Archive for category: County Football

Leitrim U16’s maintained their unbeaten start to the 2024 edition of the Fr. Manning Cup at Kent Park with a hard fought 5 point win over neighbours Sligo today.   Leitrim now sit on top of the table with 2 wins out of 2 before  their final group game against Longford on July 13th.

The game started brightly for Leitrim as they raced into an early 2 point lead with the scores coming from Sean Gaffney (2) and Jack Attard in reply to Sligo’s opening point after 30 seconds. Both teams then exchanged points with the Leitrim effort coming from a Jack Attard free.   Over the next 5 minutes Sligo enjoyed their best phase of the game, as they added 1-2 to their tally to leave the Yeats County leading by 1-4 to 0-4 after 15 minutes.   Leitrim responded well to the Sligo goal by adding 2 points of their own through 2 wonderful long range efforts from Jack Prior and Frankie McManus.

Leitrim pushed forward in search of an equaliser and were very unlucky not to be awarded a free but Sligo broke quickly.   They created an overlap and scored their 2nd goal of the game despite 2 initial brilliant saves from Scott Kerr.   Again Leitrim’s response to the goal was noteworthy as they added 6 points in the final 10 minutes of the half through Jack Attard (2), Conor Reynolds (2), Jack Prior (free) and Sean Gaffney.   Sligo in response hit 2 points in those final minutes to leave the half time scoreline Sligo 2-6  Leitrim 0-12.

Leitrim introduced Daire McCabe and Ross O’Shea at half time and retook the lead with an early Sean Gaffney point.   Sligo responded with a point of their own but Leitrim added 2 further points through Daire McCabe and Darragh O’Boyle to leave Leitrim 2 points to the good.   Both sides shared the next 4 points with Daire McCabe (free) and Conor Reynolds being the contributors for Leitrim.   Sligo rattled Leitrim with their 3rd goal of the day with a wonderful sweeping move from the back.   Yet again, Leitrim showed fantastic resilience with a swift response at the other end when Daire McCabe reacted quickest when a long range effort hit the post.   He gathered the ball and calmly rounded the Sligo keeper before rolling the ball into an empty net to restore Leitrim’s 2 point advantage.   Moments later Jack Prior kicked a difficult free to push Leitrim 3 clear.

Leitrim’s resilience was tested still further when they were reduced to 14 players after Gearoid Curley received a black card on 17 minutes.    Sligo initially took advantage when they added a point from a free but substitute Mark Nolan sent Leitrim 3 clear again with his first touch.   Leitrim made 3 further changes to replace tired legs as Louis Quinn, Ultan McNulty and John McGarry all joined the fray.   The teams swapped points again with Conor Reynolds adding his 4th of the game for Leitrim.   Sligo were reduced to 14 players on 25 minutes when one of forwards received a black card but it was Leitrim that finished the game strongest.   Daire McCabe with a wonderful long range effort and Mark Nolan rounded off the scoring to give Leitrim a 5 point victory margin.   While they will be happy with the victory and indeed the attacking display, with 1-17 from open play, they will also realise that there’s plenty of work to be done on the defensive side of the game.   They now meet Longford in 2 weeks time in an attempt to secure top spot in the group and a home semi final in the Fr. Manning Cup.

LEITRIM TEAM AND SCORERS:

Scott Kerr; Ronan Connolly; Charlie Slevin; Cillian McWeeney; Senan McGowan; Thomas Gunn; Darragh O’Boyle (0-1); Frankie McManus (0-1); Gearoid Curley; Karl Gethins; Jack Moolick; Conor Reynolds (0-4); Jack Attard (0-3, 0-1f); Jack Prior (0-3, 0-2f); Sean Gaffney (0-4). SUBS: Daire McCabe (1-3, 0-1f), Ross O’Shea; Louis Quinn; Mark Nolan (0-2); Ultan McNulty; John McGarry; Unused Subs: Oisin McGarry; Keelan McGurren, Cuan O’Tonra, Shane Mayock, Rhionn Gallagher; Nathan Casey; Aaron Gibney; Daniel Gilrane; Unavailable through Injury: Ronan Fox; Conor Duignan

Leitrim began their 2024 Fr. Manning Cup campaign with a hard fought victory over Offaly on Saturday at Philly McGuinness Park in Mohill.   Played in near perfect conditions, both teams began the game minus a number of players still involved with their respective U17 teams.

Leitrim started the better of the teams, dominating early possession.   As in 2023, one of the standout characteristics of this team was their work ethic.   On numerous occasions in the first half, the platform for Leitrim attacks was founded on some wonderful turnovers of Offaly with Conor Duignan and Thomas Gunn particularly prominent in that department.   Conor Reynolds opened the scoring for Leitrim with a fine point after 4 minutes.   In the next 10 minutes, Leitrim put distance between the teams adding 2-1 to their tally with the goals coming courtesy of Conor Reynolds (penalty) and Mark Nolan, and a further point from Conor Reynolds.   Offaly got their first score after 18 minutes before Mark Nolan replied with a free.   5 minutes before the break Offaly were thrown a lifeline when they found room behind the Leitrim defence to score a much needed goal.   Leitrim’s response was swift and they put together a great team move involving Ultan McNulty, Gearoid Curley and Mark Nolan to get Conor Reynolds free in front of goals.   He was hauled down by some last ditch defending from Offaly and he duly dispatched the resultant penalty to give Leitrim an 8 point cushion.   The final word of the half was left to Offaly as they converted a 30 metre free to leave the half time scoreline Leitrim 3-3  Offaly 1-2.

Offaly began the 2nd half in more assertive fashion with the introduction of 4 members of their U17 squad.   They started to gain parity in the middle of the park which resulted in more pressure on the Leitrim defence.    A sustained period of pressure led to Offaly opening the scoring in the 2nd half with a well taken point.   Senan McGowan replied for Letrim from a free as Offaly started to expose gaps in the Leitrim defence. In the 8th and 14th minute Offaly added 2 further points to their tally from placed balls.   In between those scores Offaly created some goal scoring opportunities only to be denied by some good saves by Scott Kerr and some stout defending by Charlie Slevin and Cillian McWeeney.   Offaly were made to pay for these misses when Leitrim broke up an Offaly and after 3 quick accurate kick passes, half time substitute Jack Attard rifled the ball to the top corner to snuff out any possibility of an Offaly comeback. From then until the end of the game Leitrim wrestled back control of the game as both teams emptied the bench.   Leitrim added a point through Jack Attard and goal through Gearoid Curley in reply to 3 further Offaly points.   Senan McGowan completed the scoring with a free kick from 45 metres to leave Leitrim with a 10 point cushion at the final whistle.

LEITRIM: Scott Kerr; Cillian McWeeney; Charlie Slevin; Ronan Connolly; Ultan McNulty; Ross O’Shea; Darragh O’Boyle; Conor Duignan; Thomas Gunn; Senan McGowan (0-2); Gearoid Curley (1-0); Louis Quinn; Mark Nolan (1-0); Ronan Fox; Conor Reynolds (2-2).  SUBS: Jack Attard (1-1), John McGarry, Nathan Casey, Keelan McGurrin, Cuan O Tonra, Daniel Gilrane, Oisin McGarry, Aaron Gibney, Shane Mayock and Rhionn Gallagher.