Leitrim GAA at its Management Committee meeting tonight approved the appointment of Cavan native Mickey Graham to be the Leitrim Senior Football Team Manager for the 2025 season. This is subject to approval at the next meeting of Coiste Chontae Liatroma. It is the intention that this position will be for the next three years, subject to review.

Mickey has previously been the Assistant Manager in the 2024 season which ended last June and had been the Cavan Senior Football Manager for 5 years previous to that. It is intended that the members of his complete backroom team will be announced once this process has concluded.

Leitrim GAA would like to take this opportunity to wish Mickey the very best of luck as he plans for the upcoming season.

 

 

Photograph: Evan Logan/Inpho

A Supporters Bus From Mohill Is Being Organised For The TG4 Intermediate Leitrim Ladies Final In Croke On Sunday. For More Details And To Book A Seat Contact Charles On 086 0705245

 

Following this evenings draw for the 1st round of the Connacht Gold SFC – Round 1 the following fixture details have been released and are as follows:

 

 

 

 

The fixture details for the Smith Monumentals IFC – Round 1 have been released and are as follows:

(note that only 3 fixtures are next weekend, the remaining 2 fixtures will be the following weekend 10/11 Aug)

 

 

#LeitrimClubChamp | #GAAbelong

 

Leitrim GAA Management Committee has been regretfully informed this evening by Senior Team Manager Andy Moran of his decision to step down from his position after three years in charge of our Senior Footballers. Andy was appointed in the Autumn of 2021 and has given boundless levels of energy and enthusiasm in helping to improve the standard of the Leitrim Senior Football team, and this year also took charge of the County’s Under 20 team. He brought with him a most professional approach towards the job and in each of his three Allianz League campaigns, had the team in with a significant shot at promotion from Division 4 on the final match day of the respective campaigns culminating in achieving promotion this year and contesting the Allianz League Final in Croke Park in March, only the sixth time a Leitrim Senior Football Team has graced Croke Park. He has also overseen significant improvement in Championship performances this year, the team having played in five championship matches for the first time since 1994. Leitrim finished second in its Tailteann Cup campaign and departed the competition at the Preliminary Quarter Final stage. His stewardship of this year’s Under 20 team in the first-ever Round Robin Connacht Championship campaign led to excellent performances in general, the highlight being a first Championship win in the grade over his native Mayo since 1998. A number of these young players have since graduated and gained valuable experience for the future in this year’s Tailteann Cup.

Leitrim GAA Management Committee is unequivocal in stating that the working relationship we have shared over the past three years has been tremendous. The time and effort that he invested in his players were very much to be admired. His unbridled passion and enthusiasm were certainly infectious. Over the past three seasons, he has been a joy to work with and while he always had the best interests of the county players at heart, he was totally appreciative of the bigger picture and the needs of the clubs and their players must coexist alongside those of the county set-up which is a hard act to juggle, given the ongoing demands on the calendar.

We wish to earnestly thank Andy for taking on the role three years ago and delivering on his promise to do his utmost to improve our fortunes, which we believe he certainly has done. He departs leaving us in a much improved position. We thank him for all the personal sacrifices of his time he has made on our behalf and we wish him and his family the very best in his future endeavours. It would be very remiss of us at this stage not to recognise and also record our appreciation for the contributions of all those who have worked closely with him in his Management Team over the past three years.

Andy Moran has made the following comments to go with this announcement.

“It’s with a heavy heart that I leave the role but feel it’s the right thing to do at this time.  After the team gained promotion to Allianz League Division 3 in 2024, I feel now the Leitrim Senior Footballers are moving to a new phase of their development.  What is required in my opinion is someone to commit fully for another three years. My three years with Leitrim have been a complete joy. 

I would like to thank our sponsors during my years in charge. Seamus and Caitriona Clarke of JP Clarke’s New York, and more recently Pat Gallagher of the Gallagher Group.  Small counties would struggle to compete at any level without the support of sponsors. Our Donors & Supporters who generously backed our plans and made sure they backed the County Board and helped out in whatever the team needed. 

A sincere thank you to the Leitrim GAA Chairman Enda Stenson, Secretary Declan Bohan & PRO Barbara Loughlin Byrne.  I would particularly like to thank Treasurer Martin McCartin & Brian Blake, County Administrator, for their guidance and support over the three seasons.  The job would not be possible without their support. 

I would like to thank my Management Team and all the backroom team that have been involved in the past three seasons.  Mickey Graham, Luke Bree, and in previous years Mike Solan & James Glancy.  I would particularly like to thank Barry McWeeney who is Leitrim through and through and is the glue that held everything together.

Finally, to the players.  Every player that has played under us has given everything to the cause.  Led by Donal Wrynn & Mark Diffley Leitrim people are blessed to have an amazing bunch of ambassadors to represent the county.  So many obstacles such as population, location, and many other factors are placed in the way of Leitrim football. Yet they keep producing talented young footballers.  My hope is that they keep driving on.  The future is bright.  To everyone involved in Leitrim Football – Thank you.”

The process of appointing a Leitrim Senior Football Manager for 2025 will be considered in due course.

SLIGO 3-10     LEITRIM 1-21

Leitrim U16’s maintained their unbeaten start to the 2024 edition of the Fr. Manning Cup at Kent Park with a hard fought 5 point win over neighbours Sligo today.   Leitrim now sit on top of the table with 2 wins out of 2 before  their final group game against Longford on July 13th.
The game started brightly for Leitrim as they raced into an early 2 point lead with the scores coming from Sean Gaffney (2) and Jack Attard in reply to Sligo’s opening point after 30 seconds. Both teams then exchanged points with the Leitrim effort coming from a Jack Attard free.   Over the next 5 minutes Sligo enjoyed their best phase of the game, as they added 1-2 to their tally to leave the Yeats County leading by 1-4 to 0-4 after 15 minutes.   Leitrim responded well to the Sligo goal by adding 2 points of their own through 2 wonderful long range efforts from Jack Prior and Frankie McManus.
Leitrim pushed forward in search of an equaliser and were very unlucky not to be awarded a free but Sligo broke quickly.   They created an overlap and scored their 2nd goal of the game despite 2 initial brilliant saves from Scott Kerr.   Again Leitrim’s response to the goal was noteworthy as they added 6 points in the final 10 minutes of the half through Jack Attard (2), Conor Reynolds (2), Jack Prior (free) and Sean Gaffney.   Sligo in response hit 2 points in those final minutes to leave the half time scoreline Sligo 2-6  Leitrim 0-12.
Leitrim introduced Daire McCabe and Ross O’Shea at half time and retook the lead with an early Sean Gaffney point.   Sligo responded with a point of their own but Leitrim added 2 further points through Daire McCabe and Darragh O’Boyle to leave Leitrim 2 points to the good.   Both sides shared the next 4 points with Daire McCabe (free) and Conor Reynolds being the contributors for Leitrim.   Sligo rattled Leitrim with their 3rd goal of the day with a wonderful sweeping move from the back.   Yet again, Leitrim showed fantastic resilience with a swift response at the other end when Daire McCabe reacted quickest when a long range effort hit the post.   He gathered the ball and calmly rounded the Sligo keeper before rolling the ball into an empty net to restore Leitrim’s 2 point advantage.   Moments later Jack Prior kicked a difficult free to push Leitrim 3 clear.
Leitrim’s resilience was tested still further when they were reduced to 14 players after Gearoid Curley received a black card on 17 minutes.    Sligo initially took advantage when they added a point from a free but substitute Mark Nolan sent Leitrim 3 clear again with his first touch.   Leitrim made 3 further changes to replace tired legs as Louis Quinn, Ultan McNulty and John McGarry all joined the fray.   The teams swapped points again with Conor Reynolds adding his 4th of the game for Leitrim.   Sligo were reduced to 14 players on 25 minutes when one of forwards received a black card but it was Leitrim that finished the game strongest.   Daire McCabe with a wonderful long range effort and Mark Nolan rounded off the scoring to give Leitrim a 5 point victory margin.   While they will be happy with the victory and indeed the attacking display, with 1-17 from open play, they will also realise that there’s plenty of work to be done on the defensive side of the game.   They now meet Longford in 2 weeks time in an attempt to secure top spot in the group and a home semi final in the Fr. Manning Cup.
LEITRIM TEAM AND SCORERS:
Scott Kerr; Ronan Connolly; Charlie Slevin; Cillian McWeeney; Senan McGowan; Thomas Gunn; Darragh O’Boyle (0-1); Frankie McManus (0-1); Gearoid Curley; Karl Gethins; Jack Moolick; Conor Reynolds (0-4); Jack Attard (0-3, 0-1f); Jack Prior (0-3, 0-2f); Sean Gaffney (0-4). SUBS: Daire McCabe (1-3, 0-1f), Ross O’Shea; Louis Quinn; Mark Nolan (0-2); Ultan McNulty; John McGarry; Unused Subs: Oisin McGarry; Keelan McGurren, Cuan O’Tonra, Shane Mayock, Rhionn Gallagher; Nathan Casey; Aaron Gibney; Daniel Gilrane; Unavailable through Injury: Ronan Fox; Conor Duignan

The Leitrim GAA Supporters Club Draw 2024 took place tonight in Cox’s Steakhouse (Main Sponsor), Dromod. Sincere thanks to all the clubs for your great effort and also to everyone who supported the draw either by selling or buying tickets, without you this fundraising venture would not be the success it has proven to be, yet again.

1st Prize €5,000

Mick O’Shea, Augher, Summerhill, Co Meath.

2nd Prize €2,000

Zam Zam’s,  Mohill.

3rd Prize €1,000 Sponsored By Westlink Coaches.

Marie Mc Govern, Fenagh.

4th Prize 2 Nights B&B and 1 Evening Meal for 2, Kilronan Castle Hotel.

Breda Rooney, Gortinar, Manorhamilton.

5th Prize 2 Nights B&B and 1 Evening Meal for 2, Lough Rynn Castle, Mohill.

Michael Guckian, Gowel, Carrick On Shannon.

6th Prize 2 Nights B&B and 1 Evening Meal for 2, Titanic Hotel, Belfast.

Fintan Mc Brien, Aughavas.

7th Prize 2 Nights B&B , 1 Evening Meal for 2 in W8 Village, Manorhamilton

Deirdre Malone, Manorhamilton.

8th Prize 2 Complimentary Tickets To The Knockout Stages Of The Leitrim Championship 2024

Declan and Antionette Tivnan, Aughacashel.

Congratulations to all our winners and Mile Buiochas to all who support Leitrim GAA.

 

Tailteann Cup Round 3
Leitrim v Kildare
Saturday 1st June
Glennon Brothers, Pearse Park, Longford
⏰ 6pm
Online Tickets https://am.ticketmaster.com/gaa/24GB0106 Or Selected SuperValu And Centra Stores
Under 20C Hurling Championship Final – Andrew O’Neill Cup
Leitrim v Monaghan
Saturday 25th May
Kingspan Breffni Park
⏰ 4pm

Leitrim GAA is saddened is learn of the death, on Saturday morning, of Vincent O Rourke (Senior), Corrabarrick, Keshcarrigan, Co. Leitrim and Fenagh St. Caillin’s GAA Club. Vincent is the father of the current Leitrim GAA Management Committee Member and Secretary of CCC Liatroma Vincent(Junior). He is also the grandfather of current Leitrim Senior Footballers Ryan and Riordan and Ryan and Leitrim Minor Footballer Ruairi, who all lined out for the county over the past weekend. It would have been a source of great pride to Vincent to see the progress made by his grandsons with Leitrim GAA teams over recent years.

The late Vincent O Rourke was all things to all people over his lifetime of service to Fenagh St Caillin’s GAA Club and indeed to Ladies Football in its formative years and for many years since.

As a footballer, Vincent first came to prominence as a wing-back on a star-studded Fenagh Minor Football team which won back-to-back Minor Championships in 1950 and ’51. Their success was little wonder, with the assistance of a strong Mohill/Gorvagh contingent consisting of, among others, Packy McGarty, Cathal Flynn and Eddie Rowley assisting the local stars of Vincent, Jimmy Mc Keon, Colm Heeran, Jimmy Bland, Anslem Reynolds and Michael Mc Hugh. In 1952 Vincent graduated to the Senior ranks and played in, his, and indeed Fenagh’s only Senior Championship final of the decade, where they were soundly beaten by Aughavas, Vincent’s playing career continued up until the mid 1960’s without much club playing success – emigration was taking its toll.

Despite Vincent’s exploits on the playing field. it may well be his legacy in club administration that stands the test of time. For nearly 70 years Fenagh played their football in Ellis’ field. In the early 1970’s the county board decreed it as unsuitable for adult football and the search was on for a new pitch. Numerous sub-committees looked at various options and eventually, a new committee which was appointed in 1980 with Vincent as Chairman and Hugh Maguire as Secretary, decided to move the scope of their search away from the village area. This was a game changer and they rapidly secured the current pitch, from local man, John Cassidy. With purchase and development costs coming in under, at what nowadays would be considered a paltry €70,000, the new Páirc Seán Ó Laodain opened in 1985. Vincent O Rourke was the powerhouse driver and motivator for the project, not only in its procurement, but in fund-raising, development, official opening and maintenance. Without his commitment and energy, it would never have happened at this time. For the next 30 years, he was caretaker and gatekeeper and never wavered in his commitment to the club. Páirc Seán Ó Laodáin remains to this day one of the finest playing surfaces in the county which is a fine testament to Vincent’s vision and ambition over four decades ago.

Ladies’ Football began to become organised within the county in 1978. From, the beginning Vincent was involved and trained the local club ladies as they won the first-ever official Ladies competition in Leitrim in 1978. In 1979 Leitrim LGFA formed its own County Committee and Vincent’s commitment to the Ladies’ game was recognised as he was elected as first-ever Chairperson of both Fenagh Ladies Club and the first-ever Chairperson of Leitrim LGFA. Over the following years, he continued as the trainer/coach of Fenagh Ladies teams at all levels.

Vincent will be remembered as an outstanding player, motivator and administrator of the club over his entire long life. Away from the GAA he was essentially a great family man, political enthusiast and with his wonderful clear and lucid mind and memory a source for local historians and family researchers right up to his final brief illness.

Vincent, predeceased by his late wife Tessie and granddaughter Joanna, is survived by his sons, Vincent Jr, Shane, Denis, Michael, Bobby, his daughters, Theresa, Ronnie, Maura, Rina, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchild, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and a large circle of friends. We extend our hearfelt sympathy to all.

Funeral Arrangements can be viewed at the following link.

https://rip.ie/death-notice/patrick-vincent-orourke-leitrim-keshcarrigan-556776

(Our thanks to Padraig Leyden for his help with this article)

Tailteann Cup Round 2
Liatroim v An Longfort
Sunday 19th May
⏰ 2-30pm
Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, Longford
️ Advance Ticket Sales Only Via The Link Below Or Through Selected SuperValu And Centra Stores.
Stefan Hoare

Tailteann Cup Round 1 Leitrim v Waterford

Date – Saturday 11th May

Time – 6pm

Venue – Ballinamore

 

Leitrim v Warwickshire

Date – Saturday 4th May

Venue – Shane Mc Gettigan Park, Drumshanbo

Time – 3-30pm

Tickets available through the following link or selected Supervalu and Centra Stores

https://am.ticketmaster.com/gaa/24DR1105

No Tickets at Grounds On Matchday

#ExperienceTheUnforgettable

#GAABelong