A free shot for Leitrim's mens and ladies teams this weekend

They may not be in exactly the same position but Leitrim's Mens and Ladies Gaelic football teams have something of a free shot next weekend when they face into championship action against two  highly rated opponents.

Andy Moran's mens team take on a Kildare team many are tipping as overwhelming favourites for the Tailteann Cup in Glennon Brothers Pearse Park next Saturday (6 pm throw-in) -  both teams are already qualified for the knockout stages and only top spot in the group down for decision.

Jonny Garrity's Ladies face what is probably a more imposing test as a Division 1 bound Tyrone come to Ballinamore's Pairc Sheain Ui Eslin  on Sunday (2pm throw-in) for the opening round of the TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate championship.

Strikingly, both Leitrim teams are in very similar position, albeit the Men's side are already qualified for the knockout stages - neither have anything to lose against a team many will expect to win, maybe not easily, but win nonetheless and in that realisation, there is enormous freedom.

We recognise that Leitrim teams love to be underdogs but this is truly a free shot where both teams can go out without a care in the world  - Andy Moran's team are assured of home advantage in a preliminary quarter final at worst while Jonny Garrity's side know that a result against Wicklow will be more than enough to see them into the quarter finals at the end of the month.

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Comparing results so far would suggest that Kildare are a good bit ahead of Leitrim - they demolished Longford and Waterford by 20 and 25 points respectively, teams Leitrim had one and five point winning margins against and the shellacking Kildare have got from fans and media since relegation from Division 2 and  failing to make the Sam Maguire series means they are incredibly motivated.

Kildare's problem is not talent but rather delivering on that talent - watching their Leinster semi-final loss to an impressive Louth, Glenn Ryan's team looked the more athletic and with better resources but they couldn't cope with the Wee County's massed defence and kicked some horrible wides.

That's not a new trait, nor is their penchant for fielding impossibly tall and mobile footballers all over the field. If Kildare can break the game open, they could do serious damage but the feeling is that Andy Moran will not be inclined to do that. 

In many ways, Kildare are built a lot like Laois with a physically powerful team that can move well but if you can make them struggle and drag them into a dogfight, they haven't demonstrated an ability to come out the right side of close contests.

The big question for Andy Moran is does he go full-bore at Kildare or hold something back for a preliminary quarter final a week later? Leitrim potentially face four weekends in a row  in June so recovery and injuries is going to be a vital factor at this stage and the Leitrim manager has shown he isn't afraid to take shrewd if unpopular decisions.

It is a tough balancing act where the risk - reward factor seems off the charts. Got for it and win and you have an extra week's rest for a home quarter-final, got for it and lose and you might carry injuries into the preliminary quarter-final.

As much as Kildare have struggled this year, formbook says go with the Lilywhites as they are being driven by an elemental rage right now. Saturday is  an opportunity for Leitrim to test themselves against a team they will face in Division 3 in 2025 so there is something to be said for going for it! 

It is slightly different for the Ladies team on Sunday - unlike the men who are finishing their group, they are starting their campaign and know that they have a fall-back of what could still be a tricky trip to Wicklow but for manager Jonny Garrity, there is an added incentive as he comes up against his native county.

The Leitrim boss will know better than anyone the scale of the task facing Leitrim as Tyrone lost out in the Division 2 League final to last year's All-Ireland  champions Kildare.

Incredibly, after beating Monaghan 3-12 to 2-8 in the League and drawing with Kildare in the group stages, the Red Hand county lost the League decider to the Lilywhites 2-9 to 0-12 and goals again were their undoing as a Monaghan team, who finished ten points behind them in the League, shocked them 2-10 to 0-12 in the Ulster Semi-Final.

It means that Leitrim got something of a booby prize for winning Connacht with the Ulster side having genuine ambitions to lift the Mary Quinn Cup this year.

Yet for a team that thrives on goals, as they did in the Connacht Final against Roscommon, Tyrone's inability to get past both Kildare and Monaghan while conceding goals will give the Green & Gold a great deal of confidence.

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Ailbhe Clancy, Muireann Devaney & Michelle Guckian give Leitrim the sort of attacking punch that even Division 1 teams lack and that before mentioning Leah Fox who has been carrying an injury, the Glencar Manorhamilton woman coming on as a sub against Roscommon.

Leitrim are unlikely to stray too far from the template that delivered success against Roscommon - a tight disciplined defensive unit with as many as 13 players back at times, flooding the lines and making it hard for the opposition to create scoring opportunities. Then hit on the break where Leitrim's forwards have an eye for a goal!

A word of caution - 19 points was an awful lot to concede against Roscommon in the Connacht Final even with a great defensive effort. Putting in a strong performance, regardless of the outcome, would set up Leitrim nicely for the rest of the campaign as this group believes they have the ability to do something at national level this year.

It means both mens and ladies teams have nothing to lose - there are other things to consider in terms of the run of games both teams face but truly, next weekend is a free shot for these Leitrim teams and that is something all too rare, a chance to play with abandon and ambition.