Leitrim GAA is at Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada.
27 minutes ago
A Work In Progress 🟢🟡
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Lovely Leitrim
Lovely Leitrim by Larry Cunningham is our anthem. Well to be in Leitrim this weekend was something else. No wind, no rain, and buckets of sunshine necessitating a splash of Factor 50 to protect my 'solar panel' . Even the night sky displayed a little green and gold. The Northern lights shined brightly over Leitrim. This morning I walked along the Canal from Kilclare to Leitrim village. The ducks swam in the shade while the cattle posed for photographs. I thought of John McGahern's expressed belief 'the best of life is life lived quietly, where nothing happens but our calm journey through the day, where change is imperceptible and the precious life is everything'. If you came to Leitrim this weekend for the first time, you wouldn't want to leave.
We stopped off at Jinny's Tearooms overlooking Acres Lake in Drumshanbo for lunch. The two ladies with me know and like their food, both went for Mushrooms on Toasted Ciabatta and it was delicious. The food and friendly service overlooking Acres Lake on a busy day was exceptional.
We made a long overdue and unexpected call to cousins and knocked on the front door. The cousins were delighted to see us as they informed us ‘only the Mormons knock on the front door. It’s a Leitrim thing, the front door always looks painted because we only use the back door. We will know better the next time.
This is the time of year for the Tailteann Cup and more importantly the Leitrim GAA Supporters Club who hold their annual draw to provide funding for the preparation of county teams. Having been involved since 1986 we have the evidence to show that the Leitrim Supporters are the most loyal in the country (Last year alone they contributed €492,000 through various fundraising). They always support the team and the supporters have huge respect for all our county players and the players have huge respect for what the supporters do for them on an annual basis.
Over the years up to Covid, the Leitrim Supporters Club had their annual launch in Croke Park. For Leitrim people in Dublin this was an annual get together of not just supporters but Leitrim people in the city. The night always had entertainment, special guests, team sponsors, team managers and team members present. There was many great nights and great fun. The launch always took place in the last week in January or the first week in February, on those dark nights just before the commencement of the National Football League. On one such occasion having been involved in organising the night and tidying up after it I headed home to Killiney. It was somewhere between 11.30pm and midnight. On the Upper Glenageary Road there was a GARDA Alcohol testing checkpoint. I let down the window, and the conversation with the Garda went like this,
Me- ‘Good night Guard’
Garda– ‘ Where are you coming from’
Me – ‘Croke Park’
Garda- ‘Croke Park,at this hour’ (midnight)
Me – ‘Yeh’
Garda- ‘what was on there’
Me- ‘I was at a meeting’
Garda – ‘What type of meeting’
Me – ‘A Leitrim GAA Supporters Club meeting’
Garda – ‘Was there many people at it’
Me – ‘Around 150’
Garda – ‘Will you pull in there like a good man’
Garda –‘Will you blow into this’
So I blew as hard as I could. I knew before I blew, there was no known case where tea and biscuits have failed the breathalyser test.
So off I went chuckling leaving a disbelieving Garda in my wake.
One of the Leitrim players who lines out today against Waterford also lined out against Waterford ten years ago (2014) in Dungarvan when Waterford beat Leitrim 1-13 to 0-11. That player is Donal Wrynn. Donal Wrynn is following in his uncle Ben Wrynn’s footsteps. Ben played with Leitrim over a twelve year period 1966-1978 and was one of Leitrim best forwards in that period. He also was selected to play for Connacht in the Railway Cup on a number of occasions. When people talk about loyalty of players, it is easier for the player to play for ten years when you are winning silverware every year. Ten years commitment to any County team deserves some recognition. Maybe the GAA or the GPA should present all county players who play with their county for ten years with a momento in appreciation of all their loyalty over such a long period of time. It would be a small gesture for the GAA/GPA but a big gesture for players and their families and something they would always cherish.
The Match
In this years NFL Leitrim ended the league with a positive scoring difference of +21 and got promoted, Waterford ended the League with a scoring difference of -70 and finished bottom of the league. Waterford then beat Tipperary in the Munster Championship ensuring that predicting the winner today is not simple. Anything can happen.
In the first three minutes Leitrim scored three points without reply, Waterford replied with two. Darragh Rooney had a goal chance saved and Leitrim scored the next two points and 0-5 to 0-2. Waterford scored two points, and the scoring was tit for tat for the remainder of the half with Waterford having a goal chance just before half time that was blocked for a 45. Waterford scored the 45 leaving the half time score Leitrim 0-9 Waterford 0-8. An interesting stat is all Leitrim scores were from play with Ryan O Rourke showing his class with 0-5 but Waterford were running through our defence far too easily.
Leitrim started well and scored 0-6 without reply, with Waterfords first score coming in the 23rd Minute. Leitrim always looked comfortable but should have converted at least two of the goal chances created. Goalkeeper Nevin O Donnell converted two 45s and one free, with corner back Aidan Flynn chipping in with two points in an excellent second half. Mark Diffley, Radek Oberwan and Jack Foley were excellent in defence, Jack Gilheany drove the team on from midfield while Tom Prior, Ryan O Rourke and Barry McNulty kept the scoreboard ticking over in attack.
Leitrim were impressive in scoring from play, and should have scored a goal or two. Leitrim showed a huge appetite in closing down Waterford players all over the field. The victory was never in doubt.
Final score Leitrim 0-17 Waterford 0-12.
For us Leitrim supporters it was a wonderful weekend to be in Lovely Leitrim
A final note, if you can join Leitrim Supporters Club this year please do, you will be doing your bit in helping to finance the preparation of our county teams. Buy your membership on line or from your local club
Eamonn Duignan
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