Opportunity knocks for Leitrim in Tailteann Cup

The thing about opportunity is that you’ve got to recognise that it is there. But, have no fear, Andy Moran and his players undoubtedly recognise the opportunity that lies in front of Leitrim in this year's Tailteann Cup next Saturday  in Pairc Sheain Ui Eslin.

Waterford visit Leitrim for the first ever  Senior Championship encounter between the counties next Saturday (6 pm throw-in), a Waterford team the Green & Gold devoured in the opening round of this year's Allianz League Division 4, winning 2-17 to 1-5  in Dungarvan's Fraher Field.

A repeat of that scoreline would almost certainly guarantee Leitrim qualification for the knockout stages of the Tailteann Cup, even if Leitrim were to lose subsequently to Longford and Kildare because a big win would give them a huge advantage in the battle for the best three third placed teams in the groups.

Now, I'm not putting it out there that Leitrim are likely to lose to Longford or Kildare - far from it,  the game in Glennon Brothers Pearse Park is a toss-up and the notion of payback for the League defeat  in March will be a motivating factor.

With all dark clouds hanging over Kildare football at the moment, it is hard to know what we might get out of the Lilywhites but the fact remains that a big win over Waterford will, at the very worst, guarantee Andy Moran's side an away trip in a preliminary quarter-final.

BALLINAMORE TO HOST TAILTEANN CUP CLASH WITH WATERFORD

The best three third placed teams plus New York will be away from home in the preliminary quarter final so a big win over Waterford would see Leitrim would one foot in the knockout stages thanks to scoring difference.

That's quite a prize and if you look at the League clash between the counties, you'd have said it was a formality as Leitrim were just far fitter and better organised than Waterford, admittedly a Waterford team whose manager Paul Shankey was only appointed to the post in the last week of November.

In fairness, Shankey has brought some organisation to the Deise footballers - their results improved as the League went on, a loss to London in Ruislip a big blip but they pushed Longford to three points and drew with Tipperary, a result that gained some significance when they defeated the Premier County in the first round of the Munster championship.

 The way they did it was also illuminating - playing with the gale force breeze on the sunny south east coast, Waterford only scored one point in the first half but against the wind, their ball carrying and ability to charge forward saw them hit two late goals to snatch a famous 2-7 to 1-5 for their first provincial win since 2010.

The fairytale ended pretty quickly when Clare handed them a 2-20 to 1-9 hammering in the semi-final but the Banner county's showing against Kerry last Sunday probably illustrates the quality of team Shankey's side were facing.

 All known form would indicate Leitrim have little to fear next Saturday but that's where superstition comes in because Leitrim teams don't have a great track record when it comes to starting games as favourites but maybe an ease in their schedule over the last few weeks will aid their cause.

There is no doubt that the Sligo defeat was damaging but the Yeatsmen's display against newly crowned Connacht champions Galway in the semi-final may also alleviate some of the misgivings from that game.

Equally, we won't have a conflicted roster to choose from with Barry McNulty and Jack Foley sure to start while a few more from the U20 squad may been drafted in to beef up the subs' bench and you'd also hope that Donal Casey would be back to full fitness and Mark Plunkett has recovered from illness.

Barry McNulty pictured at the launch of the Tailteann Cup in Croke Park Picture Sportsfile

The addition of those four players transforms Moran's choices and there will be the added factor of wanting to make an impact. Last year's Tailteann Cup campaign was a real let-down, even if Andy Moran believes it allowed him to experiment and uncover some gems but they will want to get a few wins on the board.

The one caveat I'd have is that historically, Leitrim find Waterford tricky customers to deal with - if they are motivated, they have big physical footballers but they are behind Moran's men when it comes to organisation and game plan.

Everything points to a home win next Saturday but it may take a bit of time to subdue the Deise. We've faced them a few times at Junior level so you know there are good footballers there but if Leitrim are focused and in the form they've shown against Laois in the League, we should start off this year's Tailteann Cup campaign with a win on Saturday!

WATERFORD’S ABILITY TO CAUSE AN UPSET REFLECTED IN FAMOUS WINS

Maybe it is excessive caution or just hedging your bets but the sight of Waterford taking to the field in Pairc Sheain Ui Eslin next Saturday is sure to invoke memories of their last trip to the Ballinamore venue in 2010 when the Deise footballers stunned Leitrim with a 0-13 to 0-10 victory in the opening round of the Allianz League.

Leitrim’s record against the Munster men is overwhelming in the Green & Gold’s favour but Waterford have a habit of putting a spoke in Leitrim’s wheel at the most inopportune moments, the 2010 victory in Ballinamore followed by a more damaging one in 2014 when a stunning upset in Dungarvan derailed Leitrim’s promotion bid.

It isn’t that Leitrim didn’t have warning in 2010 as Waterford registered a 3-7 to 1-10 victory in Fraher Field in Dungarvan on March 23, 2009 where a late fisted goal from Dermot Reynolds wasn't enough to prevent the defeat that ended Leitrim’s promotion hopes that year.

2010 carried a lot of hopes for Leitrim but it was Waterford who would go on to top the Division 4 table that year and win promotion, their 0-13 to 0-10 win on February 7, setting them on the road to promotion.

Waterford led 0-6 to 0-5 at halftime with the loss of Philip Howard a major blow as the Bornacoola man hit three first half points. But the Mickey Moran & John Morrison led Green & Gold reeled off five unanswered points while Gareth Phelan made a wonder save from a Waterford penalty.

Incredibly, Waterford hit seven points without reply in the final 12 minutes to turn the four point deficit into a three point win.

Poignantly, the Leitrim team also featured Philly McGuinness who would sadly pass away two months later in a club game. 

The Leitrim team in action that day was: Gareth Phelan, Barry Prior, John McKeon, Dermot Reynolds, Danny Beck, Gary Reynolds James Glancy (St Mary's), Clifford Richardson, Darren Sweeney, Philly McGuinness, Michael Foley, Colin Regan, Philip Howard, James Glancy (Glencar Manor), David O'Connor. Subs: Tomas Beirne for Sweeney, Declan Gilhooly for Howard, Emlyn Mulligan for Regan, Adrian Croal for Foley

The 2014 defeat in Dungarvan lives long in the memory of calamitous Leitrim defeats as it denied the Sean Hagan managed Green & Gold a shot at promotion on a 1-13 to 0-11 scoreline. In what was their first win of the campaign, Waterford led 1-6 to 0-6 at halftime after Shane Aherne’s first half goal. Emlyn Mulligan hit three points to put Leitrim two up approaching the break but Aherne’s goal proved crucial. 

MORAN CHUFFED WITH LEITRIM'S PROGRESS DESPITE CONNACHT U20 SHIELD LOSS

With Leitrim’s shooting deserving them in the second half with 11 wides, Waterford held on for a victory that left Leitrim two points adrift of Tipperary and Clare at the top of the table. 

Interestingly, Donal Wrynn is the only Leitrim survivor from that game ten years ago.

The Leitrim team in action that day was: Enda Lyons, Barry Prior, Donal Wrynn, Paddy Maguire, Paul Brennan, Gary Reynolds, Wayne McKeon, Darren Sweeney, Damian Moran, Kevin Conlan, Danny Beck, Robbie Lowe, Emlyn Mulligan, James Glancy, Ray Cox. Subs: Sean McWeeney for Brennan (HT), Aaron Hickey for Beck (43), Brian McDonald for Cox (45), Shane Foley for Sweeney (47), Shane Moran for D Moran (58), Ciaran Egan for Conlan (67)