Goodbye to the Whitewash

GOODBYE to the WHITEWASH
 
Our younger generation probably never saw a bucket of whitewash, it was gone even before the Celtic Tiger was let loose on us all. In its prime it was a sign of the Summer – and especially a Summer when the Yankees were due to visit home. It covered a multitude – cracks, holes, dampness – in the kitchen walls, the outside of the house, the piers of the gate, everywhere. And if there was a drop left in the bucket, the byre and the henhouse got a lick too.
 
A whitewash is something different in a sporting context and what individual or team has never had to experience one?  London is brimming with athletes at the moment, many of whom could easily recall their own bad days in their rise to the top.
 
The twelve teams still left in the All Ireland Championship would not have to delve too deep into their own record books to come up with days when they were found to be very, very short. But those days passed and they are enjoying their moments in the sun.
 
The days of the whitewash are over for Leitrim too. These last few weeks have proved that, in a very significant way. There will be no more twenty point beatings, Leitrim has taken on a new life and let evey supporter acknowledge the sheer hard work, the utter dedication, the fighting spirit in spite of the many adversities thrown at them, the self confidence, the manly willingness to give of their all, their work ethic, their new maturity … we could go on and on.
 
This years championship has proven to be a watershed and it is time for Brian Breen, George Dugdale, every single panel member, each one of the backroom team and all the County Board officers, sponsors and everyone who played any role, to take a well deserved bow and allow Leitrim people as one to salute you.
 
YOU ARE our footballing heroes and WE ARE very proud to be followers of the green and gold.
 
GOODBYE TO THE WHITEWASH
 

 

 

21-Jul-12 by Leitrim GAA

Laois progress past gallant Leitrim – Match Report from gaaie

GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifiers Round 3:

Leitrim 1-11 Laois 1-13

Laois produced a strong second-half performance to finally see off a brave challenge from Leitrim in Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada on Saturday evening, and progress to Round 4 of the Qualifiers.

Leitrim were three ahead at the break but Laois quickly got level after the restart, and once the home side tired in the final quarter, Laois showed the greater fitness and composure to send over crucial scores and see out the win.

Leitrim led 1-8 to 1-5 at half-time after a rousing opening 35 minutes which seemed to take Laois by surprise.

Laoiss Gary Walsh got the first score of the game, but two Emlyn Mulligan frees for Leitrim were quickly followed by a sublime score from Ray Cox, which put the home side two ahead.

Laois had regained the lead by the 18th minute, with a Paraic Clancy score edging them in front at 0-4 to 0-3, but it was around then that Leitrim really began to take control of the game, and they quickly made it show on the scoreboard.

A Mulligan free levelled the sides, and then Leitrim got the first goal through Kevin Conlon, who finished superbly after a clever assist from Cox.

Leitrim were five ahead when Colm Clarke split the posts with a fine effort shortly before the break, but Laois then pounced on a defensive error to grab a goal, Conor Boyle being left with the task to finish to the net.

But Leitrim ended the half on a high, and a second Cox point left three in it.

The second half started slowly, with no score from either side for 10 minutes, but then two Laois points in a minute from Brendan Quigley and Billy Sheehan put the minimum between the teams.

Conlon edged Leitrim two ahead again shortly after, but a Ross Munnelly effort for Laois was followed by a fine equaliser from John OLoughlin, and then Munnelly sailed another one over to put Laois ahead going into the last 15 minutes.

Laois remained ahead for the rest of the game, and although Leitrim never let the lead go beyond two, they had run out of steam after a gallant effort, and Justin McNultys side were comfortable as they saw out the win and set up a clash in Round 4 against the losers of the Leinster final, either Dublin or Meath.

 

 

 

21-Jul-12 by Colette Fox – PRO

Leitrim team to play Laois

The Leitrim joint management team of Barney Breen and George Dugdale have named an unchanged starting 15 for the All-Ireland Football Qualifer Round 3 clash with Laois on Saturday evening at 7pm in Páirc Seán.

LIATROIM

1 Cathal McCrann (Gortletteragh)
2 Alan Wynne (Allen Gaels)
3 Fabian McMorrow (Melvin Gaels)
4 Paddy Maguire (Capt) (Glencar Manorhamilton)
5 Colm Clarke (Drumkeerin)
6 Enda Williams (Clonguish)
7 Daniel Beck (Mohill)
8 Darren Sweeney (Glencar Manorhamilton)
9 Shane Moran (Ballinamore Seán O’Heslin’s)
10 Paul Brennan (Melvin Gaels)
11 Emlyn Mulligan (Melvin Gaels)
12 Paddy McGowan (St Patrick’s Dromahair)
13 Ray Cox (Annaduff)
14 James Glancy (Glencar Manorhamilton)
15 Kevin Conlon (St. Patrick’s Dromahair)

 

 

20-Jul-12 by Collette Fox – PRO

GAAIE PLAYERS OF THE WEEKEND 14th – 15th July 2012

GAA.IE PLAYERS OF THE WEEKEND 14th. – 15th. July 2012 

Well done James and Alan

Much deserved congratulations to James Glancy (Glencar Manorhamilton) and Alan Wynne (Allen Gaels) following their inclusion by the gaa.ie editorial team in the football team of the week following their magnificent displays for their county against Wicklow last weekend. This is the fifth time Leitrim players have been so honoured this year with Emlyn Mulligan (Melvin Gaels) receiving a nomination (twice) for his displays against London earlier this year and Mayo and Darren Sweeney (Glencar Manorhamilton) for his performance in the match against London. Indeed the editorial team at gaa.ie could have nominated the entire Leitrim team and management following their heroic team performance against Wicklow but sure with your support, well leave that until after the match against Laois next Saturday evening! 

James Glancy was further honoured when he was selected as Player of the Weekend. When you consider the calibre of the other teams that were in action last weekend, it is a magnificent accolade to have received for this great servant of Leitrim GAA. Here is a link to the relevant article.

 

 

18-Jul-12 by Leitrim GAA

The Twelve Apostles

The Twelve Apostles
 
We can prepare for the clash with Laois, just as we did for Wicklow, out of the eyes of the nation. Already the GAA focus is on the Tyrone-Kerry game down in Killarney and to a lesser extent on Kildares next step. We are out of the reckoning already. Lovely.
 
Last week we got a few column inches about never having won a Qualifier, but few expected us to be in the drum on Monday morning, Wicklow were marked down to do the business and keep the back door shut in our faces. How could Leitrim recover from the visit to Castlebar?
 
Recover the Leitrim players did – and with a confidence and panache that nobody realised was in our psyche. Castlebar was well and truly buried, but by now so is last Saturday, the day supporters strolled proudly out of Pairc Sean, no rushing for the car to get away, muttering “the same old story again”. We hung around, basking in the resurrection. Leitrim souls around the world were on Twitter and Facebook, proud to be spreading the good news even further. Before the team left the dressing room the whole universe was saluting the men in the green and gold. It was more than just beating Wicklow, Leitrim had made a statement.
 
Brian Breen and George Dugdale had dug deep to get their squad ready for the Qualifier, long before we even knew the opposition. The players had to be ready for anyone. The draw came and the lads responded, we are now in the last sixteen. I wonder how many had gone to Paddy Power on that one early in the year? Paddy had predicted we wouldnt get out of Ruislip.
Nobody knows better than the team and all associated with it, that this weekend is a new challenge. Its a challenge for Laois too, remember. There are no championship statistics from previous meetings to go by. Laois would not have fancied a trip to Aughrim, nor will they be too cocky coming up the N4 into Carrick.
 
If ever the Leitrim supporters were needed to rally to the cause, that time is this weekend.
Remember the roar that greeted the final whistle last Saturday? We need to take the note from that and have the “Ley-trum, Ley-trum” war cry going from 7pm sharp, to let Laois know that they are in a game, of the type they never expected.
 
Could we be one of the Twelve Apostles, in the top dozen in the Land?
 
As Barack told us all, “Is feidir linn”.
 

 

 

17-Jul-12 by Tommy Moran

Leitrim create History

A fantastic occasion for our wonderful team and supporters this evening as we won our first qualifier match against Wicklow in Páirc Seán.  Final score Leitrim 0-13, Wicklow 0-10.

The lads in the green and gold were magic and you know what – the GAA Slogan “NOTHING BEATS BEING THERE” was never as true as it was this evening in Páirc Seán.  

Our Poster for the big match asked “Which Song will Larry Sing” – well well be singing LOVELY LEITRIM in all parishes in Leitrim tonight ……………..

 

LAST nÓgHT I HAD A PLEASANT DREAM – I WOKE UP WITH A SMILE ……………..

 

Well done lads – nothing, absolutely nothing, beats being there with ye!

 

 

16-Jul-12 by Colette Fox – PRO

We are at home AGAIN

The draw for Rounds 3 and 4 of the GAA Football All-Ireland Qualifiers was made live on RTÉs Morning Ireland programme this morning.

The pick of the Round 3 games is the meeting of Kerry and Tyrone, who contested an All-Ireland final as recently as 2008.

Kildare, big winners over Cavan on Sunday, have been paired with Limerick, while Leitrim will be looking for just their second-ever Qualifier win when they face Laois.

The draw was made in the presence of Ard Stiúrthóir Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Páraic Duffy and former Dublin midfielder Ciaran Whelan.

GAA Football All-Ireland Qualifiers Round 3

Saturday 21st July:

Kildare v Limerick (Portlaoise at 7pm)

Tipperary v Antrim (Semple Stadium, Thurles at 3pm)

Kerry v Tyrone (Killarney at 5pm)

Leitrim v Laois (Páirc Seán at 7pm)

 

GAA Football All-Ireland Qualifiers Round 4 Draw:

Kildare/Limerick v Sligo

Tipperary/Antrim v Donegal/Down

Kerry/Tyrone v Clare

Leitrim/Laois v Dublin/Meath

*Games to be played on the weekend of July 28-29


Sunday, 29th July
GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Quarter-Finals

Cork v Waterford, Semple Stadium, Thurles, 2pm
Kilkenny v Limerick, Semple Stadium, Thurles, 4pm

 

 

 

16-Jul-12 by Colette Fox – PRO

Last night I had a pleasant dream

 Last night I had a pleasant dream ……

 

Which song will Larry sing? screamed James Molloy’s promotional posters for the Qualifier game with Wicklow. Would it be “Lovely Leitrim” or “Among theWicklow Hills”? PRO Collette Fox was busy last week making sure the posters hit every corner of the county, it would be important to pull the supporters out again to roar on the green and gold.

As I was perusing the GAA Qualifier programmes I could see in the clearest pie-chart format that Leitrim was the only county yet to win a Qualifier game in the All Ireland Football Championship. A big red pie all to ourselves. Kerry had a clean plate, never having lost on their journey through the back door en route to the Quarter Finals. The other counties had a mixum-gathering. Disappointed at Leitrim’s lot, I just nodded off into a deep, deep sleep.

But at least I had a pleasant dream. The sun shone on the manicured Páirc Seán pitch and there was an air of expectancy around the place. Carrick had been booked out solid for the weekend — not a bed to be got –only this time, not just by the hens and the stags. The GAA fans had travelled in big numbers from the Garden County and were going to make a few days of it, before tuning into the Round III draw on Monday morning. Hadn’t all the papers and the pundits made them hot favourites. It would be the same old story for Leitrim.

In my dreams I could see a new passion in the Bush Hotel jerseys as every player raised his game; Ray Cox grabbed the ball, swung around Colm O’Rourke style and bisected the posts; James Glancy and Emlyn Mulligan were picking off points; Cathal McCrann was making wonder saves; Enda Williams was making pin-point passes; the backs harried and the forwards hunted, while the midfielders flicked the kick-outs away from their much taller opponents; Leitrim were ahead at half time; the “Lee-trum, Lee-trum” chants reminded everyone of the early nineties; George and Barney consulted, waved directions and made timely substitutions; the stand and the terraces were going mad; John Lynch, Seamus Gallagher, PJ Leddy, Kevin Blessing and all the others were going hoarse with excitement; East Coast radio was telling its listeners that Wicklow wasn’t giving up, there could be a goal in them yet; the Leitrim medical and backroom team were on their feet; James Molloy and Willie Donnellan could hardly hold their cameras steady; Joe Flynn and Diarmuid Sweeney and the whole officer board were getting claps on the back; former team Manager and great friend to the players, Mickey Moran was delighted he had travelled from Derry; John Connolly and Philip Rooney were working out a headline for the Observer; Brian Blake was zooming in on the scoreboard; every watch in Páirc Seán was checked and double checked; Castlebar was forgotten; the players were still giving of every ounce of energy; it finished with a Leitrim win.

What a dream, what a dream. As Larry Cunningham sang so often, I woke up with a smile.

Then someone told me my dream had come true. We HAD won. Larry would be singing “Lovely Leitrim” after all. Well done lads, every single one of you.

Up Leitrim!

Collette and James, get the next poster ready.

 

 

15-Jul-12 by Tommy Moran

Alarms clocks set!

The draws for the quarter-final of the GAA Hurling Championship and for rounds three and four of the football qualifiers will be made on Morning Ireland tomorrow morning (Monday 16th July).

 

The Hurling draw will be made at 7.30am and the football draws at 8.30am. Both will be available on RTÉ Radio 1 on all platforms and the draws will also be streamed live via www.rte.ie

 

Hurling Quarter-final draw

This will see one of the beaten provincial finalists (Leinster – Kilkenny and Waterford – Munster) being drawn to play against a Phase III Winner (Limerick or Cork).

The draw is subject to the avoidance of Repeat Pairings, but none of the teams listed have previously met in the championship.

 

Football Qualifier Draws – Round 3 and Round 4

The Round 3 draw will see the eight winners from this weekend’s Round 2 games drawn to play against each other in the four Round 3 ties, which are due to take place on Saturday, July 21st.

The first team drawn in each tie are entitled to home advantage. The teams involved will be

Leitrim

Antrim

Tyrone

Laois

Tipperary

Kildare

Limerick

Kerry

The Round 4 draw will pair the winners of each of the 3rd Round games against one of the beaten Provincial Finalists (Clare, Sligo, Down/Donegal, Dublin/Meath). The Round 4 games are scheduled to take place on the weekend of July 28.

Repeat pairings can happen in the football draw.

 

 

 

15-Jul-12 by Colette Fox – PRO

Leitrim v Wicklow

All Ireland Football Qualifier
Round 2
Leitrim v Wicklow
Venue: Páirc Seán
Date: Saturday 14th July at 6pm
 
 
Ticket prices for the Leitrim v Wicklow game are as follows: 
 
Stand: €15
Terrace:€10
Students/OAPs: €10
Juveniles (U16s): Free
 
Tickets available on the day.  Arrive early to avoid the rush.

 

 

13-Jul-12 by Colette Fox – PRO

Connacht GAA Football Championship Finals 2012

Connacht GAA Football Championship Finals 2012

Sunday 15th July
Venue: Dr Hyde Park, Roscommon

Connacht GAA finalised the match details and the ticket prices for the Connacht GAA Football Championship Finals 2012. The Finals in Dr Hyde Park have the home county, Roscommon meeting Mayo in the Minor Final at 12noon while Mayo and Sligo duel it out for the Nestor Cup in the Senior Final. The Galway All-Ireland hurling winning teams of 1987 & 1988 will be the special guests of honour on the day. Connacht GAA also announced a price reduction of €5 on stand tickets with special packages for groups and family tickets. For full details see below. 

Minor:
Roscommon vs. Mayo
Referee: S. O hEithir(G)
Throw In: 12noon

Senior:
Mayo vs. Sligo
Referee: C. Reilly, (Meath)
Throw In: 2pm

Ticket Prices:
 Stand €30 (Reserved).
 Sideline Seating €25
 Terrace €20
 Juveniles (U-16) €5
 Students & OAPs Full price must be paid.
 Family Tickets available for Sideline & Stand: Adult full price & child €5
 Group Tickets €30 for a group of 10 juveniles & 1 adult. (available through the Connacht GAA Council Office).

 Refunds of €10 will be paid to OAPs & Students, (with current ID cards), for Stand, Sideline seating and Terrace at Designated Stile only, (Turnstile #6 and #18).
 Groups: Entry at Turnstile #8. All children must be accompanied by Group Leader(s)
 GAA Season Ticket Holders- entry through Turnstile #10

Tickets can be sourced from; 
Connacht GAA Office
Address: Clare Street, Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo
Opening hours: Mon-Friday- 10am-5pm and Saturday 11am-2pm
Ph: (094) 9630335
Email: reception.connacht@gaa.ie
www.connachtgaa.ie

Roscommon County Board
address: 5-6 Castle View, Roscommon 
email: administrator.roscommon GAA.ie
phone: (090) 6627176
Opening Hours: Monday-Friday 9.30-5pm
www.gaaroscommon.ie

Galway County Board
address: Pearse Stadium, Salthill, Galway.
email: administrator.galway@gaa.ie
phone: 091)862500
Opening Hours: Mon-Friday 9.30am-5pm
www.galwaygaa.ie

Mayo County Board
Address: McHale Park, Castlebar, Co. Mayo.
Opening Hours: Monday-Friday 9.30-5pm
Email secretary.mayo@gaa.ie
Office number: 094-9250487
www.mayogaa.com

Sligo County Board
address: Sligo GAA Office, Aughamore Near, Carraroe, Sligo
Sligo GAA Ticket office & Shop, OConnell Street, Sligo (Old Meteor Store) 12-6pm
email: administrator.sligo@gaa.ie
phone: 087-0524574
Opening Hours: Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
www.sligogaa.ie

Leitrim County Board 
address: Pairc Sean MacDiarmada, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim.
email: secretary.leitrim@gaa.ie
phone: (071) 9620441
www.leitrimgaa.ie

Tickets also available from clubs in the competing counties.

Tickets can also be sourced from www.tickets.ie

Tickets will also be on sale at selected Supervalu & Centra outlets in the competing counties, 
Roscommon: 
Smiths SuperValu Monksland, Athlone, Co Roscommon
Flemings SuperValu, Main Street, Roscommon, Co Roscommon
Duffys SuperValu, Ballaghadereen, Co Roscommon
Cahills SuperValu, Castlerea, Co Roscommon
Galway:
Grealishs SuperValu, Moycullen, Co Galway
Clarkes SuperValu, Barna, Co Galway
McInerneys SuperValu, Loughrea, Co Galway
OTooles SuperValu, Tuam, Co Galway
OMearas SuperValu, Portumna, Co Galway
Nestors SuperValu, Oranmore, Co Galway
McCanns SuperValu, Moycullen, Co Galway
Leitrim
Donohoes SuperValu, Ballinamore, Co Leitrim 
Mayo: 
KavanÓgh SuperValu, Castlebar, Co Mayo
Moloneys SuperValu, Bunree, Ballina, Co Mayo
Cummins SuperValu, Ballinrobe, Co Mayo
Sweeneys SuperValu, Achill Island, Co Mayo
OConnors SuperValu, Westport, Co Mayo
Sligo
Surlis SuperValu, Tubbercurry, Co Sligo
Cosgroves Centra, Maugheraboy, Co Sligo
Whitesides Centra, Collooney, Co Sligo

For more information see www.connachtgaa.ie

 

 

03-Jul-12 by Colette Fox – PRO

Date for your Diary

The throw in for the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier Round 2 Leitrim v Wicklow is set for Saturday, July 14 at 6pm in Páirc Seán.

 

 

03-Jul-12 by Colette Fox – PRO