Replying To Leitrim1234: "Huge improvement in the performance last weekend against Galway compared to what we seen against Roscommon even if the Roscommon team was stronger.
We dropped off considerably when Poacher started to make substitutions in the final quarter - We are still missing a huge amount of players so this is to be expected.
Killian Gaffey is a huge improvement in goals. We struggled on breaking ball in the middle third however. I'm not sure if this is a structural thing with how we are set up or if it's a personnel issue.
Tom Prior was arguably the best player on the pitch once again. If he could just work on his weak foot it would really propel him to the next level, Ryan O'Rourke was excellent for the half he played Jack Kelly even at such a young age and for the size of him has played himself into the team for the first league game.
Our defence is still a huge concern.
Was Conor Reynolds injured or did Poacher whip him off because of the poor turnover he gave that led to a Galway score?
Are Paul Keaney and Colm McLoughlin injured or why have they seen no game time? Same goes for Darren Cox who seems to have osteitis pubis like half our players over the last few years.
Our defence is a real issue. Unless Radek Oberwan comes back onto the panel now that Sligo IT are out (Which it doesn't seem like he will) Mark Diffley will have to play at 6. I'd play Cillian McGloin as a wing-back beside him. I'm really not sure if you can risk playing Donal Feely and James Rooney in the same line of the field - both struggle for speed at inter-county level but Poacher seems to value Rooney.
We need Conor Quinns Height and physicality but I'm not sure he has the required temperament for Inter-county level as he's likely to get 50m against him for mouthing or trying to row with the opposition
How bad are Honeyman and McNultys injuries? Will they be back for the league? Same for David Feeney
I'm going to guess what team Poacher will pick for the first league game if everyone is fit. It's not necessarily what I would choose.
Killian Gaffey
Conor Reynolds Kieran Clancy Eanna McNamara
Cillian McGloin Mark Diffley James Rooney/Sean Harkin
Barry McNulty Conor Quinn
Tom Prior Riordan O'Rourke David Feeney/Paul Keaney
Jack Kelly Ryan O'Rourke Paul Honeyman
What do people think?"
Definitely don't think you're far off with your predictions here. But I'm sorry David Feeney is not county level. I would probably be playing Sean Harkin at wing forward moving McNamara to wing back and slotting in Arek to corner back
Replying To Loughallenbanks: "The league begins on the 21st of March and there will be 10 games in total with games being played every second week. There's a format of two round where rounds 1-7 will be played as normal and then the final 3 games will be worth 3 points for a win with the finals looking to finish up around the 25th of July. That's for the division 1&2 teams I'm not sure if it's the same format for div3 teams, I presume it will be."
I think scrapping the Spring League and moving to a 10-team league is a good decision overall. Fewer games, but more meaningful and competitive ones.
What I don't understand is why the last three games need to be worth three points. Is this genuinely about competitiveness, or is it really to suit the bigger clubs once their county players return? It feels like early results are being devalued for no real reason.
We've also reduced the club calendar. In 2024 there were 6 Spring League games plus 7 league round-robin games. Under the new system there are fewer games overall, which should logically mean an earlier championship. That seems like basic common sense.
Unfortunately, common sense often seems to be in short supply when it comes to decisions from the Leitrim County Board.
Finally, I'd be quite embarrassed as a St Mary's player or supporter at their failed proposal to seed next year's championship. It stinks of sore-loser behaviour and suggests a lack of faith from the club in their own players to win a championship in the current format.
In any case, if it had passed, wouldn't they have been seeded last anyway after finishing in the relegation places last year?
Replying To Leitrimknowall: "Definitely don't think you're far off with your predictions here. But I'm sorry David Feeney is not county level. I would probably be playing Sean Harkin at wing forward moving McNamara to wing back and slotting in Arek to corner back"
Yeah, understand your point but we probably need a bit of extra muscle/Athlete in there. Poacher from all the talk seems to rate Feeney highly. Breaking into the DCU set up is impressive aswell.
Hopefully Paul Keaney is fit as he gives you an extra kickout target and is deadly from 2 point range but if he doesn't feature this weekend against London he surely won't be seen at the start of the league.
Don't think McNamara is as good at wing back as he is at corner back. Arek unfortunately isn't strong enough or comfortable on the ball. He is a talent however. Just needs a year in a inter-county set-up to develop. Oisin MCLoughlin could be a good option there - he has played both at wing back and wing forward. Is brilliant on the ball and can kick long range scores.
Is Beezer McKiernan still involved or is he injured? Judging on his club form he'd be well able to slot in the half forward line.
Replying To Loughallenbanks: "The league begins on the 21st of March and there will be 10 games in total with games being played every second week. There's a format of two round where rounds 1-7 will be played as normal and then the final 3 games will be worth 3 points for a win with the finals looking to finish up around the 25th of July. That's for the division 1&2 teams I'm not sure if it's the same format for div3 teams, I presume it will be."
rounds 1 - 7 are without county players, and who you play in the last 3 games depends on where you are placed after rounds 1-7. i think its like team 1 plays team 3 and team 5 and team 7. and so team 2 plays teams 4,6 and 8. i stand to be corrected though. these final 3 games have county players available.
Replying To Leitrim1234: "Yeah, understand your point but we probably need a bit of extra muscle/Athlete in there. Poacher from all the talk seems to rate Feeney highly. Breaking into the DCU set up is impressive aswell.
Hopefully Paul Keaney is fit as he gives you an extra kickout target and is deadly from 2 point range but if he doesn't feature this weekend against London he surely won't be seen at the start of the league.
Don't think McNamara is as good at wing back as he is at corner back. Arek unfortunately isn't strong enough or comfortable on the ball. He is a talent however. Just needs a year in a inter-county set-up to develop. Oisin MCLoughlin could be a good option there - he has played both at wing back and wing forward. Is brilliant on the ball and can kick long range scores.
Is Beezer McKiernan still involved or is he injured? Judging on his club form he'd be well able to slot in the half forward line."
From seeing games last year in intermediate I didn't rate Feeney that highly. He never really stood out as a county player and you should be especially when you're playing intermediate. From what I hear he is a bit of a stats man, he's strong and athletic which suits the stats vest perfectly when it shows km travelled etc but in terms of ball skills I don't think he's at inter county level, I hope that I'm proven wrong on this. Paul keaney would be a phenomenal addition there probably has lost his form a small bit since his brilliant run in sigerson two years ago but nonetheless a phenomenal player. I hear that Beezer is injured, a brilliant player at club level this year excluding the final but he definitely has the potential to develop into a brilliant county player.
Replying To southleitrim_mafia: "I think scrapping the Spring League and moving to a 10-team league is a good decision overall. Fewer games, but more meaningful and competitive ones.
What I don't understand is why the last three games need to be worth three points. Is this genuinely about competitiveness, or is it really to suit the bigger clubs once their county players return? It feels like early results are being devalued for no real reason.
We've also reduced the club calendar. In 2024 there were 6 Spring League games plus 7 league round-robin games. Under the new system there are fewer games overall, which should logically mean an earlier championship. That seems like basic common sense.
Unfortunately, common sense often seems to be in short supply when it comes to decisions from the Leitrim County Board.
Finally, I'd be quite embarrassed as a St Mary's player or supporter at their failed proposal to seed next year's championship. It stinks of sore-loser behaviour and suggests a lack of faith from the club in their own players to win a championship in the current format.
In any case, if it had passed, wouldn't they have been seeded last anyway after finishing in the relegation places last year?"
If I'm not wrong Longford has a similar format where once the county players come back games are worth more points for a win. A bit of an interesting one considering the likes of Aughawillan and Allen Gaels have little county players compared to the like of Fenagh and ballinamore. Then again St.Marys have an abundance of county players and we all seen how that faired out this year, maybe it could make things interesting. Fingers crossed