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Leitrim GAA thread

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Replying To LM94:  "The Gaa has to do something about AFL taking our talent for nothing. Like kobe and barry are two of the best wonderkids to ever come from mayo and leitrim and wont be able to see the very best of them. I know barry has been around a few seasons but he would be a huge loss for us who rarely get a superstar like him."
do what exactly

meathbasedfan (Leitrim) - Posts: 217 - 20/08/2026 15:51:36    2690644

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Replying To LM94:  "The Gaa has to do something about AFL taking our talent for nothing. Like kobe and barry are two of the best wonderkids to ever come from mayo and leitrim and wont be able to see the very best of them. I know barry has been around a few seasons but he would be a huge loss for us who rarely get a superstar like him."
Agree the Aussies can't continue to poach our best players. Leitrim can't afford to lose a player of Barry's talent but he's young & deserves his chance at the big time. He will be young enough to play for Leitrim in his return.wish him well whatever he decides.

leitrimabu1 (Leitrim) - Posts: 195 - 20/08/2026 15:53:50    2690646

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Replying To LM94:  "The Gaa has to do something about AFL taking our talent for nothing. Like kobe and barry are two of the best wonderkids to ever come from mayo and leitrim and wont be able to see the very best of them. I know barry has been around a few seasons but he would be a huge loss for us who rarely get a superstar like him."
These lads are amateurs as you well know. They are free to go where they want, they're contracted to no one. Even if they were professionals, they'd be free to go where they want on the completion of a contract. There's little the GAA can do without agreement from the AFL. If the AFL have any interest in good sporting relations they will do that however I will hold my breath on that one. For the likes of Kobe, I certainly hope he gets an education while out in Oz as he won't be on big money as a rookie, and there's no guarantees that he will make it either despite all the bigging up he's getting as an All Ireland winner. Barry, if he gets a contact offer, will have his degree and it will be his choice. He'll be a massive loss however you have to wonder what the long term benefit to him will be being that bit older. He will inveriably have to postpone starting a career and start at the bottom of the AFL tree. None of this will ever replace playing football with the lads you grew up with either. People forget Ciaran Kilkenny signed a rookie contract and lasted only a few months citing missing his family & friends and wanting to win trophies at home. It's sad that all the talk now is about the AFL after a renewed championship and with the ongoing club championship.

Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 2340 - 20/08/2026 16:22:25    2690660

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