Challenge for Leitrim now is to pick up the pieces after League Final defeat

What a difference a game makes! One week ago, Leitrim were surfing the crest of a wave as they contemplated an appearance in Croke Park, now they are looking with a bit of trepidation towards next Sunday's Connacht SFC clash with Sligo in Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada (3.30 throw-in).

The fickle nature of sport, let alone fans, underlines how quickly a narrative can switch with Laois' 3-14 to 0-9 destruction of Leitrim in the Allianz NFL Division 4 Final last Saturday sucking all the air out of the room. And now Sligo come visiting, renewing a bitterly contested and close rivalry of the past three to four years.

Whatever about the mental scars inflicted in GAA headquarters, the physical toll may be starting to tell with Andy Moran admitting in the press room after the Division 4 Final that Leitrim would be under pressure in terms of playing resources against Sligo after Conor Reynolds & Donal Casey limped out of the fray.

“There will of course but there are bodies hurt there. You saw Donal coming off there, he is a big one we will have to assess. Conor is another big one - we’re running out of bodies in this League, this is where I can give out about it now, I couldn’t give out about it last week,” said the Leitrim boss as he was asked how his players will pick themselves up.

“The way the league is running into the championship, we’re going to really struggle now -  we’ve two guys that potentially could play U20 on Wednesday evening (Barry McNulty & Jack Foley) so those two guys could potentially be gone as well. We’ll see where we are, see how many bodies are left and we’ll go out and fight next week.”

CASEY RULED OUT AS TEAMS NAMED FOR LEITRIM V SLIGO CLASH

McNulty and Foley, although named in the subs for Sunday’s clash, will play no part in the game while Casey has also been ruled out. Into the team comes Adam Reynolds and Paul Keaney of St Mary’s Kiltoghert while Evan Sweeney of Glencar Manorhamilton also starts. 

Mark Plunkett moves to centre-back but there could be switches there with either Jack Gilheaney and Donal Wrynn, giving Moran some options but the toll of games must definitely be affecting Leitrim right now.

It is a conundrum that is getting a lot of play in recent weeks with Leitrim now out for their fourth week in a row and all in games with something huge at stake - Laois on March 16, Tipperary on March 24, Laois again last Saturday and now Sligo next Sunday meaning that rest & recuperation have been in short supply.

You can be sure Sligo are taking nothing for granted as over the past two years, Leitrim have pushed them to the pin of their collars. Tony McEntee's men have held a definite edge in those games, although the gap is closing but with a week's rest behind them after consolidating their position in Division 3 for 2025, Sligo will come to Pairc Sean confident, if wary, of taking on the Leitrim challenge.

Sean Carrabine remains their driving force in the middle of the field while Niall Murphy gives them an attacking focal point in much the same way Evan O'Carroll led the line for Laois. One wonders if Sligo will adopt Laois' intensity to disrupt the attacking patterns of Leitrim's forward division.

Laois cut off the supply going into Darragh Rooney and Ryan O'Rourke pretty effectively and when the ball did go in, the pressure on the Leitrim player was immense - this is not a uniquely Leitrim problem, no team prospers when under such relentless pressure.

The sense is that Sligo have been keeping an eye on Leitrim's progress all year - the familiarity of Keelan Cawley and Noel McGuire with what awaits suggests that they are taking the threat of Leitrim very seriously, even if they don't appear to be too perturbed about playing in Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada.

In fact, the vibe from the Sligo men is that they relish the trip to Carrick and it might bring more Sligo supporters out to the game. Leitrim's record in Pairc Sean has been impressive and their best performances this year have been on a slightly heavier pitch, allowing them to hunt down and hassle their opponents.

SLIGO ON ALERT FOR LEITRIM AMBUSH SAYS CAWLEY

The big question is if there is a kick in this Leitrim team after the disappointment of last Saturday. They put an awful lot into trying to win a National title and Laois turned their dreams to dust. In normal circumstances, this would be 50-50 in my book but after a hard run of games, the odds have shifted in Sligo's favour.

Does Leitrim’s historic win over Mayo on Wednesday lift the Senior team for Sunday? It can’t but help but the loss of McNulty and Foley is a huge blow, both ever-presents in this year’s League campaign and that is a big blow, regardless of the mental boost the U20s victory has brought.

If Leitrim rediscover their form and aren't too badly hit by withdrawals, you can never write them off with the spirit they have shown this year. As it is, Sligo stand as favourites but perhaps there is one more kick left in the Green & Gold?