Second goal killed Leitrim's momentum says Donal Wrynn

A 14 point defeat is hard to take, particularly in the Allianz NFL Division 4 Final in Croke Park, but Donal Wrynn pointed to the seismic impact of Laois’ second goal, a goal that robbed Leitrim of their building momentum.

Looking at the scoreline now would suggest a hammering for Leitrim but at the time, Andy Moran’s side had reeled off three unanswered points to cut the Laois lead back to just two points and momentum was definitely with Leitrim. But in a blink of an eye, it all changed!

It is a sentiment that Leitrim’s joint captain agrees with: “That was my thought at the time, momentum was starting to swing in our direction but just, those are the breaks, they got that goal and it was just too much of a mountain to climb at that stage and it just killed the momentum we were starting to build.

“If the kickout had come and we had got our mark, we were up the pitch and another score would have meant momentum stayed with us but those are the breaks. I think overall, Laois were the better team. They certainly had their homework done on us and made it very difficult for our forwards today. They made it quite difficult for us to break them down, we were starting to make inroads but that goal came at a bad time.”

The Fenagh St Caillins clubman was keen to stress that Laois were full value for their win but maintained that the scoreline didn’t do Leitrim justice: “When you’re that far down that late in the game, you’re trying to chase it down and obviously more gaps open up and that’s why the gap between us was so large. 

REPORT: LAOIS PROVE TOO STRONG FOR LEITRIM WITH SECOND HALF BLITZ

“Look, I think if we were to play Laois again, we’d still go in with the same approach that we had down in Portlaoise and that we came in with today, we’d still fancy ourselves. They were full value for their win, they were the better team on the day and overall, they were well ahead of us on the day but those breaks, that was the key moment in the game.

“It just killed our momentum at a key time when we were starting to build and get ourselves into the game.”

The disappointment of defeat was exacerbated by the feeling they had let Leitrim’s enormous support down on the day: “Today is a bit disappointing for us, especially when all the supporters had come up and made themselves heard. When you get out there and hear the roar of the Leitrim supporters, when we kick a score, we’re blessed with incredible supporters. With them up there today, you’d have loved to have come back with some silverware but unfortunately, it wasn’t to be for us.”

For Donal, who missed out on the League Final in 2019, this was his first experience playing in Croke Park and it is one he relishes: “I think it is my tenth season playing with Leitrim, we’ve had plenty of ups and downs along the way. New York last year obviously stands out as one of the tougher days, winning last Sunday to get promotion was special and makes it all worthwhile.

“It is just great to get to run out in front of your own supporters in Croke Park but it is a difficult pitch to play on, it is hard on the legs. It is not a heavy pitch but it is a big pitch, a lot of ground to cover and a big occasion for guys and a lot of energy put into today so recovery is obviously going to be very important for us.”

Analysing the game, Donal felt that Leitrim hadn’t really performed in the first half but again stressed the quality of Leitrim’s opposition in Division 4 this year: “Probably weren’t that happy with our first half but were starting to grow into the game. We’re leaving here today disappointed but if you had said to me at the start of the league that we’d be promoted, I’d have said yeah, 100%, that’s brilliant.

“It was a particularly challenging division 4 because Wexford are a very strong team, Longford are a very good team in Division 4 and for us to come out of that division is a huge achievement so you do have to recognise that it is a great achievement to get back up to Division 3.”

LEITRIM FANS INVADE CROKE PARK FOR DIVISION 4 FINAL - GALLERY

Next up is Sligo next Sunday and recovery is going to be key: “You just go again, that’s it largely. We just chill out tonight, figure it out from there - we have a plan in place for the week, we’ll stick to that. Obviously recovery is going to be important.”

Despite the defeat, Saturday was a special day for Leitrim and Donal is determined that Green & Gold will be back in Croke Park as quickly as possible: “It was special but disappointing with the way it ended. We still can potentially get back here in the Tailteann Cup. There is a long season yet to play, we still have the Tailteann Cup and Connacht Championship so we could be back here before the Summer is out. 

“That would be great and I think the experience from here today will stand to a lot of the group. A lot of people were playing here for the first time, it is different. Obviously the whole crowd element, the pitch itself is very different to what we've been playing on and I think this will stand to us and our aim is to get back here as soon as we can.”