National Forum

Leitrim GAA thread

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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"
Arguably Fermanagh, Sligo and Longford have smaller or comparable playing figures to us. We can't keep using that excuse.

boxtyburgerbuns (Leitrim) - Posts: 40 - 11/12/2024 11:27:17    2583095

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Replying To meathbasedfan:  "when is the county board convention"
Haven't heard a dickie bird about it and if last year is anything to go by, it wouldn't bode well. Less than half of the delegates (voting) from clubs actually showed up (55) with a number of clubs having no voting delegates present at all. Normally there would be something on the Leitrim GAA website by now.

Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 1055 - 11/12/2024 11:47:53    2583101

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At least the next Chairman won't have the NY nightmare trip to deal with will they?

boxtyburgerbuns (Leitrim) - Posts: 40 - 11/12/2024 12:22:25    2583112

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Replying To boxtyburgerbuns:  "At least the next Chairman won't have the NY nightmare trip to deal with will they?"
Are ya joking... the Connacht Council will never give up the annual junket to NY (willingly anyhow....)

Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 1055 - 11/12/2024 14:08:24    2583128

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Replying To boxtyburgerbuns:  "Arguably Fermanagh, Sligo and Longford have smaller or comparable playing figures to us. We can't keep using that excuse."
Leitrim need to be prepared for 11 possible defeats next year . That's the reality

MylesNaGopaleen (Leitrim) - Posts: 34 - 11/12/2024 19:44:30    2583180

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Replying To MylesNaGopaleen:  "Leitrim need to be prepared for 11 possible defeats next year . That's the reality"
I love your optimism lol

Leitrim@1960 (Leitrim) - Posts: 18 - 12/12/2024 12:50:43    2583292

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Replying To boxtyburgerbuns:  "Arguably Fermanagh, Sligo and Longford have smaller or comparable playing figures to us. We can't keep using that excuse."
Apart from the good work Sligo has been doing over the past number of years, the others are no better than us & Longford at in Division 4

Leitrim@1960 (Leitrim) - Posts: 18 - 12/12/2024 12:55:51    2583294

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Replying To MylesNaGopaleen:  "Leitrim need to be prepared for 11 possible defeats next year . That's the reality"
That's not unrealistic unfortunately. Fingers crossed it won't be that bad.

3rdmidfielder (Australia) - Posts: 351 - 12/12/2024 13:43:41    2583305

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Replying To Leitrim@1960:  "Apart from the good work Sligo has been doing over the past number of years, the others are no better than us & Longford at in Division 4"
Fermanagh is no better than ourselves? Really?

Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 1055 - 12/12/2024 14:43:36    2583320

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Replying To Square_B:  "Fermanagh is no better than ourselves? Really?"
Soon find out on March 16th, have been on previous games played especially TC last year though we look alot weaker for 2025 so say be close game

macca999 (Fermanagh) - Posts: 1145 - 12/12/2024 14:53:52    2583322

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Replying To MylesNaGopaleen:  "Leitrim need to be prepared for 11 possible defeats next year . That's the reality"
In fairness we are always prepared for that amount of defeats, be nice to buck the trend. We could get a result from Sligo, Antrim, Offaly maybe, but we'd need wins and I'm not sure if we'd get them.

boxtyburgerbuns (Leitrim) - Posts: 40 - 13/12/2024 14:16:08    2583447

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For something completely different and POSITIVE congratulations to the Leitrim Schools team who are through to the Connacht A schools semi finals following their second win in the competition today.

joeman123 (Leitrim) - Posts: 517 - 13/12/2024 18:32:04    2583473

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Serious result from the Leitrim schools team. Well done to all involved.

3rdmidfielder (Australia) - Posts: 351 - 13/12/2024 20:28:32    2583481

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Replying To joeman123:  "For something completely different and POSITIVE congratulations to the Leitrim Schools team who are through to the Connacht A schools semi finals following their second win in the competition today."
Shane Ward again proving to be an excellent coach. Players are getting exposed to high level of football which will benefit their development.

totalrecall (Leitrim) - Posts: 998 - 14/12/2024 08:45:09    2583500

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Replying To totalrecall:  "Shane Ward again proving to be an excellent coach. Players are getting exposed to high level of football which will benefit their development."
A very good manager, got loads out of the U21s when he was in charge beating the AI champions in connacht, the senior spell didn't pull up any trees but he could only work with what was in front of him. He might be worth getting involved with the seniors again in due course but if we aren't keeping the best players involved and committed it won't matter who's in charge. Be great to see that schools team get to the business end and win it out, no idea who's left to play and what they're like

gaelsboy (Leitrim) - Posts: 579 - 14/12/2024 19:26:03    2583535

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Optimism for Leitrim U17s in 2025 will be high

Drax_the_destroyer (UK) - Posts: 266 - 14/12/2024 20:49:34    2583543

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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."
Going into a tough League campaign not helped by the loss of key players-Radek.Tobin,Plunkett,Dolan,Rooney possibly Ryan. On the + side,The Harkin Brothers,Paul Honeyman,Guckian,coming in.
The success of our College team a big boost for Minor & U20 campaign .

leitrimabu1 (Leitrim) - Posts: 145 - 16/12/2024 00:09:01    2583696

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Replying To Square_B:  "Are ya joking... the Connacht Council will never give up the annual junket to NY (willingly anyhow....)"
NY trip is draining money out of Connacht & is no junket. We will not renew arrangement after next year. Put Ny into Leinster they are no asset to Connacht football.

leitrimabu1 (Leitrim) - Posts: 145 - 16/12/2024 00:13:38    2583697

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Replying To leitrimabu1:  "Going into a tough League campaign not helped by the loss of key players-Radek.Tobin,Plunkett,Dolan,Rooney possibly Ryan. On the + side,The Harkin Brothers,Paul Honeyman,Guckian,coming in.
The success of our College team a big boost for Minor & U20 campaign ."
Ryan O'Rourke you mean? Is he gone also?

JimmyNail (Leitrim) - Posts: 252 - 16/12/2024 10:24:54    2583715

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Replying To JimmyNail:  "Ryan O'Rourke you mean? Is he gone also?"
Think that's why Graham departed. Leitrim were going to be down a lot of players in 25.

FoolsGold (Cavan) - Posts: 2837 - 16/12/2024 14:19:07    2583750

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