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Best of luck to those on the panel, they will give it their all
boxtyburgerbuns (Leitrim) - Posts: 94 - 20/01/2025 12:17:32
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Replying To Leitrim1234: "Even though I and others had warned everyone of what was a head this year on these pages in the last few months I think it really only hit home to everyone (myself included) when we seen the official squad announced. Its stark.
I've said before that you could have Mick O'Dwyer or Jim Gavin in charge and it wouldn't make a difference this year.
Fair play to the players that have committed to the cause but the reality is many of these would be Third, Fourth, or Fifth choice in their positions if we had everyone available. Theres probably 25 to 30 players not available in total.
We have not just lost the majority of our 'high-end' players talent wise but we have lost years of S&C which will be exposed brutally at division Four level. That the unfortunate reality of things.
The panel announced once again shows to me that we have no issue in producing quality players but we have a severe issue with retaining them. There's no magic solution to this but the County Board needs to put in place a plan to change this.
When you look at who's missing (from last years panel) only Pearce Dolan and Mark Plunkett have left the country. The rest are still on the island or are nursing injuries. That is the really disappointing thing. When you add in the others who haven't been involved due to emigration it really is depressing for what could have been.
Another positive I have taken away from the squad is that its a complete change from Des Dolans time where we produced so many top quality defenders and had no real high level forwards. Now we are really struggling defensively.
Even with the likes of O'Rourke, Rooney, Plunkett missing from our forward line we still have Beirne, Prior, Cox, Reynolds, Guckian, Riordan O'Rourke and Honeyman available in our forward unit. Past managers would have bitten your hand off for this scoring power. With the new rules I would say if we can secure any decent type of possession or on counter attacks we could do real damage.
Poacher falling out with Killian Gaffey really hasn't helped and taking in the keeper from the club he coaches in Louth but who is from Monaghan is an 'interesting' approach.
For what its worse here's my guess at what the team may be (is Cillian McGloin fit again? Is Keith Beirne fit after missing preseason?)
Brian Cull
Adam Reynolds Mark Diffley Cathal McHugh
Cillian McGloin Jack Foley Shane Quinn
Barry McNulty
Conor Quinn
Ben Guckian Keith Keegan Tom Prior
Darren Cox Keith Beirne Jordan Reynolds" I can't see Beirne starting until round 3 as he is only back in there.
New rules won't suit this team, yes it would work in hindsight if the 3 forwards can get the ball but the long and short of it they won't really.
Poacher might have had a chance to do something if he could get 15 behind the ball.
williesboy (Leitrim) - Posts: 449 - 20/01/2025 13:03:00
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Replying To williesboy: "I can't see Beirne starting until round 3 as he is only back in there.
New rules won't suit this team, yes it would work in hindsight if the 3 forwards can get the ball but the long and short of it they won't really.
Poacher might have had a chance to do something if he could get 15 behind the ball." I agree but he's left with very little other option he's going to have to try and put square pegs in round holes.
I also agree with Beirne not being match fit but the reality is he's going to have to try and force it and play him.
Free's alone from outside the arc are worth 2 points and he could nail a few of these a game and he also won't have to track back anymore so we can just leave him inside as a target man. The smaller field in Ballinamore should suit this.
Tom Prior was arguably the stand out player in our club championship and he's excellent at transitioning the ball from defence to attack which is going to be key.
Cox and Reynolds both have the pace and trickery to beat their men especially with the new rules this could give us an 'out ball' with the three men left up front. Beirne will be the one to be double marked so they should have space.
Then bring on Honeyman and Riordan to finish the game. Same goes for Harkin, Diarmuid Kelleher etc.
Kick outs are going to be pure chaos and a lot of dirty 50/50 ball so if McNulty is being targeted an out ball to Guckian and Keegan will be crucial.
Reality is Laois gave us a lesson in Croker last year when we had a far better panel so I don't think we stand a chance.
Leitrim1234 (Leitrim) - Posts: 325 - 20/01/2025 13:15:54
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Replying To Leitrim1234: "Even though I and others had warned everyone of what was a head this year on these pages in the last few months I think it really only hit home to everyone (myself included) when we seen the official squad announced. Its stark.
I've said before that you could have Mick O'Dwyer or Jim Gavin in charge and it wouldn't make a difference this year.
Fair play to the players that have committed to the cause but the reality is many of these would be Third, Fourth, or Fifth choice in their positions if we had everyone available. Theres probably 25 to 30 players not available in total.
We have not just lost the majority of our 'high-end' players talent wise but we have lost years of S&C which will be exposed brutally at division Four level. That the unfortunate reality of things.
The panel announced once again shows to me that we have no issue in producing quality players but we have a severe issue with retaining them. There's no magic solution to this but the County Board needs to put in place a plan to change this.
When you look at who's missing (from last years panel) only Pearce Dolan and Mark Plunkett have left the country. The rest are still on the island or are nursing injuries. That is the really disappointing thing. When you add in the others who haven't been involved due to emigration it really is depressing for what could have been.
Another positive I have taken away from the squad is that its a complete change from Des Dolans time where we produced so many top quality defenders and had no real high level forwards. Now we are really struggling defensively.
Even with the likes of O'Rourke, Rooney, Plunkett missing from our forward line we still have Beirne, Prior, Cox, Reynolds, Guckian, Riordan O'Rourke and Honeyman available in our forward unit. Past managers would have bitten your hand off for this scoring power. With the new rules I would say if we can secure any decent type of possession or on counter attacks we could do real damage.
Poacher falling out with Killian Gaffey really hasn't helped and taking in the keeper from the club he coaches in Louth but who is from Monaghan is an 'interesting' approach.
For what its worse here's my guess at what the team may be (is Cillian McGloin fit again? Is Keith Beirne fit after missing preseason?)
Brian Cull
Adam Reynolds Mark Diffley Cathal McHugh
Cillian McGloin Jack Foley Shane Quinn
Barry McNulty
Conor Quinn
Ben Guckian Keith Keegan Tom Prior
Darren Cox Keith Beirne Jordan Reynolds" Many of these players are the best in their position also. Keith Beirne and Barry McNulty are the only two top class players in the county. O Rourke and Rooney are loss but really not that much difference between the rest gone of the panel and what has replaced them.
Eg Pearse Dolan good player but Ben Guickan has great potential to be as good.
Backheel (Leitrim) - Posts: 180 - 20/01/2025 16:44:45
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Replying To Backheel: "Many of these players are the best in their position also. Keith Beirne and Barry McNulty are the only two top class players in the county. O Rourke and Rooney are loss but really not that much difference between the rest gone of the panel and what has replaced them.
Eg Pearse Dolan good player but Ben Guickan has great potential to be as good." I would totally agree with you , Ryan and Darragh are a big loss, but a lot of the others mentioned are no better than what is coming into the panel. Mohill must be congratulated for 9 players coming on to the squad this year, this must be a record for a club! It's great to have the two Keith's back! The Harkin brothers who are really talented! Jordan Reynolds is back after a number of years of injury! The weekend game will be a real test, but if pace is required for the new game we have it in abundance! Mark Keegan from Fenagh is a hugely talented half back with pace and may have gone under the radar for some, it is great news that he has committed for this year! I attend a lot of club matches and I think the management team have done extremely well to get this young exciting squad together!
I'm really looking forward to the opening game and win loose or draw I will continue to support my home county! I have lived in many counties and played in a few, but have always come back to home to support many old friends and colleagues in their strive to make the smallest populated county in Ireland better by giving their best, nobody can ask more than that.
Leitrim Abu!
Leitrim@1960 (Leitrim) - Posts: 23 - 20/01/2025 19:16:43
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Replying To Keephimthere: "It will be interesting to see if the new rules will result in much bigger winning margins where Div 1 teams meet division 3 and 4 teams and possibly division 2 teams also in the championship. The 3 men up rule will likely result in forwards finding themselves 1 on 1 situations more often and could really make hay now that 13 behind the ball is gone. Last year Galway had scored 5 goals before London had scored 5 points. We could see a lot more of that." Bigger winning margins will happen and won't be very interesting to see.
Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3520 - 20/01/2025 23:13:06
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best of luck to the panel on Saturday, call a spade a spade it is basically a new team which is the recurring problem with Leitrim football, you have 4/5 lads who give it 10/12 good years and the rest dip in and out or play a year or two then emigrate, essentially setting the clock back to 0 as we have to try replace these lads and we just do not have the population to churn out county standard players every year. I've no doubt they will give it their all but it will take the full of their sacks to get any kind of a result
gaelsboy (Leitrim) - Posts: 592 - 21/01/2025 11:51:41
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Replying To Leitrim@1960: "I would totally agree with you , Ryan and Darragh are a big loss, but a lot of the others mentioned are no better than what is coming into the panel. Mohill must be congratulated for 9 players coming on to the squad this year, this must be a record for a club! It's great to have the two Keith's back! The Harkin brothers who are really talented! Jordan Reynolds is back after a number of years of injury! The weekend game will be a real test, but if pace is required for the new game we have it in abundance! Mark Keegan from Fenagh is a hugely talented half back with pace and may have gone under the radar for some, it is great news that he has committed for this year! I attend a lot of club matches and I think the management team have done extremely well to get this young exciting squad together!
I'm really looking forward to the opening game and win loose or draw I will continue to support my home county! I have lived in many counties and played in a few, but have always come back to home to support many old friends and colleagues in their strive to make the smallest populated county in Ireland better by giving their best, nobody can ask more than that.
Leitrim Abu!" Great post, and as you say it is encouraging to see so many players committing. The management must be doing something right.
I comment the big numbers from Fenagh and particularly Mohill.
We all know where we are at with a very young team.
However there is one thing we all can do and that is Turn Up In Big Numbers to Ballinamore on Saturday and give good support to the team and management.
joeman123 (Leitrim) - Posts: 525 - 21/01/2025 14:05:05
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Replying To joeman123: "Great post, and as you say it is encouraging to see so many players committing. The management must be doing something right.
I comment the big numbers from Fenagh and particularly Mohill.
We all know where we are at with a very young team.
However there is one thing we all can do and that is Turn Up In Big Numbers to Ballinamore on Saturday and give good support to the team and management." Exactly, I do not think we were ever really favorites for promotion and we are probably favorites to be relegated this year, it is what is it and it does not stop us turning up and giving it the best. Laois will not know much about this team and everyone is still getting used to the new rules so anything can happen.
gaelsboy (Leitrim) - Posts: 592 - 21/01/2025 16:31:41
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Replying To Square_B: "Ah you're not really 'discussing'... more moaning / complaining... we'll agree to disagree...
Anyhow no GAA club ever goes to the 'wall'... Croke Park always end up taking over the debt if things get sticky.... and before you go 'Well what about Parnells?" The Parnells club is still active... the Limited company they used to run the club and that held the lease to the grounds / premises is gone. Wait until you see, a new lease will be agreed & Parnells will be back playing on the pitches they gave back to the Marist order." Parnells ??
MylesNaGopaleen (Leitrim) - Posts: 37 - 21/01/2025 21:39:41
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Replying To gaelsboy: "Exactly, I do not think we were ever really favorites for promotion and we are probably favorites to be relegated this year, it is what is it and it does not stop us turning up and giving it the best. Laois will not know much about this team and everyone is still getting used to the new rules so anything can happen." Anything to be said for another Mass
MylesNaGopaleen (Leitrim) - Posts: 37 - 21/01/2025 21:45:48
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Replying To gaelsboy: "Exactly, I do not think we were ever really favorites for promotion and we are probably favorites to be relegated this year, it is what is it and it does not stop us turning up and giving it the best. Laois will not know much about this team and everyone is still getting used to the new rules so anything can happen." I think we will be relegated too.
However all is not as bad as it seems. Our minor team have won every inter county competition they have entered up to now, surely we will have a good minor team and campaign this year. Majority of years under 20 team is still under 20 this year so they should build on a good campaign from last year. Our schools team is in Connacht A final this Friday and if they can win that it's huge progress
Our senior team is probably the youngest panel in the country - I hear half the panel is under 22 years. Ok we will be relegated but if Poacher gets this young panel buying in to the set up and can hold the for 5-6 years with the talent that seems to be coming through then that's where the future lies for us.
This year will will be a write off but it's about building and maintaining that young panel for me at the moment
leitrim4sam (Leitrim) - Posts: 675 - 22/01/2025 19:58:00
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Replying To leitrim4sam: "I think we will be relegated too.
However all is not as bad as it seems. Our minor team have won every inter county competition they have entered up to now, surely we will have a good minor team and campaign this year. Majority of years under 20 team is still under 20 this year so they should build on a good campaign from last year. Our schools team is in Connacht A final this Friday and if they can win that it's huge progress
Our senior team is probably the youngest panel in the country - I hear half the panel is under 22 years. Ok we will be relegated but if Poacher gets this young panel buying in to the set up and can hold the for 5-6 years with the talent that seems to be coming through then that's where the future lies for us.
This year will will be a write off but it's about building and maintaining that young panel for me at the moment" Leitrim schools are in Connacht Semi Final not final. Interesting to see their results as they had a horrid year last year and the results of the individual schools were not great at senior level this year with some big beatings in lower grades.
Is there minor management involved in it? Only reason I ask is I wonder would they permit such a team from Sligo excluding Summerhill and St Attractas as not much happening in the other schools and perhaps Leitrim model is one to work off to lift other lads up a notch
Sligoman1234 (Sligo) - Posts: 437 - 22/01/2025 20:25:23
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Replying To leitrim4sam: "I think we will be relegated too.
However all is not as bad as it seems. Our minor team have won every inter county competition they have entered up to now, surely we will have a good minor team and campaign this year. Majority of years under 20 team is still under 20 this year so they should build on a good campaign from last year. Our schools team is in Connacht A final this Friday and if they can win that it's huge progress
Our senior team is probably the youngest panel in the country - I hear half the panel is under 22 years. Ok we will be relegated but if Poacher gets this young panel buying in to the set up and can hold the for 5-6 years with the talent that seems to be coming through then that's where the future lies for us.
This year will will be a write off but it's about building and maintaining that young panel for me at the moment" Building and maintaining seems to be the same old story every couple years. Building and maintaing for what? To go through the cycle again thats what. Should get a good few more back on panel when New York trip is on the cards...
AverageFootball (Leitrim) - Posts: 19 - 23/01/2025 08:29:39
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Replying To AverageFootball: "Building and maintaining seems to be the same old story every couple years. Building and maintaing for what? To go through the cycle again thats what. Should get a good few more back on panel when New York trip is on the cards..." Very cynical comment and very unfair to all the players who give huge commitment , at enormous personal cost in terms of travelling from work and college.
and as for the second part of your idiotic comment the answer is to give huge enjoyment to Leitrim Supporters far and wide.
joeman123 (Leitrim) - Posts: 525 - 23/01/2025 10:16:46
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Replying To Square_B: "Ah you're not really 'discussing'... more moaning / complaining... we'll agree to disagree...
Anyhow no GAA club ever goes to the 'wall'... Croke Park always end up taking over the debt if things get sticky.... and before you go 'Well what about Parnells?" The Parnells club is still active... the Limited company they used to run the club and that held the lease to the grounds / premises is gone. Wait until you see, a new lease will be agreed & Parnells will be back playing on the pitches they gave back to the Marist order." Have you seen it reported that Parnells GAA is no more and will relaunch under a new name btw, apparently Pobal Parnell?
boxtyburgerbuns (Leitrim) - Posts: 94 - 23/01/2025 11:33:08
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Replying To boxtyburgerbuns: "Have you seen it reported that Parnells GAA is no more and will relaunch under a new name btw, apparently Pobal Parnell?" All but the same club only in name. What about it?
Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 1105 - 23/01/2025 12:19:34
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Replying To AverageFootball: "Building and maintaining seems to be the same old story every couple years. Building and maintaing for what? To go through the cycle again thats what. Should get a good few more back on panel when New York trip is on the cards..." That is a very sad post that brings young footballers integrity into question! If you had any idea of the commitment that is been made by players in the weaker counties whom get little or no reward for their efforts, you would think before you write this kind of statement about trips to New York!
Leitrim@1960 (Leitrim) - Posts: 23 - 23/01/2025 12:23:00
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Replying To joeman123: "Very cynical comment and very unfair to all the players who give huge commitment , at enormous personal cost in terms of travelling from work and college.
and as for the second part of your idiotic comment the answer is to give huge enjoyment to Leitrim Supporters far and wide." I can see how my post may come across as cynical, but this is what we are dealing with.
AverageFootball (Leitrim) - Posts: 19 - 23/01/2025 12:50:18
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Replying To Square_B: "All but the same club only in name. What about it?" It isn't the same club, that has been wound up.
boxtyburgerbuns (Leitrim) - Posts: 94 - 23/01/2025 13:21:41
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