ALL SET FOR CHAMPIONSHIP LIFTOFF

Championship liftoff really comes into effect this weekend for Leitrim fans with both the Mens and Ladies teams facing crucial contests that will have a large bearing on their hopes for the  rest of their Summer campaigns.

Andy Moran's team take on Waterford on Saturday in Ballinamore's Pairc Sheain Ui Eslin (6pm throw-in) knowing that a win over the Deise footballers will go a long way to seeing them progress to the knockout stages of the third edition of the Tailteann Cup.

It means that Leitrim open a competition for the second time this year against Waterford after they defeated Waterford  2-17 to 1-5 in Fraher Field Dungarvan in the first round of the Allianz League with the Munster men subsequently shocking Tipperary in their provincial quarter-final.

With 15 teams plus New York qualifying for the knockout stages, a big win for Leitrim would almost certainly guarantee them a place in the knockout stages and would alleviate the pressure ahead of the clashes against Longford and Kildare.

Jonny Garrity's Ladies squad face Roscommon in Kiltoom in the TG4 Connacht Intermediate Final (4 pm throw-in) with the additional prize of a better draw for the All-Ireland series which gets underway over the June Bank Holiday weekend.

A victory for Leitrim in Kiltoom would mean top seeding in Group 4 of the All-Ireland series and clashes against fellow Division 4 side Wicklow and Lidl LGFA Division 2 finalists Tyrone. A win for Roscommon would see Leitrim pitted against the winners of the Leinster championship, either Wexford or Westmeath and Antrim.

BALLINAMORE & LEITRIM GAA MOURN PASSING OF COLUMBA CRYAN

On a busy weekend for Leitrim Gaelic games, Ballinamore also sees Leitrim take on Galway in the final round of group games in the Electric Ireland Connacht MFC with Karl Foley's team already consigned to the B Final on Friday May 17.

Olcan Conway's Senior hurlers will be hoping to build on the feel good factor in the hurling community when they take on Warwickshire on Saturday at 3.30 pm in Shane McGettigan Park, following on a thrilling victory for the County U20 side against Fermanagh that booked their place in the All-Ireland U20 C Final against Monaghan on Saturday May 25.

A win for the hurlers and a draw between Fermanagh and Cavan might open the door for Leitrim but the odds are very much against them.

See this week’s Leitrim Observer for our interview with Jonny Garrity ahead of Sunday's Ladies Connacht Final clash with Roscommon and a look at Saturday's Tailteann Cup clash  against Waterford.