competitions the agreed starting dates will be WE 12/13 Bealtaine.

The situation regarding dates for the club championshipsis as of yet unclear, particularly with regard to the fact that it will be tied into the progress of the Liatroim Senior Football team in 2007. However, it was agreed that the earliest possible starting date for SFC 2007 will be WE 21/22 Iuil, with all other grades of championship following asap the playing of Round 1 of the SFC.

Hoping that this will be of partial assistance to your club in planning your seasons preparations and more concise details of league draws etc will follow later.

 

 

13-Feb-07 by Brendan Doyle – PRO

Clare v Leitrim

Clare 1-14 Leitrim 1-9

Clare secured their second successive victory in Division 2A following a 1-14 to 1-9 win over Leitrim in Ennis on Sunday.

The Banner men received a major boost during the week with Denis Russell returning to the squad, and he played a key role in the five-point win over the Ridge men – Scóring 0-5 in all (0-3 from frees).

Clare were given little trouble through the course of the game and with a strong wind at their backs established a 0-10 to 0-4 lead at half time.

However, Leitrim were not bereft of determination and managed to cut the margin to just two points with 15 minutes to go in the game.

But it proved to be insufficient to overturn the game and a goal from Gary Brennan soon afterwards thrust the home side ahead once more.

Leitrims goal came at the very end of the game through a controversial penalty after goalkeeper Joe Hayes was adjudged to have blocked a shot with his foot.

 

 

12-Feb-07 by www.gaa.ie

Cardiac Screening

Two weeks ago, the Medical, Scientific and Welfare Committee of the GAA announced a number of new initiatives relevant to medical issues within the Association, including details of their plans to address the issue of Sudden Cardiac death.

They plan to complete a study of over 400 inter-county footballers and hurlers which will involve full cardiac screening of the players taking part, involving physical examination, ECG (Electrocardiogram) and ECHO (Echocardiogram) testing and the completion of a questionnaire. This pilot project will be completed under the direction of Dublin City University and participating players will be screened in the Mater Hospital under the supervision of cardiologists with a special interest in sport. We will be contacting the players selected for the pilot project in the coming days.

In addition, the committee, under the chairmanship of Dr. Pat Duggan, has recommended that all players over the age of fourteen should self-administer a questionnaire based on symptoms associated with exercise and family history of cardiac issues.

The questionnaire which can be accessed on the GAA website at [link= “www.gaa.ie “]www.gaa.ie[/link] by going to the link for ?GAA Forms Medical?. It is crucial that all our players over the age of 14 are made aware of this recommendation. I ask you, therefore, to draw the matter to the attention of all your clubs at the next County Committee meeting and to use the various communication channels open to you to ensure that all our players are aware of the importance of completing this questionnaire.

Paraic ? Dufaigh
Bainisteoir na nImreoiri (Player Welfare Manager)

Tel. 01-8363222 Extn.2148
pduffy@admingaa.ie

 

 

12-Feb-07 by Brendan Doyle – PRO

Up Coming Coaching Events

Connacht GAA Provincial Coaching Conference
On Saturday 10th February in the Mc William Park Hotel, Claremorris, the first Connacht Coaching Conference will take place. Key note speakers at this conference will be Professor Tom Reilly and Professor Niall Moyna, while the workshops will be given by Pat Flanagan, trainer of the All-Ireland winning Kerry team. Michael Mc Geehan, Paudi Butler, Fiona O Driscoll and Damien Young.
(This function is now booked out.)

Basic First Aid Course
A first aid course, covering basic injuries will be held in the Bush Hotel on Friday night next 09/02, commencing at 8 pm. Numbers are restricted, so I would ask all clubs to please contact me with the names of those attending. Clubs have been asking for a course like this, so please don?t miss it. This course will be offered in other regions of the County if there is enough Interest.

Core Stability Workshop
On Monday night 12/02/07 in teh Bush Hotel at 7:30pm Mr. Des Ryan will present a practical workshop on Core Stability. This workshop will demonstrate how to develop core strength which is a much neglected area in the development of our club players. Des Ryan is the current strength trainer to the Connacht Rugby team and the Galway football team.

Primary School Coaching
All primary Schools should note that School Coaching will recommence on Monday 26/02/07. We will be in touch with all Schools over the next few weeks to outline exact details.

Foundation Level Course
A foundation level course will be run towards the end of the month. Venue as yet to be decided, so all clubs wishing to have their coaches qualified should contact Thomas Keenan 087 6591049, so as the most suitable venue can be arranged.

Fitness Testing Workshop
A practical workshop on Fitness testing for club players will be given by John Tobin on Tuesday 27/02/07. Full details in next weeks news.

Hurling Workshop on TV
Our Hurling workshop held on Thursday night last in Manorhamilton, proved a hugh success, with over fifty young hurlers receiving coaching from guest coaches Paudi Butler, Damien Coleman and Kevin Brisco. A special word of thanks to Micheal Dolan for all his work and also to the Principal and staff of St. Clares comprehensive for the use of their superb gym. Please note this workshop will be featured on RTE 1 programme Pobal, to be broadcast on next Sunday evening at 5.30 pm.

 

 

09-Feb-07 by Thomas Keenan

Leitrim Team to play Clare

The following lineout remains unchanged from the team that played Offaly.

The team to play Clare this Sunday at 1:30pm in Ennis in the 2nd round of the Allianz National League:

1. Noel Gill – Cill Tiobraid
2. Barry McWeeney – Acadh na Sileann
3. John McKeon – Droim Raghallaigh
4. Dermot Reynolds – Naomh Muire
5. Ciaran Kennedy – Maothail
6. Barry Prior – Acadh Mhaolainn
7. Shane Foley – Cill Tiobraid
8. Michael Duignan – Barr na C?ille
9. Gary McCloskey – Barr na C?ille
10. Colin Regan – Gaeil na Meilge
11. Michael Foley – Droim Caorthainn
12. Brendan Brennnan – Gaeil na Meilge
13. Fintan McBrian – Acadh Easa
14. Ciaran Duignan – Fiodhnach-Naomh Cail?n
15. James Glancy – Gleann an Chairthe Cluain?n

 

 

09-Feb-07 by Brendan Doyle – PRO

Professional Pitch Line Marking Demonstration

It was announced at last night?s meeting of Coiste Chontae Liatroma that a professional pitch line marking demonstration will be taking place at Leitrim Gaels GAA pitch on Monday next 12 Feabhra.

Please note that the demonstration will commence at 2pm and not 4pm as announced on Monday night last.

Please inform any interested parties from your club who may have been intending to attend.

For your information this is a new method of lining pitches which uses laser technology and is one of only four demonstrations scheduled nationwide.

 

 

09-Feb-07 by Brendan Doyle – PRO

Club Competition Motions carried at recent meeting

The following are the 3 main motions relating to the recently approved Club competition structures for 2007

[b]Motion 1[/b]
Coiste Chontae Liatroma Leagues shall be organised from 2007 forward, as follows:
Division 1 12 Teams
Division 2 10 Teams
Division 3 10 Teams
Division 4 12 Teams
Division 5 12 Teams

The constitution of the above Divisions shall be based on the finishing positions at the conclusion of the 2006 League/Shields in the case of Divisions 1, 2, and 3 and in the case of Divisions 4 and 5, at the conclusion of the 2006 Leagues.

League Competition to be played on a single round basis with the two highest placed teams, at the conclusion of the respective series of games to be promoted and to contest the League Final in each Division and to be replaced by the two lowest placed teams in each respective higher Division, as the case may be.

In the event of a team being due to be relegated into a division in which the club already has a team, the team in the lower division shall be automatically relegated to the next lowest level, and follow on accordingly if the club has teams in the next immediate divisions. In this case only one other team i.e. bottom placed team will be relegated from the relevant division.

In the event of a team being due to be promoted into a division in which the club already has a team, in this case there will only be one promoted team i.e. the other league finalist and also, in this case, there will be only one team relegated from the higher division i.e. the lowest placed team.

In the event of a team being due to be relegated from Division 4 to Division 5 and the club already has a team in Division 5, the club?s Division 4 team will not be relegated.

A Shield Competition shall be organised during the playing season as follows:
Shield A 12 Teams 2 Groups of 6 Teams each
Shield B 10 Teams 2 Groups of 5 Teams each
Shield C 10 Teams 2 Groups of 5 Teams each

The Shield Competitions A and B shall include the 22 first teams eligible to take part in the 2007 Leagues in Divisions 1, 2 and 3 and from 2008 forward those similarly eligible. Shield and Group placement shall be by open draw
Shield C shall contain the remaining second string teams from 2007 Divisions 2 and 3 and Group placement shall be by open draw, the same criteria to be used from 2008 forward.
The above Shield Competitions shall be played on a single round basis with the top team in each group qualifying for the Shield Finals.

Players on the Leitrim Senior Panel shall be ineligible to play in the Shield Competition and clubs with more than one team in the competition will be required to adjust their 2007 First/Second 13 nominated players to reflect the fact that current members of the Leitrim Senior Football panel will not be eligible to play in the Shield Competitions, a similar criteria to be implemented from 2008 forward.

The Leitrim Senior Team Management shall nominate a list of players before the commencement of the Shield Competitions, who shall remain ineligible to play in said shields. Leitrim Senior Team Management shall nominate a revised list of players, if necessary, in advance of the Connacht Championship, who shall be similarly ineligible. A Club?s Shield First 13 may be adjusted accordingly at this stage to reflect changes in the Leitrim Senior panel only.

The Shield Competitions shall be organised by CCC Liatroma in a manner as to ensure that Shield Finals be completed before the commencement of Club Championships 2007, and from 2008 forward the same criteria shall apply.

Relevant existing Coiste Chontae Liatroma Competition Regulations to be amended accordingly and Relevant Competition Regulations as per TO 2007 shall automatically apply.

[b]Motion 2[/b]
From 2007 forward the Senior, Intermediate and Junior A Championships shall be organised as follows:

Eligible Teams
SFC – 12 Teams as eligible on the basis of 2006 results.
IFC – 12 Teams as eligible on the basis of 2006 results.
JFCA – 12 Teams as eligible on the basis of 2006 results
JFCB – 11 Teams as eligible on the basis of 2006 results
JFCC – 11 Teams as eligible on the basis of 2006 results

Organisation of Groups
SFC – 4 Groups of 3 teams each to be played on league basis
IFC – 4 Groups of 3 teams each to be played on league basis
JFCA – 4 Groups of 3 teams each to be played on league basis
JFCB – 1 Group of 6 and 1 Group of 5 to be played on league basis
JFCC – 1 Group of 6 and 1 Group of 5 to be played on league basis

Progression:
SFC/IFC/JFCA
The two highest place teams in each group to qualify for the Quarter Finals
JFCB/C
The two highest place teams in each group to qualify for the Semi-Finals

Promotion
Each Championship Winner shall be promoted to the next highest grade for 2008.
Exception: A team which wins a championship and already has a team in the grade to which it is to be promoted cannot be promoted, in which case there will be no relegation from the higher competition.

Relegation
Lowest placed team in each group of SFC shall play relegation semi-finals and losing semi-finalists shall play relegation final, losing team to be relegated to IFC.
Lowest placed team in each group of IFC shall play relegation semi-finals and losing semi-finalists shall play relegation final, losing team to be relegated to JFCA.
Lowest placed team in each group of JFCA shall play relegation semi-finals and losing semi-finalists shall play relegation final, losing team to be relegated to JFCB.
Lowest placed team in each group of JFCB shall be automatically relegated in 2007. From 2008 forward the lowest placed team in each group shall playoff to decide relegation.

If a club has a team in a championship into which it is due to have a team relegated from a higher grade, the lower team shall be automatically relegated to the next lowest grade and follow on accordingly if the club has other teams in the next immediate grades. In this case there shall be no relegation of any other team from that particular grade of championship.

In the event of a team being due to be relegated from JBFC to JCFC and the club already has a team in JCFC, their JBFC team shall not be relegated.

Exception:
From 2007 forward a team which fails to participate in any grade of championship shall be automatically relegated to the next lowest grade of championship in the following year, in which case there will be no playoffs to decide relegation in that particular year.

Note
From 2007 forward there shall be no SFC B or IFC B Competition organised.

Relevant existing Coiste Chontae Liatroma Competition Regulations to be amended accordingly and Relevant Competition Regulations as per TO 2007 shall automatically apply.

[b]Motion 3[/b]
The Competitions Control Committee shall have the facility afforded to it to formulate motions on Competition Structures to the Comhdhail Bhliantuil Liatroma at the end of its term.

 

 

08-Feb-07 by Brendan Doyle – PRO

Leitrim GAA Crest was unveiled on Wednesday eve

The location was the Bush Hotel, Carrick-on-Shannon – The time was 7:00pm , and the event was the unveiling of the new Leitrim GAA Crest by Sean Osuileabh?in who was the main force behind the crest design.

SeanÓgave us a little history on the crests associated with Leitrim GAA over the years. The first crest used was that of the O Rourkes of Breifne which was replaced by the County Council crest about 1993/94. In the mean time there was another crest used by the media and this crest had a row of circles across the top and 3 wavy lines down through the centre of the shield styled edge.

Our new crest is the result of various submissions from the public and the new version is based on an idea by Adrian Smith (current Chairman of Sean O Heslins). Adrian has the skills to produce a computerised version that was worked on by himself and Sean. The map of our county is distinctive and was a must in the overall design. Glencar waterfall is used as a landmark representative of the north of the county while Sheemore represents the south. The GAA symbols of a football and hurley are used as is the fiddle which represents Scór.

The whole crest is encircled with a celtic rope and the name Liatroma is along the top in celtic font. The colours of green, yellow, white and a little blue are used throughout.

Many thanks to Adrian and Sean on producing a fine crest that will come to mean so much to followers of Leitrim GAA.

The new crest is registered and Leitrim GAA hold the exclusive copyright to the crest. The players and management will be presented with new training gear incorporating the new crest in the coming weeks. It will appear for the first time in competition on new style jerseys which will be worn for the Championship.

 

 

08-Feb-07 by Brendan Doyle – PRO

New Competition and Change Of Old for 2007

Last nights County Board Meeting was very well attended as one of the main items on the agenda was the structure of the Club Competitions for 2007. At the previous meeting the structures committee were asked to evaluate the current set-up and their findings and suggestions were returned to the club secretaries over the last few weeks. This work was then put forward as 3 different motions to the club delegates last night. All 3 motions were carried by a very large majority.

In Summary:
Motion 1 – In summary this motion recommended the removal of the Tier 2 of the League. In its place would be the new Shield competitions which would be played by all clubs during the summer months. County players would not participate as they would be involved in intercounty competitions. An interesting change is that the Shields will be divided into 3 with all 1st Teams from Div 1,2 & 3 being divided up and playing in 2 of the Shields with remaining 2nd Teams from 2007 Division 2 & 3 making up the 3rd Shield.

Motion 2 – In summary it was recommended that in the Championship that Junior B and C grades would be played on a League basis similar to Senior, Intermediate and Junior A. From 2007 forward there would be no Senior B or Intermediate B competition. Another important addition was with regard to walkovers where by any team that failed to participate in any grade of championship would automatically be relegated to the next lowest grade of championship in the following year, in which case there would be no playoffs to decide relegation in that particular year.

Motion 3 – The new CCC (Competitions Control Committee) would have the facility to formulate motions on Competition structures without the need to having to wait until the next year.

Other items reports, and motions were dealt with at the meeting as it was a very full 25 item agenda.

 

 

06-Feb-07 by Brendan Doyle – PRO

Leitrim open NFL campaign with a win

Allianz NFL Div 2A

Leitrim 0?12
Offaly 0-11

Leitrim scored a surprise and fully merited win over Offaly in Cloone on Sunday with a Shane Foley point two minutes from the end of an exciting encounter.

Leinster finalists, Offaly struggled in the first half with Leitrim taking a four points lead by the twenty-third minute.

Leitrim continued to hold the upper hand and went in still leading by three points at the interval.

Offaly won a free deep in injury time and had a chance to force a draw but Niall McNamee?s effort from sixty yards drifted wide.

Matters were evenly matched in the opening twelve minutes with Leitrim?s Ciaran Kennedy and Offaly?s Ciaran McManus swapping points from play at opposite ends.

But Leitrim edged into a two point lead in the next nine minutes when Ciaran Duignan and Fintan McBrien shot points apiece.

However a Niall McNamee converted free brought Offaly right back into contention by the nineteenth minute.

It seemed as if Offaly would claim a share of the spoils when McNamee levelled maters with two points on the trot in the sixty-fourth and sixty-fifth minutes.

However before the finish of this knife edge contest, Leitrim rallied and put together a well worked move, which left half back Shane Foley finished off in a clinical manner.

Leitrim: N. Gill, B. McWeeney, J. McKeon, D. Reynolds, C. Kennedy 0 ? 2, B. Prior, S. Foley 0 ? 1, M. Duignan, G. McCloskey, C. Regan, M. Foley 0 ? 2, B. Brennan, F. McBrien 0 ? 2, C. Duignan 0 ? 5, J. Glancy. Subs D. Beck for Brennan (49m.), D. Brennan for McBrien (60m.), S. Canning for McCloskey (68m.)

Offaly: K. Meehan, G. Rafferty, J. Quinn, N. Grennan, K. Slattery, S. Sullivan, E. Byrne, C. McManus 0 ? 1, K. Hogan, S. Brady, P. J. Ward 0 ? 1, A. McNamee, T. Deehan, N. Coughlan, N. McNamee 0 ? 8. Subs S. Ryan 0 ? 1 for Hogan (27m.), P. McConway for Byrne (32m.), K. Casey for Deehan (45m.), J. Coughlan for Ward (51m.), J. Reynolds for Brady (57m.)

Referee: M. Sludden (Tyrone)


Photos (207 of them !) now available inÓgallery – thanks to James Molloy
This report – courtesy of PJ Leddy

 

 

04-Feb-07 by PJ Leddy