News – » Leitrim GAA

Leitrim’s Young Handball Stars Shine with Multiple Silver Medals

Collooney Handball Alley in Sligo was standing room only on Saturday and Sunday last as it hosted the 2026 Connacht Cumann na mBunscol 4-Wall Handball Finals. Ten young primary school players from across Leitrim delivered strong performances, representing their schools and county, and brought home four silver medals in the process.

Day one saw all doubles categories decided, with Doireann McKiernan and Eimear Ní Thiarnáin from St Brigid’s NS, Drumcong, capturing silver for Leitrim in the U13 girls’ competition. The pair produced an excellent performance throughout the afternoon, overcoming Roscommon in a tricky semi-final before facing a strong Mayo duo in the final. Also representing Leitrim with distinction in the doubles categories were Liam Cox, Conor Creegan, Dáire Ó Mahoney, and Alex Beirne from Annaduff NS. These doubles combinations showed great skill and determination in their U11 and U13 boys’ matches. Although they just missed out on medals this year, the experience gained at provincial level will stand to them in future competitions.

Success for the Leitrim girls continued on day two when Ciara Conlon and Abbie Kane from Naomh Caillin Fenagh NS brought home silver medals in the U13 and U11 girls’ singles categories. Senan Prior Kelleher from Drumcong NS and Ronan Siebert from Gaelscoil Chluainín also represented Leitrim with great credit in the boys’ singles competitions, giving strong performances in the U11 and U13 categories. They challenged slightly bigger and older opponents, producing some fine rallies and showcasing impressive individual skill throughout.

A huge congratulations to all the girls and boys who represented Leitrim at the Connacht Finals this year. Their skill, determination, and team spirit made their schools, clubs, and families very proud. Special thanks also go to Collooney Handball Club for hosting and organizing two brilliant days of handball, creating lasting memories for all the young players involved.

Separately, on Saturday afternoon, Drumshanbo Alley hosted the Connacht Juvenile Championship U17 Boys Doubles final. This deferred match featured Manorhamilton’s Tadhg Kirwan and Cormac Scarff representing Leitrim, who faced the formidable Roscommon pairing of Michael Greene and John Reilly. Tadhg and Cormac performed impressively against the Lisacul duo, who had reached the All-Ireland B final last year. However, the Roscommon pair’s greater experience meant that Leitrim had to settle for the silver medals on this occasion.

Congratulations to Tadhg and Cormac, and a big thank you to everyone who helped organize the event in Drumshanbo.

This weekend shows that Leitrim Handball continues to make great progress and has a bright future ahead.

Photo: Abbie Kane & Ciara Conlon from Scoil Naomh Caillin – Fenagh who both won silver medals at the Connacht Cumann na mBunscol finals in Collooney last weekend.

Photo: Manorhamilton and Leitrim’s Cormac Scarff and Tadhg Kirwan who were runner-up in the Connacht Juvenile championships – Boys U17 doubles final played in Drumshanbo last weekend.

Photo: Eimear Ní Thiarnain and Doireann McKiernan enjoying themselves at the Connacht Cumann na mBunscol finals in Collooney last weekend. The duo who represented St Brigids NS Drumcong and Leitrim won silver in the girls U13 Doubles final.

David Mahon

Liathróid Láimhe Liatroma

https://www.facebook.com/LeitrimHandball

25th February 2026

Leitrim U20 Panel Announced

County Football

📣 Leitrim U20 Football Panel 2026📣

Leitrim U20 Football manager Enda Lyons and his management team have announced their panel for the upcoming season.

We wish the players, Enda and the management team the best of luck for the year ahead.

25th February 2026

Allianz Football League – Round 5

County Football

Round 5 will see our footballers travel to Tipperary

#Allianz NFL – Div 4 – Rd 5

🏐 | Tipperary 🆚 Leitrim

📅 | Sun, 1 – Mar at 2pm

📍| Clonmel Sportsfield

🎟️ | Advance ticket sales only https://am.ticketmaster.com/gaa/fbleitrimleague

Or selected SuperValu & Centra stores.

#AllianzLeagues | #riseagain | #GAABelong

24th February 2026

Allianz National Hurling League – Round 5

County Hurling

After a win away to Monaghan, our hurlers return to Heartland Credit Union Páirc Seán MacDiarmada for round 5.

#Allianz NHL – Div 4 – Rd 5

⚾ | Leitrim 🆚 Cavan

📅| Sat, 28 – Feb at 2pm

📍| Heartland Credit Union, Páirc Seán MacDiarmada

🎟️| Advance ticket sales only https://am.ticketmaster.com/gaa/leitrimahlfixtures Or selected SuperValu & Centra stores.

#AllianzLeagues | #riseagain | #GAABelong

23rd February 2026

Leitrim football team announced – round 4

County Football

📣 Leitrim Football Team Announced📣

The Leitrim Senior Football team has been named by manager Steven Poacher for round 4 of the Allianz National Football League. Best of luck to the team, Steven & his management team.

#Allianz NFL – Div 4 – Rd 4

🏐 | Leitrim 🆚Antrim

📅| Sun, 22 – Feb at 2pm

📍| Heartland Credit Union, Páirc Seán MacDiarmada

🎟️| Advance ticket sales only https://am.ticketmaster.com/gaa/fbleitrimleague

Or selected SuperValu & Centra stores.

#AllianzLeagues | #riseagain | #GAABelong

20th February 2026

Patsy Prior, Aughawillan, RIP

RIP

Course Chontae Liatroma CLG wish to express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the late Patsy Prior.

A very talented footballer, Patsy won eight Senior Club Championships, six with Ballinamore Seán O’Heslins and two with his native Aughawillan. He also captained Aughawillan of a JFC title in 1960 and was a member of the reformed Aughawillan team that won a JFC in 1974. He was a playing member of the 1976 and 1978 Aughawillan SFC winning teams. In the years that followed, he went on to win a further five county titles with Aughawillan as manager, including the famed 3 in a row teams of 1992-94.

In 1974 he was named Leitrim Club player of the year.

Patsy played on the Leitrim Senior team from 1957 to 1962. In 1958 he was the joint top scorer in the national League and in 1962, he won a Connacht Junior title.

In 2016, these many achievements were acknowledged when he was named as the recipient of the Jim Lynch Hall of Fame Award.

Leitrim GAA extends its heartfelt sympathies to Patsy’s sons, Peter and Patrick, his daughter Regina and the members of his extended family.

At dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis

https://rip.ie/death-notice/patsy-prior-leitrim-aughawillan-622206

20th February 2026

Leitrim Handball Smitten with Connacht Success on Valentine’s Weekend

County Hurling

It was a St Valentine’s weekend to remember for Leitrim Handball, with players capturing two Connacht titles at both adult and juvenile levels.

Leitrim’s Connacht triumph began on Saturday afternoon when Fenagh’s Ed Lee claimed the 2026 Connacht Ruby Masters Singles title. Ed overcame a familiar rival, Mayo’s Micheál Heraty, in a thrilling 21–9, 17–21, 11–7 victory. The match, played at St. Coman’s Handball Club in Roscommon, marked the first time Ed had managed to overturn Micheál in 40×20 grade, bringing the Connacht title back to Fenagh.

Attention then switched to Collooney on Sunday lunchtime, where the Connacht Juvenile A finals were decided. Leitrim’s focus was firmly on the Boys U15 Singles final, with Annaduff’s Maxim Gilmartin taking on Roscommon’s Eoin Grehan from across the Shannon in Kilglass. These two rivals, familiar from recent school competitions and tournaments, did not disappoint.

Maxim shot out of the blocks in the first game, taking an early lead from serve and never letting it slip, displaying brilliant focus and skill throughout. Any thought that the Annaduff man would run away with the match was quickly quashed in the second game, as Grehan surged to an early 6-point lead. Maxim responded with determination, pulling the game back to 6-all. Spectators were treated to scintillating rallies, with both players battling for every score.

Momentum seemed to swing in Maxim’s favour as he reached match point, but Grehan’s resilience and some brilliant fast kill shot scores brought the game to the edge. After several tense exchanges of serve, Maxim unleashed a silky shot to seal the game and clinch the Connacht U15 Singles title for Leitrim.

The U15 final marked the culmination of Leitrim’s involvement in this weekend’s Juvenile finals, with four county players competing. Well done, but hard luck, to Annaduff’s Adam Neary, who reached the u15 singles semi-final before bowing out on Saturday.

It wasn’t to be this year for Drumshanbo’s Mark McShera and Manorhamilton’s Sadhbh Smith, who competed in the U14 Connacht A Championships in Bofield on Saturday morning. While results didn’t go their way, both represented their clubs and county with great commitment.

The Manorhamilton doubles duo of Cormac Scarff and Tadgh Kirwin will have to wait another week to determine their fate, as their U17 doubles final has been deferred until next weekend.

Congratulations to all our players of every age for their dedication, skill, and efforts on the court. With Ed Lee securing the Masters title and Maxim Gilmartin claiming the U15 crown, Leitrim Handball enjoyed a memorable Valentine’s weekend of gold for both youth and experience.

Photo:Leitrim’s Maxim Gilmartin who won the Connacht Juvenile A U15 singles final on Sunday last.

Photo:Leitrim and Fenagh’s Ed Lee is pictured with Mayo’s Micheál Heraty whom he defeated in the Connacht Ruby Masters Singles final on Saturday last.

David Mahon

Liathróid Láimhe Liatroma

https://www.facebook.com/LeitrimHandball

19th February 2026