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Leitrim GAA thread

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Replying To eoinog:  "The question was what have Leitrim men won with their adopted counties. My belief is that O Rourke never played ball in Leitrim"
I'll make it simple for you, if you spend some of your formative years growing up in the county, your parents are from Leitrim and some of your family played with Leitrim, you can be considered from the county.

Also the question wasn't about who played in Leitrim, it was who FROM Leitrim had success. A simple question which may click with you eventually I'm sure. Have a super day

boxtyburgerbuns (Leitrim) - Posts: 40 - 06/12/2024 12:40:35    2582627

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Replying To boxtyburgerbuns:  "I'll make it simple for you, if you spend some of your formative years growing up in the county, your parents are from Leitrim and some of your family played with Leitrim, you can be considered from the county.

Also the question wasn't about who played in Leitrim, it was who FROM Leitrim had success. A simple question which may click with you eventually I'm sure. Have a super day"
I know this is fantasy football but including O Rourke is really pushing it to the limits. All other player mentioned had played in Leitrim. It doubtful if I will have a super day either as we are awaiting Darragh ,( I'm not sure what county he played for) and a bit red warning stamped on all of us up here. Stay safe gasun

eoinog (Sligo) - Posts: 1979 - 06/12/2024 13:50:15    2582634

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The problem with Leitrim lies with our clubs - every one of our club champs were beaten at the first time of asking in Connacht. It is a regular occurrence.

Our junior champs Bornacoola were beaten by 7 points. Our intermediate champs Melvin Gaels beaten by 9 points. Our senior champs beaten by
10 points.

That's in 3 games we were beaten by an aggregate score of minus 26 points. It is a recurring theme.

What does this tell us??

Our quality of club championship at every level is way under the quality of every club championship of every other Connacht county.

The standard of player being produced is under the standard of every player being produced in every other Connacht county at an "equivalent " level.

I reckon the Ross/mayo intermediate standard would win our senior champ.

Every single county in Connacht has won a Connacht tile at junior, intermediate or senior level in the last 5 years but us. In fact we have never won a title at any level ever!! Only county in Connacht to have!!

Joeman123 explain this??

If inter county teams take the best and bring them on a little bit more then the quality of player going into Leitrim inter county therefore is inferior to the rest. That's the facts of it. They are incapable of playing better than Andy Moran, Poacher, Jim Gavin or Per Guardiola or whoever could now coach them to

Guardiola has only ever managed teams who dominated their leagues or have unlimited money to buy players to fit his system, Gavin only ever had generational players some of the greatest to ever play the game and coached them to not lose focus - poacher has a far trickier job on his hands.

Until our clubs compete again like we did in the 90's when we succeeded then forget about Leitrim as a team to win or be successful

leitrim4sam (Leitrim) - Posts: 674 - 06/12/2024 21:05:04    2582675

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Replying To leitrim4sam:  "The problem with Leitrim lies with our clubs - every one of our club champs were beaten at the first time of asking in Connacht. It is a regular occurrence.

Our junior champs Bornacoola were beaten by 7 points. Our intermediate champs Melvin Gaels beaten by 9 points. Our senior champs beaten by
10 points.

That's in 3 games we were beaten by an aggregate score of minus 26 points. It is a recurring theme.

What does this tell us??

Our quality of club championship at every level is way under the quality of every club championship of every other Connacht county.

The standard of player being produced is under the standard of every player being produced in every other Connacht county at an "equivalent " level.

I reckon the Ross/mayo intermediate standard would win our senior champ.

Every single county in Connacht has won a Connacht tile at junior, intermediate or senior level in the last 5 years but us. In fact we have never won a title at any level ever!! Only county in Connacht to have!!

Joeman123 explain this??

If inter county teams take the best and bring them on a little bit more then the quality of player going into Leitrim inter county therefore is inferior to the rest. That's the facts of it. They are incapable of playing better than Andy Moran, Poacher, Jim Gavin or Per Guardiola or whoever could now coach them to

Guardiola has only ever managed teams who dominated their leagues or have unlimited money to buy players to fit his system, Gavin only ever had generational players some of the greatest to ever play the game and coached them to not lose focus - poacher has a far trickier job on his hands.

Until our clubs compete again like we did in the 90's when we succeeded then forget about Leitrim as a team to win or be successful"
I can't disagree with anything you say.

Why ask me to explain lack of success?

My main criticism of a lot of posters is their constant complaining about everything from managers, CB , the funding if Pairc Sean, loss to New York.You name a topic and a regular will surely be on here in a flash to complain.

I agree Stephen Poacher faces a very difficult challenge given the hand he has been dealt with players going travelling, retirements and a few players suffering from long term injuries.The shock defection of Nevin O Donnell back to Cavan doesnt help.

Looking for positives I would point to the huge improvement in Leitrim underage in the past few years , manifested by Glencar Manor reaching the Connacht A minor final and competing well in it.

I would welcome anyone's top 3 suggestions to get Leitrim competive again.

joeman123 (Leitrim) - Posts: 517 - 06/12/2024 22:22:48    2582683

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Replying To DowraMart123:  "For all the mention of the players leaving the county and those still available for selection, I find it shallow and pedantic that there is no mention of Peter File the young star from Aughawillian who has burst onto the scene in the club championship. I believe that he would bring a new energy to Leitrim senior county football and provides a real predatorial instinct up front and can easily penetrate defences."
Well said Dowraman. If you were in the dressing room putting on laceless football boots we would still find you sitting trying to tie them at the end of the session. Put a name to comments that try to pull down some of the elite in our county. A lot of errors in your statement also but A+ for trying. Back to the small roaster mart now please.

leitrimman68 (Leitrim) - Posts: 20 - 07/12/2024 08:29:46    2582695

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Replying To joeman123:  "I can't disagree with anything you say.

Why ask me to explain lack of success?

My main criticism of a lot of posters is their constant complaining about everything from managers, CB , the funding if Pairc Sean, loss to New York.You name a topic and a regular will surely be on here in a flash to complain.

I agree Stephen Poacher faces a very difficult challenge given the hand he has been dealt with players going travelling, retirements and a few players suffering from long term injuries.The shock defection of Nevin O Donnell back to Cavan doesnt help.

Looking for positives I would point to the huge improvement in Leitrim underage in the past few years , manifested by Glencar Manor reaching the Connacht A minor final and competing well in it.

I would welcome anyone's top 3 suggestions to get Leitrim competive again."
1. We are not producing athletic footballers. The modern game is all about athleticism. Donkeys don't win derbies. All the S&C in the world will be no good unless you have the raw ingredients to start with. This needs to be identified early.

2. Mind set. Our mind set is weak. , we are very good at making excuses, small population, emigration etc. Leitrim football needs to employ a top sports phycologist to work at every level to help improve the way we view ourselves. The reality is I could name rural club teams in other counties that would give our county team a serious test. This shouldn't be the case.

3. Underage. The underage football structures were a mess for as long as I can remember, it looks like things are starting to improve. Underage success is vital.
Schools football is also very important, it's a good move having someone like Shane Ward involved at school level. This appointment was as important as our senior team appointment in my view. Sligo is one county that has made unreal progress in the last five years, this is because they got their act together at underage and at school levels, Sligo now don't fear facing a Roscommon or a Galway they expect to win, this is because they have experience of beating these counties at underage and at school level.

The reduction in the number of teams at senior, intermediate and junior should in theory improve club football. The reality is our senior club football is probably intermediate standard in most connacht counties.

Clubs need to start training up their own coaches. We aren't producing coaches.

The ah sure look attitude has to stop. Standards need to be set high and if teams aren't performing changes have to be made.

3rdmidfielder (Australia) - Posts: 351 - 07/12/2024 12:53:13    2582711

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Replying To 3rdmidfielder:  "1. We are not producing athletic footballers. The modern game is all about athleticism. Donkeys don't win derbies. All the S&C in the world will be no good unless you have the raw ingredients to start with. This needs to be identified early.

2. Mind set. Our mind set is weak. , we are very good at making excuses, small population, emigration etc. Leitrim football needs to employ a top sports phycologist to work at every level to help improve the way we view ourselves. The reality is I could name rural club teams in other counties that would give our county team a serious test. This shouldn't be the case.

3. Underage. The underage football structures were a mess for as long as I can remember, it looks like things are starting to improve. Underage success is vital.
Schools football is also very important, it's a good move having someone like Shane Ward involved at school level. This appointment was as important as our senior team appointment in my view. Sligo is one county that has made unreal progress in the last five years, this is because they got their act together at underage and at school levels, Sligo now don't fear facing a Roscommon or a Galway they expect to win, this is because they have experience of beating these counties at underage and at school level.

The reduction in the number of teams at senior, intermediate and junior should in theory improve club football. The reality is our senior club football is probably intermediate standard in most connacht counties.

Clubs need to start training up their own coaches. We aren't producing coaches.

The ah sure look attitude has to stop. Standards need to be set high and if teams aren't performing changes have to be made."
100% correct. The inferiority complex manifests itself as acceptance of low standards at board level and amongst a sizeable section of our supporters. They're happy to support regardless of what's happening in front of their eyes. That's commendable for a short period but becomes delusional after 15/20 years of mediocrity.

Our structures have been an absolute shambles for years and the proof is undeniable. The success of our neighbours is further proof if needed. Fermanagh is often cited as an example given their constraints but Sligo have similar constraints given the strength of soccer and, to a lesser extent, rugby. As quite rightly pointed out they have made enormous strides. They had a plan, implemented it and didn't make excuses.
We can achieve the same but we need to treat it with a much greater degree of urgency than we are at present. We're moving at a snails pace.

I've said it before, professionalism does not necessarily mean you're being paid. The mindset prevalent in the GAA in Leitrim means people are almost embarrassed to act professionally.

ThePowerhouse (Leitrim) - Posts: 145 - 07/12/2024 19:06:00    2582728

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Replying To 3rdmidfielder:  "1. We are not producing athletic footballers. The modern game is all about athleticism. Donkeys don't win derbies. All the S&C in the world will be no good unless you have the raw ingredients to start with. This needs to be identified early.

2. Mind set. Our mind set is weak. , we are very good at making excuses, small population, emigration etc. Leitrim football needs to employ a top sports phycologist to work at every level to help improve the way we view ourselves. The reality is I could name rural club teams in other counties that would give our county team a serious test. This shouldn't be the case.

3. Underage. The underage football structures were a mess for as long as I can remember, it looks like things are starting to improve. Underage success is vital.
Schools football is also very important, it's a good move having someone like Shane Ward involved at school level. This appointment was as important as our senior team appointment in my view. Sligo is one county that has made unreal progress in the last five years, this is because they got their act together at underage and at school levels, Sligo now don't fear facing a Roscommon or a Galway they expect to win, this is because they have experience of beating these counties at underage and at school level.

The reduction in the number of teams at senior, intermediate and junior should in theory improve club football. The reality is our senior club football is probably intermediate standard in most connacht counties.

Clubs need to start training up their own coaches. We aren't producing coaches.

The ah sure look attitude has to stop. Standards need to be set high and if teams aren't performing changes have to be made."
Sligo don't fear a roscommon or galway !!!they did well this year ,but it stunk of galway taking them lightly and time will tell how they go in league this year ,as was said on sligo forum ,if sligo lose to offaly in Rd 1 ,they could be fighting relegation to d4!!!

Timmy86 (Sligo) - Posts: 307 - 07/12/2024 21:19:18    2582735

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Replying To Leitrim01:  "Well said Nevin"
Another Cavan man, another sneaky defection. Seeing a pattern here. But if he can get playing a higher level of football don't blame him, can't ever see us getting to Div 2 the way things are currently for reasons already stated above e.g. weak club scene, lower standards of commitment accepted etc. staying up in div3 will take some operation to pull off, Negativity and realism are two different things!
There are some great young lads coming though, if they can be kept in the fold maybe we can improve year on year. I would have Poacher working with u20s ensuring they get the highest standard of coaching we can give them.

gaelsboy (Leitrim) - Posts: 579 - 08/12/2024 00:42:41    2582746

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Replying To gaelsboy:  "Another Cavan man, another sneaky defection. Seeing a pattern here. But if he can get playing a higher level of football don't blame him, can't ever see us getting to Div 2 the way things are currently for reasons already stated above e.g. weak club scene, lower standards of commitment accepted etc. staying up in div3 will take some operation to pull off, Negativity and realism are two different things!
There are some great young lads coming though, if they can be kept in the fold maybe we can improve year on year. I would have Poacher working with u20s ensuring they get the highest standard of coaching we can give them."
Nonsense saying you don't blame him just because Cavan are playing in D2.
He was in training for a couple of weeks with Leitrim then jumped ship for some reasons.
And trust me Cavan will be in division 3 after this league campaign

williesboy (Leitrim) - Posts: 435 - 08/12/2024 11:30:04    2582760

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Replying To leitrim4sam:  "The problem with Leitrim lies with our clubs - every one of our club champs were beaten at the first time of asking in Connacht. It is a regular occurrence.

Our junior champs Bornacoola were beaten by 7 points. Our intermediate champs Melvin Gaels beaten by 9 points. Our senior champs beaten by
10 points.

That's in 3 games we were beaten by an aggregate score of minus 26 points. It is a recurring theme.

What does this tell us??

Our quality of club championship at every level is way under the quality of every club championship of every other Connacht county.

The standard of player being produced is under the standard of every player being produced in every other Connacht county at an "equivalent " level.

I reckon the Ross/mayo intermediate standard would win our senior champ.

Every single county in Connacht has won a Connacht tile at junior, intermediate or senior level in the last 5 years but us. In fact we have never won a title at any level ever!! Only county in Connacht to have!!

Joeman123 explain this??

If inter county teams take the best and bring them on a little bit more then the quality of player going into Leitrim inter county therefore is inferior to the rest. That's the facts of it. They are incapable of playing better than Andy Moran, Poacher, Jim Gavin or Per Guardiola or whoever could now coach them to

Guardiola has only ever managed teams who dominated their leagues or have unlimited money to buy players to fit his system, Gavin only ever had generational players some of the greatest to ever play the game and coached them to not lose focus - poacher has a far trickier job on his hands.

Until our clubs compete again like we did in the 90's when we succeeded then forget about Leitrim as a team to win or be successful"
Debatable that roscomnon championship is that good. One team has won 11 of the past 18 championships and that's skewed by the large population around Athlone.

boxtyburgerbuns (Leitrim) - Posts: 40 - 08/12/2024 13:20:14    2582767

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Replying To williesboy:  "Nonsense saying you don't blame him just because Cavan are playing in D2.
He was in training for a couple of weeks with Leitrim then jumped ship for some reasons.
And trust me Cavan will be in division 3 after this league campaign"
But he is from Blacklion and played underage and U20 for Cavan right? Does not completely excuse the defection, especially at this stage of his career but don't think there's any grounds for objection from the Leitrim camp either, it's not the Seanie Johnston circus of last decade. High chance we will meet them this year in TC or next year in league, interesting to see if he will be still involved..

gaelsboy (Leitrim) - Posts: 579 - 08/12/2024 19:04:58    2582799

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Well the inter county scene in leitrim looks like it's going to be very very poor standard this year given all the departures and us playing in division 3.. guaranteed relegation and probably a few hammerings thrown in there too.

Might as well focus on the club scene, I know most teams are already back in pre season..


Any new managerial appointments for clubs or confirmation of managers staying on? I presume O Hara will stay with Mohill and go for 3 in a row..

The new championship structure will probably suit the Mohills and Carrick on Shannon's

harleys (Leitrim) - Posts: 312 - 09/12/2024 05:31:11    2582836

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Replying To harleys:  "Well the inter county scene in leitrim looks like it's going to be very very poor standard this year given all the departures and us playing in division 3.. guaranteed relegation and probably a few hammerings thrown in there too.

Might as well focus on the club scene, I know most teams are already back in pre season..


Any new managerial appointments for clubs or confirmation of managers staying on? I presume O Hara will stay with Mohill and go for 3 in a row..

The new championship structure will probably suit the Mohills and Carrick on Shannon's"
O'Hara is gone from Mohill a few weeks at this stage, they even had it in their club notes..........keep up.

meathbasedfan (Leitrim) - Posts: 132 - 09/12/2024 12:30:17    2582878

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Replying To gaelsboy:  "But he is from Blacklion and played underage and U20 for Cavan right? Does not completely excuse the defection, especially at this stage of his career but don't think there's any grounds for objection from the Leitrim camp either, it's not the Seanie Johnston circus of last decade. High chance we will meet them this year in TC or next year in league, interesting to see if he will be still involved.."
He is no loss. Let him off. Cavan probably thinking he could be handy to bring up to create a 13 v 12. I don't think they would have went near him only this new rule was introduced. I doubt he will start. He is not a great goalie and he certainly is no Niall Morgan out the field.

3rdmidfielder (Australia) - Posts: 351 - 09/12/2024 13:03:49    2582885

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I think a few different things can be true.
We are so far behind in certain areas - as a football mad county - compared to some of our neighbors - particularly when it comes to facilities/pitches but also when it comes to S&C and gyms. We are also so far behind when it comes to developing coaches. Did any of our main senior teams have a Leitrim coach last year (Fenagh don't count)

However, we are somehow against the odds getting a lot of things right. We have the smallest playing population in the country and we are ravished by emigration and rural depopulation. Yet our underage looks like its beginning to bear fruit - The standard of player we are producing in the last 10 years has improved significantly.

If we had a magic egg and and had all our players available to us (which no county does) and we were trying to construct a training panel for pre season we would have a panel more then good enough to compete in Division Three and potentially our strongest panel ever in my eyes. This shows that both the County Board are getting a lot right.

For proof - Here's a panel of what I would regard of our 50 best players (I may have forgot a few) I have put a star beside any of those who will not be involved in 2025 and going forward (for a variety of reasons). This shows that we are producing players of quality. Retaining them is the issue. Over half of the players are not available.
Then think of the panel of players who are currently in training and look at the difference in quality. It should be no surprise why we will struggle next year.

Killian Gaffey

Mark Diffley Donal Casey** David Bruen**

Jack Foley Jack Gilheany** Ciaran Cullen**

Pearce Dolan**
Barry McNulty


Darragh Rooney** Mark Plunkett** Tom Prior

Ryan O'Rourke Keith Beirne Darren Cox


Nevin O'Donnell*
Brian Cull
Noel Plunkett**
Oisin Madden**
Adam Reynolds
Conor Reynolds**
Eanna McNamara
Oisin McCaffey**
Fergal McTague**
Cathal McHugh
Kieran Clancy
Jamie McGreal
Shane Quinn**
Radek Oberwan
Jamie McGreal
Cillian McGloin
Conor Dwyer**
Niall McGovern**
Aaron Hoare**
Conor Cullen**
Donal Wrynn**
Dean McGovern**
Conor Quinn
Niall McGovern **
Diarmuid Kelleher
Shane Moran**
Paul Keaney**
Ben Guckian
Jack Heslin**
Conor Dolan**
Jack Casey
Riordan O'Rourke
Paul Honeyman
Niall Walsh
Evan Sweeney


Caolan Clancy

Leitrim1234 (Leitrim) - Posts: 322 - 09/12/2024 13:22:18    2582888

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Replying To Leitrim1234:  "I think a few different things can be true.
We are so far behind in certain areas - as a football mad county - compared to some of our neighbors - particularly when it comes to facilities/pitches but also when it comes to S&C and gyms. We are also so far behind when it comes to developing coaches. Did any of our main senior teams have a Leitrim coach last year (Fenagh don't count)

However, we are somehow against the odds getting a lot of things right. We have the smallest playing population in the country and we are ravished by emigration and rural depopulation. Yet our underage looks like its beginning to bear fruit - The standard of player we are producing in the last 10 years has improved significantly.

If we had a magic egg and and had all our players available to us (which no county does) and we were trying to construct a training panel for pre season we would have a panel more then good enough to compete in Division Three and potentially our strongest panel ever in my eyes. This shows that both the County Board are getting a lot right.

For proof - Here's a panel of what I would regard of our 50 best players (I may have forgot a few) I have put a star beside any of those who will not be involved in 2025 and going forward (for a variety of reasons). This shows that we are producing players of quality. Retaining them is the issue. Over half of the players are not available.
Then think of the panel of players who are currently in training and look at the difference in quality. It should be no surprise why we will struggle next year.

Killian Gaffey

Mark Diffley Donal Casey** David Bruen**

Jack Foley Jack Gilheany** Ciaran Cullen**

Pearce Dolan**
Barry McNulty


Darragh Rooney** Mark Plunkett** Tom Prior

Ryan O'Rourke Keith Beirne Darren Cox


Nevin O'Donnell*
Brian Cull
Noel Plunkett**
Oisin Madden**
Adam Reynolds
Conor Reynolds**
Eanna McNamara
Oisin McCaffey**
Fergal McTague**
Cathal McHugh
Kieran Clancy
Jamie McGreal
Shane Quinn**
Radek Oberwan
Jamie McGreal
Cillian McGloin
Conor Dwyer**
Niall McGovern**
Aaron Hoare**
Conor Cullen**
Donal Wrynn**
Dean McGovern**
Conor Quinn
Niall McGovern **
Diarmuid Kelleher
Shane Moran**
Paul Keaney**
Ben Guckian
Jack Heslin**
Conor Dolan**
Jack Casey
Riordan O'Rourke
Paul Honeyman
Niall Walsh
Evan Sweeney


Caolan Clancy"
what about conor and mossy?

Leitrim01 (Leitrim) - Posts: 17 - 09/12/2024 16:31:14    2582906

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Replying To 3rdmidfielder:  "He is no loss. Let him off. Cavan probably thinking he could be handy to bring up to create a 13 v 12. I don't think they would have went near him only this new rule was introduced. I doubt he will start. He is not a great goalie and he certainly is no Niall Morgan out the field."
No disagreements on that, best of luck to him in his future endeavors

gaelsboy (Leitrim) - Posts: 579 - 09/12/2024 16:46:04    2582907

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Replying To williesboy:  "Nonsense saying you don't blame him just because Cavan are playing in D2.
He was in training for a couple of weeks with Leitrim then jumped ship for some reasons.
And trust me Cavan will be in division 3 after this league campaign"
I would expect Cavan to at the very least retain Div 2 status. Neighbours Meath more likely to drop to Div 3 along with Westmeath.

Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3504 - 09/12/2024 19:46:26    2582929

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when is the county board convention

meathbasedfan (Leitrim) - Posts: 132 - 10/12/2024 15:25:11    2583015

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