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Leitrim GAA thread

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Replying To totalrecall:  "Congratulations to leitrim players and management on a well deserved win yesterday.

Barry McNulty showing again that he not only is he leitrims standout performer but would grace any team in Ireland."
Barry Mc Nulty would get on any team in the country. He'll keep us competitive in most games at our level but having a once in a generation talent shouldn't blind us to the issues, particularly the coaching of young players, facing us.

IronSleeve (Leitrim) - Posts: 84 - 13/04/2026 18:54:04    2666241

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It certainly looks like a Galway team into the final in Connacht and playing either of the next two in the final in the shape of Roscommon and Mayo. I can see Leitrim right in this up to the last fifteen minutes. Things can happen in football so it's a wonderful interesting time tbh. Mayo are very motivated to win Connacht this year and they'll probably have a few points to spare against a speedy Roscommon. Last four in Connacht have it all to look forward too in the upcoming weeks. Great times. Love to all.

moros (Roscommon) - Posts: 1338 - 13/04/2026 18:54:44    2666242

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Replying To Leitrim_12:  "Let's see after Galway. If they can back up this game with a decent performance against Galway, then I'll agree with you on Poacher. The biggest problem with this Leitrim team is consistency. We can all see there are good footballers there, but at times it's the very basics that let us down. Take the Longford game, one of the best games I seen Leitrim play in years, and the week after we were shocking against Carlow.

Unreal result today, first win on Irish soil in Connacht championship in like 15 years - I still expect Galway to win comfortably in 2 weeks, but it's up to Leitrim to make them work for it. Abit of consistency is really all you can ask and then head into the tailteann with our heads up

You have to laugh and shows the difference in Money between the counties - other counties go abroad on their training camps to the heat, our lads get a trip to Louth."
The Dundalk camp was a game changer for Leitrim. They came away with a renewed belief & confident they could beat Sligo. The sun didn't do much for Kerry & proves even the biggest of teams have a bad day. Look out Galway Leitrim are waiting for you.The Sligo success proves we have a talented team.

leitrimabu1 (Leitrim) - Posts: 181 - 13/04/2026 18:59:23    2666246

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A Galway Mayo final awaits for the purists but hopefully we can give the tribesmen a good run out to test against their old rivals

ohwow (Leitrim) - Posts: 96 - 13/04/2026 23:24:19    2666279

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I'm sure Graham will be getting a nice welcome I'm Carrick for this game. It will be a hostile atmosphere. Great to see.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 12033 - 13/04/2026 23:30:49    2666281

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The heartiest of comhartas to Leitrim on a terrific win at the weekend. I listened in to Ocean FM from Lanzarote and enjoyed every minute of it.
I'm hearing very positive things about yeer management team and the coaching work they do with the players. This is a well drilled young Leitrim team by all accounts. Good luck against Galway, and as the man on the radio said I hope you give Mickey Graham the welcome he deserves in Carrick-on-shannon.

PeterQ92 (Donegal) - Posts: 181 - 13/04/2026 23:30:50    2666282

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The lift that win gave on Sunday gave to the football people in Leitrim is unbelievable!! There is serious potential in that group, the move for McNulty's goal the turn over, two glorious kick passes and a finish David Clifford or Gooch would be proud off, these lads are class footballers the need to belive it. I know Poacher had a difficult start, but I will tell you they are so much better coached and organised now than they were previously.

3rdmidfielder (Australia) - Posts: 475 - 14/04/2026 12:09:31    2666339

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Replying To 3rdmidfielder:  "The lift that win gave on Sunday gave to the football people in Leitrim is unbelievable!! There is serious potential in that group, the move for McNulty's goal the turn over, two glorious kick passes and a finish David Clifford or Gooch would be proud off, these lads are class footballers the need to belive it. I know Poacher had a difficult start, but I will tell you they are so much better coached and organised now than they were previously."
Spot on post.They are well coached alright.

It is imortant to keep them together

joeman123 (Leitrim) - Posts: 646 - 14/04/2026 13:37:43    2666361

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One swallow does not make a summer. It was a mighty result but another five mins and I think Sligo might have won...we'll have to play to the highest level to maintain a respectable score against Galway.

ohwow (Leitrim) - Posts: 96 - 14/04/2026 14:06:47    2666368

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Replying To ohwow:  "A Galway Mayo final awaits for the purists but hopefully we can give the tribesmen a good run out to test against their old rivals"
Probably most likely Wowyser but we have to hope. A speedy Roscommon won't fear Mayo in Connacht semi final. Mayo seem very focussed on Connacht title. Leitrim with a surprise win the weekend but will look forward to taking on the Tribesmen. Leitrim have to prove that the Sligo game wasn't a one day hit. The big three in Connacht Mayo Ros and Galway are filling too many final Bertha on recent times. Be nice to see a change. Love to all.

moros (Roscommon) - Posts: 1338 - 14/04/2026 14:06:48    2666369

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Replying To PeterQ92:  "The heartiest of comhartas to Leitrim on a terrific win at the weekend. I listened in to Ocean FM from Lanzarote and enjoyed every minute of it.
I'm hearing very positive things about yeer management team and the coaching work they do with the players. This is a well drilled young Leitrim team by all accounts. Good luck against Galway, and as the man on the radio said I hope you give Mickey Graham the welcome he deserves in Carrick-on-shannon."
All Leitrim supporters should listen back to the end of the commentary on Ocean FM and what was said about Graham (link attached - https://www.oceanfm.ie/podcasts/ocean-fm-sport/connnacht-sfc-sligo-v-leitrim-the-commentary-12-04-2026-1184462)

Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 1963 - 14/04/2026 14:13:52    2666373

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Replying To 3rdmidfielder:  "The lift that win gave on Sunday gave to the football people in Leitrim is unbelievable!! There is serious potential in that group, the move for McNulty's goal the turn over, two glorious kick passes and a finish David Clifford or Gooch would be proud off, these lads are class footballers the need to belive it. I know Poacher had a difficult start, but I will tell you they are so much better coached and organised now than they were previously."
Absolutely, if Poacher had the team the last buck had from the start (i.e 2022) we might have stayed in Division 3 for a year or two and we'd be definitely stronger for it. It annoys me so much what happened during that period, we were played for fools. Ok, the conceded game was a low which should have been avoided but he has done well despite the cards he was dealt.

Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 1963 - 14/04/2026 15:04:56    2666395

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Replying To Square_B:  "All Leitrim supporters should listen back to the end of the commentary on Ocean FM and what was said about Graham (link attached - https://www.oceanfm.ie/podcasts/ocean-fm-sport/connnacht-sfc-sligo-v-leitrim-the-commentary-12-04-2026-1184462)"
Credit must be given to ocean fm for their coverage. You can go online and listen to Leitrim games in full as can Sligo if they're playing at the same time. Other outlets should take note of that

ohwow (Leitrim) - Posts: 96 - 14/04/2026 18:25:25    2666440

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Replying To Square_B:  "Absolutely, if Poacher had the team the last buck had from the start (i.e 2022) we might have stayed in Division 3 for a year or two and we'd be definitely stronger for it. It annoys me so much what happened during that period, we were played for fools. Ok, the conceded game was a low which should have been avoided but he has done well despite the cards he was dealt."
How were we played? Half the panel dropped off or retired, mgmt seen that most of their progress was down the swanny and another rebuild was needed, that and likely better money to be made elsewhere. 2/3 years is lifespan of a lot of inter county managers, we aren't Armagh or Dublin who have lots to work with and can retain mgmt tickets for 5-10 years.
Had a look at the team that played or came on in the division 4 final 2 years ago and 7/8 of them are still involved or will be back all going well, majority of the missing players are over 30 and we would be daft chasing them to come back now. 1/2 championship win a decade outside London or NY doesn't really inspire lads to give it another go when been there done that anyway, we have the TC but we all know that's lip service to smaller counties, the goal needs to be the AI series, if Sligo have made it there and not embarrassed themselves, so can we. instead let's work with the lads we have that are committed and focus on bringing the youth forward, I see we aren't pulling up trees right now in minor/u20 but that's where our focus should be and the seniors will reap benefits in 5/10 yrs time

gaelsboy (Leitrim) - Posts: 750 - 14/04/2026 22:52:36    2666465

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That was a monumental win last weekend. Just huge. Theres been a spark in every football conversation I've had with people in the county since the game. We don't get these days too often so we need to embrace it.

For a team missing a huge amount of players who we would all have on the team and panel to get a result like that away from home is just fantastic.

McNulty, Keegan, Prior and especially Ryan O'Rourke were immense on Sunday.

I've been a critic of Poacher as I don't think our results when you look at them as a whole over the two years have been good enough. Especially after some of the interviews he gave last year and his behaviour on the sideline in many games.
But it has to be said the two games he had a long time to plan for Mayo last year and Sligo this year he has got excellent performances from the group.
Poacher had Cillian McGloin tagging Cian Lally on Sunday and Ryan O'Rourke playing deep as a creator - both plans worked brilliantly.

The talk is that both Donal Casey and Darren Cox are back doing some running and may see game time in the Tailteann Cup.
So before a ball is kicked next year we will have at the very least Casey, Cox and Jack Foley back on the panel. That's 3 starting players. Adam Reynolds and Paul Keaney are also still in and around the panel doing their Rehab from their long-term injuries.
When you then realise that Poacher did not start any of our U20s (Which was a shock) you can argue that we are starting to build depth. I'd say theres quiet a few of this years U20s who will be mainstays in the senior team in the coming year.

The main benefit of Sundays win will hopefully be that it will convince the other players in the county that are talented enough to be on the squad to commit to the panel for 2027. We have a crop of players throughout our clubs to get out of Division Four and really challenge in the Tailteann Cup in the coming years.

Leitrim ABU!

third midfielder (Leitrim) - Posts: 361 - 15/04/2026 13:19:57    2666555

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Best of luck to our under twenty team tonight please. A very winnable game against one of the weaker teams so hopefully we can do it. I know Enda and the guys were targeting this game from early in the year. Thank you all so much for agreeing with me please.

bláthach (Leitrim) - Posts: 501 - 15/04/2026 14:21:08    2666575

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Replying To foreveryoung:  "Great double for both codes! Why is everyone so surprised that the footballers won? A low level Div 4 side defeating a low level Div 3 side is certainly not unheard of. Onwards and upwards, Leitrim!"
And let's not forget the Leitrim Ladies. Would any of the men's team make a Div. 4. Team of the League? I doubt it the way they finished up second last, with only poor Waterford below them. But 4 ladies made it.


Division 4 - Nicole Hanley (Carlow), Jasmine Maye (Leitrim), Claire Dunne (Sligo), Nicole Buckley (Offaly), Dearbháile Beirne (Leitrim), Niamh Forde (Carlow), Ruth Bermingham (Carlow), Róisín Bailey (Carlow), Caoimhe O'Neill (Carlow), Edel Hayden (Carlow), Clíodhna Ní Shé (Carlow), Leah Fox (Leitrim), Muireann Devaney (Leitrim), Sara Doyle (Carlow), Caoimhe Lynam (Offaly).

Breakdown - Carlow 8, Leitrim 4, Offaly 2, Sligo 1.

foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 2493 - 15/04/2026 17:16:35    2666607

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Replying To gaelsboy:  "How were we played? Half the panel dropped off or retired, mgmt seen that most of their progress was down the swanny and another rebuild was needed, that and likely better money to be made elsewhere. 2/3 years is lifespan of a lot of inter county managers, we aren't Armagh or Dublin who have lots to work with and can retain mgmt tickets for 5-10 years.
Had a look at the team that played or came on in the division 4 final 2 years ago and 7/8 of them are still involved or will be back all going well, majority of the missing players are over 30 and we would be daft chasing them to come back now. 1/2 championship win a decade outside London or NY doesn't really inspire lads to give it another go when been there done that anyway, we have the TC but we all know that's lip service to smaller counties, the goal needs to be the AI series, if Sligo have made it there and not embarrassed themselves, so can we. instead let's work with the lads we have that are committed and focus on bringing the youth forward, I see we aren't pulling up trees right now in minor/u20 but that's where our focus should be and the seniors will reap benefits in 5/10 yrs time"
The last buck was well discussed on this forum. The diffence in coaching & tactics is like night and day. The last lad hadn't a clue; Poacher certainly doesn't need another county manager to help him, he's able to figure it out himself. In one memorable game, the last lad thought lads could go toe to toe with a Division 1 team. And lets not talk about NY. But look, he got the job he wanted, which was always the agenda. He'll get eventually found out there.

Anyhow, we move on from that low period in Leitrim football and look to the future.

Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 1963 - 15/04/2026 19:44:35    2666642

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