Messages

The rivalry is very strong alright which adds to the occasion of any meeting against Roscommon for us but especially come Championship time. 

I suppose the fact that the Rossies have far more bragging rights gives us the apathy towards Roscommon when it comes to football.  Throw in the Geography of Rooskey, Dromod, Drumsna, Carrick, Leitrim Village, Drumshanbo & Drumkerran equals a good daily banter when it comes to football.  Both 2nd Level schools in Carrick & Drumshanbo draw their student population from a 50/50 split of Roscommon and Leitrim students which does set the seeds of rivalry for a lifetime.  I know from Leitrim supporter celebrate all rare championship matches victories but when it's against Roscommon it is all the sweeter!

The "paki" chants have really grown legs over the past decade (I don't remember these chants before that time)... i think that while no harm may be meant by the small minority signing it, they should wise up as it not funny anymore.

Leitrim are going to line up in a very defensive mode next Sunday. 

1. Cathal McCrann Gortletteragh
2. Barry Prior Aughawillan
3. Donal Wrynn Fenagh St Caillins
4. Paddy Maguire Glencar Manorhamilton
5. Wayne McKeon Ballinamore Seán O'Heslin's
6. Gary Reynolds Carrigallen
7. Paul Brennan Melvin Gaels
8. Darren Sweeney Glencar Manorhamilton
9. Damian Moran Bornacoola
10. Kevin Conlon St Patrick's Dromahair
11. Robert Lowe St Mary's Kiltoghert
12. Barry McWeeney Aughnasheelin
13. Emlyn Mulligan (Captain) St Brigids
14. James Glancy Glencar Manorhamilton
15. Sean McWeeney Aughnasheelin

http://www.leitrimobserver.ie/sport/gaelic-games/mcweeney-brothers-start-for-leitrim-1-6059952

Both McWeeneys will act as extra defenders with Sean probably assisting on the breakaway attack.  It's a bit over the top as it will allow Roscommon to double up on Mulligan and with it any hope of really threatening the Rossies on the scoreboard.    Robbie Lowe has had a poor League by his standards but will need him at his best if he's going to carry the workload in the forwards.  Won't be too surprised to see Ray Cox and Conor Beirne sprung from the bench if the game is showing any sign of getting away from us in the opening half.  Cox has a great linkup with Mulligan and with the potential for large open gaps of space in our forward area this would be ideal for Cox's fast running game.

If we're to pull off a win it won't be pretty but any win over the Rossies will be celebrated regardless of the means!

Interesting game ahead on Sunday from a Leitrim point of view.   

Compared to how Leitrim finished up in 2013 against Armagh, alot of issues came to a head which left Leitrirm very vulnerable to a ruthless Armagh side.  Leitrim are in a very healthy place at the moment compared to the shambles that finished off 2013 all down to some poorly judged decisions which i'm sure people involved in hindsight would have done differently given the chance.   Great credit must go to Sean Hagan who has healed a lot of division within the Leitrim setup.  At the end of last Summer I didn't see how the guys who were dropped would bother throwing their lot back in with the county.  But fair play to the entire squad for burying the hatchet and getting on with it.

I don't expect us to win on Sunday but as usual I do expect us to match Roscommon over the first half of the game.  The real weak sector for Leitrim is the midfield, expect a lot of short Leitrim kick outs, which leads to the Leitrim running game from deep which we've played over the last few years.  While effective against off the pace teams in the early league it does take it's toll on the team towards the last 15/20mins of the game.  Mulligan has been brilliant to watch during this years league but I don't expect him to get too much time on the ball on Sunday as when he is let get his head up on the ball he is easily one of the best passers of ball in the country over 40 yards, great for any forward who prefers the ball on the chest! 

The recent reintroduction of Conor Beirne to the squad is real plus for Leitrim, he pretty much dragged his club Eslin to an Intermediate final last year which necessitated 3 men being deployed to man mark him for the entire final, which I've never seen before at any level of the game but he still came away with the man of the match award!!  If we're to pull off a shock win then Conor will need to put in a big performance.

The probable team on Sunday:
Cathal McCrann
Barry Prior  Donal Wrynn  Paddy Maguire
Paul Brennan Gary Reynolds  Wayne McKeon
Darren Sweeney Damien Moran
Kevin Conlan  Emlyn Mulligan  Gerry Hickey
Daniel Lowe  Conor Beirne  Ray Cox 

Anyone a bt of a report from the leitrim /clare game.. Who did the scoring

Leitrim very lucky to get a win today.  Clare played with 13 men for the last 25mins, stupid sending offs that cost them a win.  Clare were up by 2points 5mins to go but literally ran out of steam.  While happy with the win, I won't be looking forward to playing Fermanagh and Roscommon going on the performance today.  Having said that Leitrim could well end up on 8/10 points from this league campaign which would be a real achievement given the new look to the team this season.

45 gone short are all the below not playing with leitrim in 2011 at all? Some big losses..
Most noticeably Declan Maxwell, Dermot Reynolds (St Marys), Shane Foley, Colin Regan, Michael Foley and Gareth Phelan.

Yes these all these players are finished.  Only really bright thing for us is Emlyn Mulligan may make a return after a nightmare 2 years out through injury.

Its wasn't long coming round since July in Newbridge against Kildare!! 

Big year ahead for Leitrim football after tragic passing of Phlly in the year gone by.  Leitrim like every county and club is being hit with emigration and retirement of players.  Most noticeably Declan Maxwell, Dermot Reynolds (St Marys), Shane Foley, Colin Regan, Michael Foley and Gareth Phelan.  But this opens the door to some of the younger players in the county to stake a place on county team, players like Paddy Maguire, Conor Beirne and Morgan Quinn to name but a few.

This should be a more relaxed Leitrim team this year minus the involvement of John Morrisson. The reintroduction of Barney Breen to the setup should bring a emphasis on playing football rather than this psychology bull.

Should be interesting to see what players take their chance to impress during the FBD ahead of the League.

Any know the tunes & artist that are played in Croker before & after a big match ?

The backing track to this youtube video is a sample of one of them I'm looking for :   
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gbO3VfbASU

I'm also interested in the name of other tunes & artists that you may recognise including the celtic drums sometimes used in the pre-match.  (and I'm not after the show piece halftimes ala Brush Shields etc......  )

I'm looking to put together some video & music for my clubs 125 and I like the material used in CP which has lots of atmosphere.

thanks in advance.

Think your choice music made its way into Pairc Sean this evening!! 

Leitrim

12 Senior Championship teams.

4 groups of 3.
8 teams into quaterfinal out of these 4 groups and so on.
No seeding, just an open draw.

Theres no real dominant club team over the last decade as was the case in the 70's, 80's and 90's with Sean O'Heslins, Aughawillan and Allen Gaels really having it all to themselves. Don't know if this is a good sign or not as for the last decade anyone of 6/7 teams has a great chance of winning the Championship.

His name was Ahmed Abdul ( or the other way round) and he plays for the Sean O'Heslins in Ballinamore.

Think he is originally from Roscommon.

FIFA appear to be taking heed to the complaints about the horns, not surprised.

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/18062009/58/confederations-cup-fifa-discuss-trumpets.html

10 June 2009
http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaa-championships/gaelic-football/leinster-council-to-cash-in-on-massive-dubs-earning-power-1767699.html

8 June 2009
http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/munster-set-for-windfall-1765283.html

4 June 2009
http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/dubs-royal-rivalry-on-track-to-hit--836414m-mark-1761048.html

Is it just me or are the Irish Independent GAA journalist money obsessed. The can't seem to go a few todays without pointing out how much money is been taken in by the GAA. Maybe they should get up off their backsides and go out and get some real stories instead of number crunching behind a desk.

[www.leitrimgaa.ie]

The Leitrim Senior team to play Roscommon on Sundays Connacht Championship Quarter Final encounter in Páirc Seán is listed below. 

1 Noel Gill Kiltubrid
2 Michael McGuinness Mohill
3 John McKeon Drumreilly
4 Dermot Reynolds St Mary's
5 Barry Prior Aughawillan
6 Barry McWeeney Aughnasheelin
7 James Glancy St Mary's
8 Gary McCloskey Tir Chonaill Gaels
9 Shane Canning Mohill
10 Philip McGuinness Mohill
11 Tomás Beirne Eslin
12 Colm Clarke Drumkeerin
13 Ray Cox Annaduff
14 Declan Maxwell Drumreilly
15 James Glancy Glencar/Manor

James Glancy (St Mary's), Colm Clarke, Tomás Beirne and Ray Cox make their Championship debut on Sunday.
from www.leitrimgaa.ie

Four debutants in the team with Michael Foley getting injured last week Colm Clarke gets an unexpected inclusion. Big talking point though will be the ommision of Shane Foley, one of Leitrims most consistant performers over the last seven years.

The banter has begun already in earnest, flags are being dusted down along the shannon border for the weekend.

I think this was discussed before, but is there any way of watching an "Island of Ireland" rte game via proxy. Leitrim v Roscommon game is live on the Internet and a few of the lads down under want to get  a chance to watch it.

The wait is nearly over, the last five years have flew. I'll compliment Azzurri with my Leitrim probable selection.

Noel Gill
Barry Prior
Michael McGuinness
Dermot Reynolds
James Glancy (St Marys)
John McKeon
Adrian O'Flynn
Gary McCluskey
Shane Canning
Michael Foley
Declan Maxwell
Philly McGuinness
Ray Cox
Thomas Beirne
James Glancy (Glencar/Manor)

Admission charges for the Roscommon V Leitrim Match are as follows

Seated Stand 30euro (Limited Availability)

Terraces 20euro

Under 16s 5euro

10-euro Refunds for OAP and students at designated stiles on terrace tickets only.

Group Tickets [U16] are available at 50cent per ticket. Early booking of these tickets is advisable.

Great to see Connacht Council are tuned into the current situation facing the country!!. I hope to God that Stand in Carrick is empty come the 31st May but there will some people mad enough to buy stand tickets.