So how will the boys do against or Ross neighbours on the the 31st. Will it be a case of another spirited perfomance or is there enough armour in the squad to come away with a win and shot at Mayo in Castlebar. I imagine there will be a few surprises in the team selection on the day. Any word on challenges or a probable team selection?

Nelson (Leitrim) - Posts: 142 - 14/05/2009 14:09:28    283172

So how will the boys do against or Ross neighbours on the the 31st. Will it be a case of another spirited perfomance or is there enough armour in the squad to come away with a win and shot at Mayo in Castlebar. I imagine there will be a few surprises in the team selection on the day. Any word on challenges or a probable team selection?

Our recent mantle of glorious losers may be okay when we face Connacht's big two, but against the Ros it's victory or bust. I think we'll beat them. Losing Mulligan is a big blow but we'll survive. It's a derby game, there won't be much in it come the final whistle, but we're at home, there'll be a great crowd behind the team and I firmly believe we'll book a semi-final in Castlebar.

Liatroim abu

Tiger (Leitrim) - Posts: 204 - 14/05/2009 14:58:59    283241

Without Mulligan we are doomed. Yet another moral victory ie. a 1 or 2 point defeat and we'll all go homesaying it wasn't too bad, it could have been worse.

Someone is probably going to give out to me 4 saying this but it is my honest opinion. I've seen it so many times.
Every year we think it could be the one but it never is. A relatively easy draw in the qualifiers is the best we can hope for.

The dream of a 3rd ever Connacht title that we start every year with is exactly that ''a dream''

I am not a pesimist, I am a realist.

Dr.Shephard (Leitrim) - Posts: 2187 - 14/05/2009 15:09:15    283262

dr shepard is saying what we hate to say or think ourselves but what usually happens anyway.

what can be done to finally change this?

gaelsboy (Leitrim) - Posts: 640 - 14/05/2009 15:43:17    283316

You are a bloody pessimist. Like the stretching of the evenings, you can always be sure of some Leitrim negativity come Championship time.

The moral victories over the last few years came against Galway and Mayo, who are well ahead of the rest. A one or two point defeat to them can be considered acceptable, but that isn't the case against that shower from across the Shannon. They might like to think differently due to their Division Three status, but Roscommon are at the level as ourselves and Sligo.

Mulligan is a loss but we've a squad more than capable of winning on May 31, and that's exactly what we'll do.

Tiger (Leitrim) - Posts: 204 - 14/05/2009 15:45:55    283322

There is no doubt Mulligan is a massive blow and we could fall short with scores up front in his absence, so hopefully whoever gets the nod in the forwards can put the ball over the bar. Will it be M Foley or R Cox to be the scoring forawrd? I have watched most of the games this year and was thinking to myself if R Cox misses the amount of chances he misses in league matches in the Championship we would be in serious bother, but on the other hand if he can start to convert the amount of chances he creates we could be on to a winner. So heres to thinking positive, (over the black spot Ray!).

Nelson (Leitrim) - Posts: 142 - 14/05/2009 15:58:47    283345

Think it will be a very close game on the 31st may.dont think moran has played the proper first 15 yet in any game.has shane foley played a full game yet in the league?i hope mulligans replacement is hope to standard because we seem to kick the easiest frees come championship time wide.maxwell has one place,on the square.he has to not come out past the 20 yard mark,hes too slow for out past there.mid field is the area where the game will be won/lost.the rossies will have 2 big giraffes there but canning & mccloskey are more than a match for them.looking forward to the game big time & a nice few frothy ones after in carrick town.roll on the 31st.Have a good feeling we will win!

Tosher29 (Leitrim) - Posts: 8 - 14/05/2009 16:11:56    283374

dr shepard there's no excuse for pessimism when we play the likes of roscommon. we have a good chance of winning. im putting a few bob on us to win and it should pay for the few drinks after the game. i hope Ray Cox plays well cas we'll need him badly in the forwards. nothing much will be created without him. maybe if he got the ball and laid it off to maxwell to score then we'd have a great chance. If players like Canning, Mckeon, Maxwell & Mcguinness have a good day then there's no reason to say we cant win. you can be sure the leitrim players will be 100% confident of winning.

melvinman (Leitrim) - Posts: 171 - 14/05/2009 17:17:09    283535

i fell we can take them this year and send them back over the shannon quiet. leitrim will lift there game as they know how our neighbours robbed us in our own back yard before. there is a few players starting to hit form now i hear


any ideas on the starting 15

Hit_The_Bar (Leitrim) - Posts: 40 - 14/05/2009 17:50:45    283584

Look I hope that I can post here on June 1st and admit that I was so so wrong but to be honest I can't see it. For years I've being going to game full 9of hope excitement and expectation but year after year its the same old story but hopefully Melvinman you are right cos a good day on the 31st will make up for so many bad ones, however I will be going to the match with absolutely no confidence because the more confident I get the bigger the let down.

Dr.Shephard (Leitrim) - Posts: 2187 - 14/05/2009 21:23:24    283769

Doc, you have me reaching for my tablets again. You're a Leitrim man for God's sake, be proud of it. Get up off your knees, tilt your cap to a jaunty angle and go out and face the world. 'Tis only Roscommon, who barely avoided the drop themselves. You'd think it was Tyrone or Kerry we were playing.
I posted on a thread "Why Leitrim" a while ago, you should read it - we're every bit as good as these lot. A massive buoyant, expectant crowd behind us and I for one know the lads will give every last drop for the green and gold. They are Leitrim men, proud to wear the jersey for all that it means and no doubt some of them read these pages too. Indeed some of them may post here. ( could it be melvinman?)
A final word, if you feel any doubt in your heart that morning don't travel, as pessimism is like the swine flu - contagious.

Boxtyeater (Leitrim) - Posts: 744 - 14/05/2009 22:20:20    283850

It will be a good derby game and nobody will give an inch. I think purely on the fact I think our forwards are better that Roscommon will win. Mulligan is a huge loss and I do not think leitrim have a replacement for him. If we can cut the supply of ball into maxwell and if Senan Kilbride plays as well as he has in the league i fully expect a win. As for nearly getting relegated they were v unlucky to lose to down n da final game and the cavan game was a blip. Do not read too much into it Roscommon are building a head of steam towards may 31st. Cannot wait may the best team win.

Rosfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 778 - 15/05/2009 00:05:30    284005

NO chance.

davidbradley (Offaly) - Posts: 34 - 15/05/2009 09:54:31    284118

Quality post there Bradley, keep it coming.

Let's see how smart you are on Monday week after Kildare turn you over.

Tiger (Leitrim) - Posts: 204 - 15/05/2009 11:28:19    284229

Tiger
County: Leitrim
Posts: 126

284229 Quality post there Bradley, keep it coming.

Let's see how smart you are on Monday week after Kildare turn you over.

A tiger cannot roar until the postman delivers as I always say.

davidbradley (Offaly) - Posts: 34 - 15/05/2009 11:56:45    284272

Sorry Boxtyeater but I'm telling it as I see it. And no matter ahat doubts I have I will most certainly travel on the day. I have not missed a championship match since 1992 (other than the 1st trip to New York and a game in London years ago) and this is the 1st year that I haven't allowed myself to believe that a connacht title is possible.
I had thought that we might beat Ros, however without Emlyn and the reports of poor team spirit I just cannot see it.
I will not however make these feelings known to anyone in my company on the day especially as a large crowd of my fellow clubmen congregate together in the same part of the ground. I will roaqr and shout til I am hoarse but as is the norm I feel it will be all in vain.

Dr.Shephard (Leitrim) - Posts: 2187 - 15/05/2009 11:58:42    284278

The good Dr Shephard has prescribed ye all a dose of reality. Come towards the light good doctor!!!!!!

davidbradley (Offaly) - Posts: 34 - 15/05/2009 12:15:50    284304

A tiger cannot roar until the postman delivers as I always say.

Perhaps you should heed your own advice. You seem more than keen to predict our upcoming match.

Tiger (Leitrim) - Posts: 204 - 15/05/2009 13:11:16    284372

leitrim have a great chance on the 21st.. i heard from a member of the team tat it will line up with, gill, prior, pat gilmatin/O flynn, mc guiness, mc weeney, mc keon, dermot reynolds, canning, mc closkey, maxwell, mick foley, philly, ray cox, mossey, james glancy! is that leitrims strongest team?

Armadillo (Leitrim) - Posts: 47 - 15/05/2009 13:43:37    284405

One will be a tight contest between two competitive counties with a genuine chance of appearing in a provincial final. Your game is a pushover for the Rossies, they'd learn more from a practise match at home

davidbradley (Offaly) - Posts: 34 - 15/05/2009 14:00:32    284427