No talk in Glencar Manorhamilton camp of Sweeney Oil Leitrim SFC six in a row says new boss Gaffney

Glencar Manorhamilton may be chasing the all-time record of seven Sweeney Oil Leitrim LGFA Senior Championships in a row but when new boss David Gaffney joined their camp this year, there was no talk of dynasties, just the burning desire to win the 2025 Senior title.

Speaking to the Observer, David recounted how his team are focused solely on this year, only: “The amazing thing from my point of view is that no one has ever mentioned five or six in a row since we started training back in February. I was told the team had won five in a row, but that has never been brought up even at a training session since. 

“The team is just preparing as if it was their first championship final, which makes it a lot easier - there's no putting pressure on themselves. They have knuckled down straight away to training and they're really buying into whatever new idea you tell them.“

As a new manager on the Leitrim scene, David has been impressed by what he has found: “I was actually surprised that even though you might be well ahead of a team on the scoreboard, there's not actually a lot between the six teams. On any given day, any team can beat you. It's very, very competitive and to be honest, I was a bit taken aback by it.”

David is really looking forward to the Final: “Oh God, I am looking forward to it surely. I joined Manor this year but my co-managers Terry and Fidelma have been with the team the last number of years and really have a great knowledge of the players. Preparations are going well for us at the moment anyway, so we're looking forward to it.”

ST JOSEPH'S HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE IN THE SWEENEY OIL LGFA SFC FINAL SAYS DOYLE

St Joseph’s pose a serious threat to Manor’s ambitions: “There was only a kick of a ball in it last year. The girls and Terry would have seen down through the years how tough it is and I’ve seen first hand myself from the few times we’ve played them what St Joseph’s bring to it.

"We beat them in the group stage but prior to that, we had lost three times to them, they are a very experienced team, they can play different brands of football and will bring an awful lot to the final. We're expecting a huge challenge.”

David has been impressed by what he has seen in his own team: “They really are a team in the sense that they really work hard for each other, their work rate is excellent. Even though there's some great players, every one of them is a team player, which makes it a lot easier. 

“They look out for each other. They demand from each other. If they're missing training, they're putting in the runs, they really are a unit.”

David is full of praise for the impact of County stars Muireann Devaney & Leah Fox: “They're really, really dedicated to each other and to the team, there is no airs and graces. Any team would want Muireann but, what I've seen with Muireann and Leah, they really are team players. There's no such thing as 'I'm the Maradona of the team' or anything like that. 

“They come to training, they just get on with it. They encourage players, they're actually brilliant to work with. They are real team players. There's no such thing as, look at me or anything like that - they're across the board team players, full stop.”

As for a verdict, David keeps it simple: “You'd be confident going into it, surely, but at the end of the day it's going to be a ferocious battle. The team that wants it the most is going to come out on top on the day. If the girls give 100% and, I have no doubt they will, we'll be there or thereabouts.”