Leitrim captain Mark Diffley looks back on 2024

Mark Diffley looks back on 2024 with the names Cassidy, O'Donovan, Burns featuring in his piece for the Leitrim Observer Sports Review of the Year as he gives us his highs and lows of the sporting year!

HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR

On a personal note, my highlight of the year was gaining promotion to division three this year. I remember the celebrations on the pitch in Pairc Sean after the Tipperary game with supporters. I still remember some older supporters congratulating me and it was just a privilege to see what it meant to others outside the team especially my family. Other highlights were the Leitrim ladies winning the Intermediate All-Ireland and the U16 Leitrim team winning the Fr. Manning Cup. It was great to see football progressing in the county as a whole.

LOWLIGHT OF THE YEAR

My personal lowlight of the year was the performance in our division four final in Croke Park, it's something that I’ll always remember and drive me going forward. Also losing out to Ballinamore in the county semi-final this year was hard to take personally as I felt like our club team never reached the heights we set ourselves.

PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

In sport, Jarlath Burns has been a breath of fresh air to the GAA in my opinion. He seems to have been very proactive and ambitious. Whether you agree with the new rules or not, we can all agree something had to change with the game to make it more entertaining for spectators.

TEAM OF THE YEAR

I was delighted to see Shelbourne win the league of Ireland this year, it was a very entertaining season. Living in Dublin I started to go to a lot of their games and the ending to the league this year was a great watch. It’s also easier than supporting Man United at the minute.

HERO OF THE YEAR

Like everyone else I was engrossed with the Olympics this summer. Paul O’Donovan’s achievements this year was nothing short of amazing. Winning a third Olympic medal and second gold is one for the record books. I wouldn’t be a fan of rowing but it was one I had to watch during the summer.

PERSON THAT MADE YOU GO WOW IN 2024

Seeing Jonathon Cassidy win a Connacht championship with Coolera Strandhill was great to see. Casso was a bit of a stalwart when I first joined our senior club team and it was great to see him set that kind of example of what can be achieved.

ONE THING I’D DO TO MAKE SPORT BETTER IN 2025

If someone could magically improve the sporting facilities in the west of Ireland, or specifically across Leitrim it will only help to promote and develop future athletes. Funding to the region in general is important to help incentivise people to stay.

WHAT ARE THE BIG CHALLENGES FACING LEITRIM SPORT IN 2025?

I feel like the challenges Leitrim Sport faces in general are the usual – trying to keep people around currently is difficult. The amount of people abroad at the minute is a massive disadvantage for a small population. However it is great to see development happening of facilities such as the SRC which will provide a platform for a lot of sports to grow in Leitrim.

ONE TO WATCH IN 2025

Hopefully Manchester United!