The League has been something we've been after for a couple of years says Leitrim's Niamh Tighe

They say nothing breeds success like success and it certainly seems to be a mantra Niamh Tighe espouses as Leitrim’s All-Ireland IFC winning team set their sights on finally escaping from Division 4 of the Lidl LGFA National League.

After appearing in two finals over the past five years and losing a semi-final last year, Leitrim are determined to scratch the itch that has nagged them in recent years and escape from the basement division of League football and that is very much the focus right now for Leitrim Vice-Captain Niamh Tighe.

“We're just looking at the league for now, and just focusing on that and we'll take it game by game, and hopefully build on each game, and just focus on the performance, that's all we can do,” Niamh told the Observer in a cold Cloone last Friday as the Leitrim squad looks to their season opener.

“The league has been something we've been after for a couple of years now, and we've been close, so this year definitely, just for now, our focus is on the league, and that will hopefully, if that goes well, set us up for a Championship. But for now, we're just looking at the League.”

Intriguingly, Sunday’s clash in Kiltubrid (2pm throw-in) with Fermanagh is  a clash of All-Ireland champions as Leitrim, 2024 Intermediate winners, host their neighbours who won the Junior title last year and were just one of two sides to defeat Jonny Garrity’s troops over the past 12 months. Safe to say, Leitrim are well aware of what they are facing!

BATTLE OF THE CHAMPIONS IN LIDL LGFA NFL DIVISION 4 OPENER

“We know each other well, they're All-Ireland Junior champions and I think it's probably a good thing that they are our first game. It's going to be a tough battle, we know each other well down to the years, it's never been much between the two teams. I think it's a good one to have as the opener and just see where we're really at - it'll be a good, a good tough game, I think.”

Leaving the memories and celebrations of 2024 behind won’t be easy but Niamh and her teammates are focused on the here and now, although the Kiltubrid player believes Leitrim will benefit from what they achieved last year: “Last year, as amazing as it was, it's gone now, we're in 2025, and we have to just look ahead, and try and build on what we did achieve last year.

“It was an unbelievable high and there's still a buzz in the camp, even with the new girls that have come in. There's a good energy about it, everybody's  excited to get back on the field and play together again. Lots of new faces and yeah, just looking forward to the league and trying to get the performances in.”

In fact, Niamh stresses there hasn’t been an emotional come-down from last August’s high and facing back into training was not difficult: “In other years maybe, when things haven't went as well, it is hard to go back training, whereas I think this year, there was just an excitement around it, around getting back to play together again. 

“Obviously we had our celebrations, we went off, played club and then I think people were excited to get back together again and get putting in the work. Last year especially with the small panel, there was such a bond and I think that's carried through to this year. There is a good bond, good morale, a good atmosphere within the camp - a really good environment, so that's all positive.”

There have been some departures from the panel with Croke Park starters Elise & Kasey Bruen, Aine Redican and Orla Flynn all gone from the panel and Niamh doesn’t try to sugar coat the loss of the quartet: “Definitely hard ones to replace, they were all such runners, such athletes on the team

“But the girls that have come in, the calibre of girls that have come in, is fantastic. Numbers wise alone, there'll definitely be huge competition for places, which is good. I think in general everyone is just excited to get the league started, and get games under our belt, and yeah, see how it goes.”