Guckian laments decision to pull Leitrim Senior star Barry McNulty from U20 Semi-Final

Leitrim U20 manager Brendan Guckian described himself as massive disappointed with the decision to pull Senior team star Barry McNulty from the county’s U20 side just a matters of hours before the Green & Gold suffered a 2-9 to 0-6 defeat at the hands of Galway in Tuam Stadium on Tuesday evening.

With just a point between the teams with a little over 11 minutes left to go, Leitrim had defied the absence of McNulty, who has impressed for Andy Moran’s Seniors in the Allianz League this year, to stand on the threshold of a major shock by reaching their first provincial final at this grade since 2014.

With captain Michael McKiernan restricted due to illness and Mohill’s Conor Quinn & Kiltubrid’s Danny McWeeney ruled out through injury, the absence of the young Glencar Manorhamilton player was sorely felt, a fact acknowledged by Guckian: "You look at the players we were missing - we were missing Danny McWeeney, Conor Quinn, Michael McKiernan did exceptionally well to even go on the field today and then obviously Barry McNulty,” said Brendan who was reluctant to discuss the situation.

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Indeed, Guckian’s reluctance to comment in depth on the decision was quite obvious but when pressed, his disappointment with the decision to pull McNulty from the squad was plain to see: “We announced to the panel three and a half hours before throw-in that he was after being pulled by Senior management and couldn’t tog out this evening.

“It was a massive, massive blow to our group and out of respect to the Senior players, I’m not going to comment any further on it because I know that Saturday’s game is hugely important to Leitrim but all I would say is that I’m massively disappointed with the decision.”

For all his disappointment, Guckian was immensely proud of the effort Leitrim produced in a rain soaked Tuam: “I thought the performance of the lads was massive, just the spirit they showed, the pride they showed, the workrate for each other was as good as I’ve seen for a long time from a Leitrim bunch.

Brendan Guckian issues instructions from the sideline Picture: Willie Donnellan

“That’s the spirit that is in the group - we were a bit unfortunate that when we had to chase the game, we left ourselves a bit open and they got in for the second goal but up to that, we were there or thereabouts. You look at that Galway team, they won the John Kerins League, they beat Dublin and are hot contenders and for 50, 52 minutes of that game, Leitrim were every bit as good as them.

“We probably worked harder than them at stages - we just can’t seem to get that break but I would hope that the group keep pushing themselves on and try to get into the Senior squad and eventually that Leitrim would make that breakthrough.”

Leitrim did have a chance to draw level at one stage after Galway led 0-6 to 0-4 at the break but Jack Casey pulled a free wide. But his manager refused to look at any one particular incident: “You look at Jack, he is only a kid - he is underage again next year, he is a massive talent and sometimes you get them scores, sometimes you don’t but was it the decisive factor, no it certainly wasn’t.”

Galway struggled to cope with Leitrim’s defensive set-up when playing with the wind in the first half and Brendan again highlighted the hard work of the entire squad: “I would have to point out Mark Lenehan and Jamie McGrail who pretty much were double sweepers and I thought they did the role exceptionally well. 

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“There was a good understanding between them and the rest of the defence and midfield and again, it goes back to the workrate of the whole squad - our corner-forwards were working hard and it makes it easier then in the backs.”

As for the future, Brendan hopes that many of this squad go on to star for Leitrim at Senior level: “I’m very, very proud of the bunch but bitterly disappointed as well. I’d hope they go on to play for the Seniors, you have three already on the Senior panel. I would see maybe four breaking into it again next year because there is huge talent in that group and the good thing about them is that they believe in their own ability and that has to be a positive.”