Leitrim must compete in the Tommy Murphy cup this weekend in the first round against Tipperary. The details of the fixture were finally announced yesterday evening and Leitrim must travel to Thurles to play Tipperary at 5pm on Saturday evening.

The Tommy Murphy Cup is causing major headaches for the County GAC who have had to make a major decision to deferr next weekends Round 2 of the Senior Championship. This round will be moved to the end of the list and the championship will resume on the weekend of the 23rd-24th July with Round 3. One game which will be played is last weekends postponed fixture betweenÓglenfarne/Kiltyclogher v Gortletteragh which will be played on Sunday evening at 5:30pm in Ballinaglera.

The inclusion of Leitrim in the Tommy Murphy Cup is causing quite a stir in Leitrim and is making it very difficult for clubs as their County representatives are called back to duty. This is a year when a lot is a stake for Clubs as the Championship will decide which 7 of the current Senior clubs will have to drop a grade.

On the positive side the GAC have asked clubs to use this weekend to complete some outstanding League games which had previously been cancelled. As a result there are currently 4 x Division 1, 3 x Division 2 and 2 x Division 3 games rescheduled for this weekend. This decision will free up a weekend further along the line. This will mean that 235 out of 236 league fixtures will have been completed in a very busy league programme. Divisions 1 to 3 will be almost ready for the Tier 2 stage of the League competition which will start immediately after the Championship ends.

12-Jul-05 by

Leitrim County Board are delighted to announce Des Dolans commitment to Leitrim football for at least one more year.

Following recent nÓgotiations and last nights ratification by the Leitrim County Board Executive it is confirmed that Des will remain as Manager of our Senior football team for the 2006 season.

05-Jul-05 by PRO

Bank of Ireland Football Championship, Round 2

Leitrim 1-8 Meath 1-12

Leitrim almost pulled off one of the great shocks of this year?s championship when they pushed Leinster kingpins Meath to within 30 seconds of a sensational championship exit.

In an extraordinarily tense Round 2 Qualifier game at a packed P?irc Se?n Mac Diarmada, Leitrim found themselves a point ahead of one of gaelic football?s biggest names with injury time running out. It was then that Meath hero Ollie Murphy, himself an All Ireland medal winner, who had just come off the bench got his first touch of the ball and shot a dramatic equaliser for the Royal County to break Leitrim hearts and send the game into extra time.

A deflated Leitrim never recovered from this hammer blow, falling two points in arrears at half time in extra time and whenÓgraham Geraghty scored an opportunist goal at the start of the second period of extra time, the game was over as a contest.

However, it was a Herculean effort from an ever improving Leitrim team. With Darren Duignan and Gareth Phelan earning starting places at the expense of the unfortunate Cathal Mc Crann and Niall Gilbane, Leitrim?s line up showed only two changes from the team that had pushed Galway all the way in the Connacht semi-final.

From early on it was obvious that this was going to be a real battle of wills, as the difficult weather conditions ensured that scores would be kept to a minimum and while free flowing moves may have been a rarity, the action was intense and the excitement reached fever pitch during that incredible finish. As has been their wont, Leitrim started slowly and Meath registered two points in an opening quarter of an hour that was dominated by the Leinster Giants.

With Meath enjoying the lion?s share of possession, it was the tight marking and tigerish defending of Leitrim?s much vaunted full back line of Dermot Reynolds, John Mc Keon and Michael Mc Guinness that prevented the Royals from establishing a more commanding lead. The Leitrim team slowly began to find their feet and points from Michael Foley, Declan Maxwell and James Glancy gave the Connacht team a 0-3 to 0-2 lead after half an hour. Geraghty levelled for Meath approaching half time, but Drumkeerin?s Michael Foley had the last say of the half edging Leitrim 0-4 to 0-3 ahead at the break.

With the wind at their backs in the 2nd half, Meath were expected to move up a gear and with Stephen Bray and Brian Farrell particularly prominent they moved two points in front after quarter of an hour. It looked as if the Leitrim challenge was fading, when James Glancy ? a Championship revelation for Dessie Dolan?s team this year ? rescued a ball from the endline and cut past two Meath defenders to slot home a wonderful solo goal to send the Carrick on Shannon faithful into raptures.

Paul Byrne did equalise for the Royals and the final ten minutes were played out with tension rising as chances went abegging at both ends. With the game moving into injury time, Mohill?s Daniel Beck scored a wonderful point and it seemed that the impossible was about to become reality. But Meath are renowned as outstanding championship battlers and when the talismanic Murphy got the ball in his hands, what would have been a famous Leitrim victory was cruelly denied as he split the posts with a wonderful point.

A deflated Leitrim never really looked as sharp in extra time and in fairness the visitor?s were worthy winners. Late points from substitute Donal Brennan and a Foley free were however further evidence of the fighting spirit of this group of Leitrim players and although the curtain came down on Leitrim?s championship ambitions on Sunday afternoon, it was the most promising campaign for Leitrim supporters since the heady days of 1994 and Connacht Championship glory.

Leitrim: Cathal Mc Crann, Michael Mc Guinness, John Mc Keon, Dermot Reynolds, Colin Regan, Barry Mc Weeney, Shane Foley, Chris Carroll, Gary Mc Closkey, Johnny Goldrick, Barry Prior, Michael Foley (0-4, 3 frees), James Glancy (1-1), Darren Duignan and Declan Maxwell (0-1). Subs used: Donal Brennan (0-1), Daniel Beck (0-1), Niall Gilbane, James Mc Gowan

04-Jul-05 by Lovely Leitrim

The following is the Leitrim Senior Team and Panel for Sundays All Ireland Qualifier game against Meath.

Leitrim Senior Team
All-Ireland Qualifier
03 July 05 – 2:30pm

1. Gareth Phelan — G. O Faolain — Melvin Gaels
2. Michael McGuinness — M. MacAonghusa — Mohill
3. John McKeon — S. Mac Eoin — Drumreilly
4. Dermot Reynolds — D. Mac Raghnaill — St. Mary?s
5. Colin Regan — C. O Riagain — Melvin Gaels
6. Barry McWeeney — B. Mac Mhaonaigh — Aughnasheelin
7. Shane Foley — S. O Foghlu — Kiltubrid
8. Christopher Carroll — C. O Cearbhail — Kiltubrid
9. Gary McCloskey — G. Mac Bhlaoscaigh — Bornacoola
10. Johnny Goldrick — S. Mac Ualraig — St. Mary?s
11. Barry Prior — B. Mac an Phriora — Aughawillan
12. Michael Foley — M. O Foghlu — Drumkeerin
13. James Glancy — S. Mac Fhlannacha — Glencar-Manorhamilton
14. Darren Duignan — D. O Duigeannain — Gortletteragh
15. Declan Maxwell — D. O Meiscill — Drumreilly
16. Cathal McCrann — C. MacCrann — Gortletteragh
17. Daniel Beck — D. de Beic — Mohill
18. Donal Brennan — D. O Braonain — Cloone
19. Barry Butler — B. de Buitl?ir — St. Mary?s
20. Niall Gilbane — N. Mac Giolla Bhan — Allen Gaels
21. Brendan Guckian — B. Mac Eochain — Annaduff
22. Ciaran Kennedy — C. O Cinneide — Mohill
23. Dermot Kennedy — D. O Cinneide — Gortletteragh
24. James McGowan — S. Mac Gabhann — St. Mary?s
25. Darragh McKiernan — D. Mac Tighearnain — Kiltubrid
26. Gabriel Prior — G. Mac an Phriora — Aughnasheelin

Bainisteoir: Des Dolan
Roghnoiri: Pat Prior and Declan Bohan

01-Jul-05 by PRO