Championship Updates

Another busy weekend with the Seniors, Intermediates and the opening round of the Junior A championships all on the go.

Senior Championship
The Senior section is starting to hot up as 2 teams are now sure of their place in the Quarter finals. InÓgroup 2 Annaduff had a 5 point win over St. Caillins and as they top their group they await the outcome of Group 1 which is undecided with the result of the remaining game between Bornacoola and Allen Gaels crucial to all 3 teams.

The other Quarter finalists are Group 4s Melvin Gaels who topped their table on Saturday evening with their tally of 2 wins. They also await the outcome of Group 3 which is similar to Group 1 with the final game deciding if there will be a clear top and runner-up or if playoffs are required.

Its interesting to note that the teams (Allen Gaels, Fenagh/St. Caillins, Aughawillan and Kiltubrid) that did not play in the first round and who played their first game over the weekend all lost their opening game. Their opposition appeared to benefit by having a game under their belt.

Intermediate Championship
In the Intermediate Championship the picture is very similar to the Senior competition. Group 1s Gortletteragh are through on 2 wins out of 2 and inÓgroup 3 Drumkeerin are also guaranteed a place in the quarters as they have a win and a draw. This Sunday games inÓgroup 1 – Cloone v Eslin and inÓgroup 3 – Glencar/Manor v Glenfarne/Kilty will decide the second placing and relegation playoff positions.

InÓgroup 2 and 4 both Dromahaire and Ballinalgera are out of contention as Drumreilly v Aughnasheelin and Aughavas v St. Marys who play this weekend will decide Top and Runner-up.

Junior A Championship
The Junior A round 1 opened yesterday with Carrigallen, Annaduff, Allen Gaels and Mohill all starting their campaign on the right note with wins.

Next weekend Gortletteragh, Drumkeerin, Bornacoola and Aughavas get to take the field in their first game.

Meanwhile Aughawillan, St. Marys and Sean O Heslins, all of whom have lost their openers, must win in order to stay in the competition and Melvin Gaels have an extra week to prepare for their final game.

 

 

30-Jul-07 by Brendan Doyle – PRO

Coaching news

Our Vhi GAA Cul camps conclude this week with camps in Drumkeerin, Fenagh and Ck-on-Shannon. We would like to thank all clubs who hosted camps this year for the use of their facilities, our camp supervisors and all our camp coaches who have done an excellent job in very difficult conditions. Numbers attending our camps have increased again this year so a very big thank you to everybody involved.

Under 14 School of Excellence
Our under 14 school of excellence will continue on Saturday next 21/07 at 11.00 am in Kiltubrid GAA park. Bus times as per previous weeks. All players are asked to please attend or contact Terry Mc Manus 071 9855658.

Hurling News

Under 14 Hurling Development Squad.
Our Hurling Development squads will commence on Tuesday evening next 30/07, in Ballinamore at 7.30 pm. Players will be contacted by their clubs this week with transport details.

National Hurling Blitz weekend.
The weekend of 25-26/08/07 has been designated National hurling Blitz weekend and Leitrim will host a blitz for weaker Counties at under 14 level. Full details will be published during the next few weeks.

Summer camps.
Now that our Vhi GAA Cul camps have concluded attention turns to our Hurling camps. Kevin Brisco , our hurling coach from Galway will cover all aspects of hurling skills during the three day camps. Their will be four all hurling summer camps during August as follows.
Manorhamilton …….. 30/07 to 01/08
Ballinamore ……….. 07/08 to 09/08
Carrick ……………… 13/08 to 15/08
Mohill ……………… 20/08 to 22/08

Camps will be open to boys and girls and the cost will be € 25 per person. There is no need to book for these camps, just come along on the morning. Don’t worry if you are not a member of a hurling club as we will cater for all levels. All necessary gear eg. hurleys and helmets will be provided at each camp.

Under 16 Championship
Our under 16 club championship will be run off on a league basis during August. Dates and fixtures are as follows. First named team have home venue.

 

 

25-Jul-07 by Thomas Keenan

Opening rounds of the Senior & Intermediate Championship

The Senior and Intermediate championship for 2007 opened at the weekend as each of the 4 groups within the respective competitions played off their round 1 fixtures.

The Seniors opening game was held on Friday night and was the mouth watering clash between the 2006 Senior and Intermediate champions. The game was held in Cloone and was the first ever Club Championship game in Leitrim to be held on a Friday which shows the flexibility that Clubs are willing to offer competitions in this modern era of football.

Mohill started the game well and racked up early scores but as Carrigallen eased into the game they took control and won out worthy winners by 3 points in an entertaining and high Scóring encounter which was noted for its free flowing style of football.

Double headers in Cloone and Pairc Sean on Saturday evening made for a busy evening as the remaining 3 groups in the Seniors and the first of the Intermediate games were played.

In Cloone, Sean O Heslins were beaten by 2 points by Annaduff in the Group 2 encounter. The second fixture for the evening was Bornacoola v St. Marys inÓgroup 1 and this result saw St. Marys plans take a set back as Bornacoola won by a goal. Both Annaduff and Bornacoola are setting out their stalls at an early stage.

In Pairc Sean the first Championship games in front of the new stand unfolded as opener of the Intermediate competition saw Aughnasheelin pip Dromahaire by 1 point in a close game, this incidently is Aughnasheelins first championship win in 4 years.

The Senior game followed and was a northern encounter with Glencar-Manorhamilton meeting Melvin Gaels. While its said the goals win championships it was not the case for Glencar Manor who failed to reel in Melvin Gaels who led through most of the game. Melvin Gaels hung on in a tense finish and won by the smallest of margins.

Sunday afternoon and the 3 remaining games of the Intermediate competition were played out. With a 2pm throw-in in Paric Sean, Aughavas won out easy winners over Ballinaglera by 7 points. The second fixture there saw Gortletteragh with a lot of possession and many wides overcome the challenge of Cloone with just 1 kick of the ball between them in the end as they won on a scoreline of Cloone 1-03 Gortletteragh 0-09.

The final game of the weekend saw Drunkeerin run out easy winners as they registered a large score of 3-21 over Glencar Manorhamiltons second team who scored 1-04 in Drumshanbo.

Next weekend its round two of the Senior and Intermediate championships and the opening round of the Junior A competition.

 

 

23-Jul-07 by Brendan Doyle – PRO

Admission prices to Leitrim Club Championship games

The following are the admission prices for entry to the 2007 Leitrim Club Championship Games.

[b]Senior OR Intermediate Double Header[/b]
Adult – €10
Student/OAP – €6
Under 16s – FREE

[b]Senior OR Intermediate Single fixture[/b]
Adult – €8
Student/OAP – €5
Under 16s – FREE

[b]Intermediate AND Junior Double Header[/b]
Adult – €8
Student/OAP – €5
Under 16s – FREE

[b]Junior Single OR Double Header[/b]
Adult / Student / OAP – €5
Under 16s – FREE

 

 

20-Jul-07 by Brendan Doyle – PRO

Fr Manning Cup

The Fr. Manning Cup Competition for 2007 is due to commence on Wednesday July 18th and this year the competition will be divided into two sections, a Connaught section comprising of Leitrim, Roscommon and Sligo and a Leinster section comprising of Longford, Offaly and Westmeath.

The teams will play each other on a round robin basis with the top two teams in each section qualifying for the semi-finals, where they will play the respective winners and runners up of the opposing section. The semi-final winners will then play each other in the final.

Leitrim have a bye in the first round and then play Sligo on July 25th in Pairc Sean in round 2 with the round 3 encounter against Roscommon in Hyde park on August 1st.

 

 

16-Jul-07 by Brendan Doyle – PRO

Senior & Intermediate Championship – Round 1 announced

The following Round 1 games in the Senior and Intermediate Championship have been announced.

[b]Aoine 20 Iúil 2007[/b]

Cloone – SFC
Carrigallen v Mohill 8.00 Brendan Sammon

[b]Satharn 21 Iúil 2007[/b]

Cloone – SFC
Sean O Heslins v Annaduff 5.15 Ray McBrien
Bornacoola v St. Marys 7.00 Michael Leyden

Pairc Sean – SFC & IFC
IFC – Aughnasheelin v Dromahaire 6.00 Sean McCartin

SFC – Glencar/Manorhamilton v Melvin Gaels 7.30 Francis Flynn

[b]Domhnach 22 Iúil 2007[/b]

Pairc Sean – IFC
Aughavas v Ballinaglera 2.00 Eamonn O Grady
Cloone v Gortletteragh 3.30 Thomas Forde

Drumshanbo – IFC
Glencar/Manorhamilton v Drumkeerin 3.30 James McCaffrey

 

 

12-Jul-07 by Brendan Doyle – PRO

Senior & Intermediate Championship – updated

The Senior Championship & Intermediate will proceed as originally scheduled on the weekend after next. The full list of fixtures will be prepared and released to club secretaries and to this website as soon as possible, probably by Thursday evening. Note that all other grades of championship will follow asap the playing of Round 1 of the SFC and the Intermediate Championship.

 

 

10-Jul-07 by Brendan Doyle – PRO

Leitrim 1-14 Donegal 1-16 AET

Leitrim 1-14 Donegal 1-16 AET

It was a late point from substitute Eamon McGee which sealed victory for the Tir Chonaill men following a keenly contested game played before a large crowd.

A goal from substitute James Glancy in the seventh minute of injury-time forced extra-time but Donegal did enough to hold out for a slender victory with Rory Kavanagh impressive.

With Leitrim holding a commanding 0-6 to 0-2 lead at this stage and dominating possession it looked like they would continue to maintain their early pace but suddenly Donegal sprung to life with scores from Brendan Devanney and Kevin McMenamin cutting the gap to two points with five minutes remaining before the interval.

However Brian McIvers side were now full of confidence and when Leitrim were gifted a penalty, Paul Durcan showed great resiliance between the posts.

Half-forward Declan Maxwell was pulled down before Michael Foley failed to hit the back of the net after a fully out-stretched Durcan stopped the centre-half forwards kick.

Donegal bounced back with Ryan Bradley converting a point at the opposite end to cut the gap to the minimum before a rifling kick from Michael Murphy following a Kevin McMenamin pass finished in the back of the Leitrim net and ensured that the visitors took a 1-5 to 0-6 interval lead.

The second half was a very even affair with both teams exchanging point for point as little separated the sides in both the Scóring and possession stakes.

Just three points came from placed balls in the second half with Ciaran and Michael Duignan converting a free and a 45 respectively for Leitrim while McMenamin took Donegals lone pointed free in the 16th minute of the second half.

Both teams took some inspirational points from play with Leitrim defender Dermot Reynolds cutting the gap to two points 11 minutes into the half.

Murphys goal proved to be the real difference between the sides for the majority of the second half and indeed into injury-time where that goal was still proving to be the vital difference.

However with at least six minutes of injury-time to play, there was still enough time for Donegal to find the back of the net and second half substitute Glancy brought his haul to 1-2 with a 77th minute goal which ensured extra-time.

The home side failed to score in the first period of extra-time and Donegal took points from Kavanagh (2) and Christy Toye. Although Ciaran Duignan was impressive on the restart with two Leitrim points, Donegal somehow held out for a win.

Donegal: P Durcan; N McGee, P Campbell, K Lacey; F McGlynn, B Monaghan, P McCongley; N Gallagher, K Cassidy; M Murphy (1-1), M Hegarty (0-2), R Kavanagh (0-2); K McMenamin (0-3, 2f), R Bradley (0-2), B Devanney (0-3).

SUBS: N McCready for Campbell (55); E McGee (0-1) for McCongley (64); C Toye (0-1) for Hegarty (66); M McElhenny for Murphy (70); S McDermott (0-1) for Devaney (70); T Donaghue for McGee (HTET); M Hegarty for Bradley (83); C Dunne for McElhenny (84).

LEITRIM: N Gill; D Reynolds (0-1), M McGuinness, B McWeeney; C Kennedy, J McKeon, S Foley; G McCloskey, M Duignan (0-2, 1 45); C Regan, M Foley, D Maxwell (0-1); D Brennan, F McBrien (0-1), C Duignan (0-7, 4f).

SUBS: B Prior for Regan (25); S Canning for Kennedy (HT); J Glancy (1-2) for Brennan (41); J Guckian for C Duignan (57); D O Connor for M Foley (70); P Gilmartin for Foley (77); C Duignan for O Connor (80); D Brennan for McBrien (80)

REFEREE: G Kinneavy (Roscommon)

Frees: Donegal – 28 Leitrim 42

Wides: Donegal – 14 Leitrim 2

45s: Donegal 3 Leitrim 1

Yellow Cards: Donegal (1) Eamon McGee. Leitrim (4): Gary McCloskey

Red Cards: Donegal (0) Leitrim (0)

 

 

08-Jul-07 by GAA.ie

Weekend games

Divisions 4 and 5 and the Shield finals are all on the go this weekend starting this evening with 5 games being played at 8pm.

Division 4 is at the half way stage in terms of games played and Carrigallen are the current table toppers with a full 14 points from 7 games played. Annaduff and Kiltubrid follow close behind.

Division 5 is two thirds completed and Aughnasheelin are toping hte table there with 18 points and have only lost 1 game. Dromahaire, Fenagh and St. Marys are close behind.

The new Shield competition intorduced this year has reached Final weekend with the Shield C final being played this evening in Leitrim Gaels (its moved from St. Marys) between Allen Gaels and Annaduff at 8pm.

Tomorrow our County Hurlers meet Donegal in Letterkenny at 3pm in the Nicky Rickard Cup while back in Carrick the Footballers hope to overcome the Qualifiers bogey and are seeking a win over neighbours Donegal at 7pm.

Sunday morning 5 games are scheduled for Division 4 & 5 in addition to the two remaining Shield finals all of whihc are to be played at 12pm. In the B Shield Fenagh-St. Cailins take onÓglencar Manorhamilton in Drumkeerin and in the A Final Allen Gaels meet Melvin Gaels in Ballinaglera.

The afternoon is reserved for the Connacht Championship final between Sligo and Galway in Hyde Park.

Best of Luck to all Club and County teams concerned !

 

 

06-Jul-07 by Brendan Doyle – PRO

Leitrim Senior Football Team – Announcement

1 Noel Gill
2 Dermot Reynolds
3 Michael McGuinness
4 Barry McWeeney
5 Ciaran Kennedy
6 John McKeon
7 Shane Foley
8 Gary McCloskey
9 Michael Duignan
10 Colin Regan
11 Michael Foley
12 Declan Maxwell
13 Donal Brennan
14 Fintan McBrien
15 Ciaran Duignan

Two changes to the starting from the Galway game as Ciaran Kennedy replaces Barry Prior and Fintan McBrien replaces James Glancy (Glencar-Manorhamilton). Please note that due to clash of colours, both teams will be wearing their provincial colours, Leitrim will wear white and Donegal will wear Saffron on the orders of Croke Park.

 

 

05-Jul-07 by Brendan Doyle – PRO

Leitrim Senior Football Team Announcement

The Leitrim Senior Football team to play Donegal in the All Ireland Qualifiers on Saturday will be announced here on the website at 9pm tomorrow (Thursday).

 

 

04-Jul-07 by Brendan Doyle – PRO

Recent Berevement

The death took place in Co. Meath on Friday June 15th 2007 of 92 year old Malachy O Rourke, originally from Corriga Aughavas, Co. Leitrim.

To those who follow the history of Leitrim GAA Malachys name is synominous with the glory days of the 30s and 40s when he was part of the Junior Leitrim team that took Leitrim to a successful Connaught title, a Home All Ireland victory only to be beaten in the 1938 All Ireland Junior Final by London. Malachy was also on the 1939 Breffni Cup team that won the Senior Championship and with his brother the late Felix and cousins the late Michael (Red) Moran and James O Rourke was part of the Aughavas County Championship winning team of 1940.

Again in 1941 Malachy was on the Leitrim team that won the Junior Connacht title when he and Red Moran paired up and dominated the midfield to lead to a great victory Unfortunately the team was defeated in the All-Ireland Semi-Final against Cavan in August of that year after losing their captain during the match with a broken leg. In 1943 Malachy moved to Skryn Co. Meath to follow his brother Felix and Family but his love of Aughavas and the Gaa lived on. His nephews followed his footsteps with Fergus later wearing the green and gold of Leitrim and Colm doning similar colours and winning many medals for Meath.

Ar dhies de go raibh se

 

 

21-Jun-07 by Brendan Doyle – PRO