While Leitrim are the last team to have defeated the Yeats county in competitive action, the Connacht Final last July, at times in the first half Leitrim looked like they may repeat the feat. However, two goals in the space of two minutes at the beginning of the second half ended Leitrim?s hopes of getting 2007 off to a flying start.
Sligo had eleven of their All Ireland final team in action while Leitrim had nine, with Michelle Reynolds of Gortlettragh and Sinead McWeeney of St Marys making their first senior appearance. Indeed Reynolds was in the action after two minutes as her first shot onÓgoal hit the back of the net to give Leitrim a two point lead after Stephanie O?Reilly had opened the Scóring for Sligo. An Ann Marie Cox free and a well take point from McWeeney increased the Leitrim lead after five minutes. Therese Marren replied with a Sligo free but a point from the returning Eileen Donohue and another Cox free left Leitrim 1-4 to 0-2 ahead midway through the half. Sligo began to find form and a Karen Maloney point was followed by a Noelle Gormley goal to leave the minimum between the sides entering the final ten minutes of the half. Therese Marren (2), Bernice Beirne and Maloney hit four unanswered points before Cox pointed another Leitrim free to leave Sligo two points ahead at the break.

Cox pointed a free to reduce the arrears just after the restart but three minutes later, Gormley struck twice with two goals in the space of two minutes to leave Leitrim rocked. Leitrim rallied but could not find a way through the stubborn Sligo defence but Anna Conlan hit a point from play midway through the half . Leitrim dominated possession in the final ten minutes but a breakdown in play allowed Sligo to sweep downfield with Louise Brett hitting the Leitrim net again to end of any comeback. Leitrim again pushed forward but could not reduce the arrears except for a final point from Reynolds.

Leitrim have another very difficult assignment next weekend when they play Clare who defeated them in the Division 3 League Final last May. However there were many positive signs on Sunday but the defence must tighten up considerably while the forwards will need to get a better return from the possession they enjoyed. Leitrim will also be hoping that Sinead Quinn, Eimear McGlade and Sharon Kerrigan return quickly from injury to add further power to the team.

Leitrim: Louise Loughlin, Mairead McCawley, Sinead Brennan, Mairead Stenson, Teresa Mylott, Maeve Quinn, Mary McKeon, Caroline Egan, Sarah McLoughlin, Lorraine Brennan, Eileen Donohue (0-1), Sinead McWeeney (0-1), Ann Marie Cox (0-4), Anna Conlan (0-1), Michelle Reynolds (1-01). Subs: Amanda Sweeney (for Mairead McCawley), Catherine Holohan (for Caroline Egan), Sinead Fowley for (Sinead McWeeney), Clare Plunkett, Mary Fee, Katie Gallagher, Erin Farrell, Dymphna Boylan, Janette Maguire, Michelle McNulty, Christine Quinn, Charlene Tyrrell, Michelle Glancy, Lorraine Guckian.

Sligo: K. Connolly, F. Maye, A. Doohan, A.Mostyn, T. O?Hara, L. Smith, R Goodwin, B Beirne, S. O?Reilly, L Brett, K Maloney, I McNulty, E Flanagan, nÓgormley, T. Marren.

Referee: Vivian Hardiman (Roscommon)

19-Feb-07 by Patricia Bohan – Ladies PRO

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