Poacher names new look Leitrim squad ahead of Allianz NFL starter against Laois

A radically different squad from the one that battled Laois will take on the O’Moore County in the opening round of the Allianz NFL Division 3 next Saturday after Leitrim manager Steven Poacher officially announced his squad for the coming campaign.

With nine of the team who started last March’s Division 4 Final against Laois in Croke Park no longer part of the panel, Poacher’s new look Leitrim squad features eight members of last year’s U20 squad, many of whom are still U20 this year.

The big news is the return of Mohill sharpshooters Keith Beirne and Jordan Reynolds to the squad while Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins’ underage star Paul Honeyman also joins the squad but those gains are off-set by the loss of sharpshooting duo Darragh Rooney and Ryan O’Rourke who were key figures in achieving promotion last year.

Also no longer involved from last year’s League Final team are Aughawillan duo Pearse Dolan and Mark Plunkett, Annaduff’s Conor Reynolds, Fenagh St Caillins’ Donal Wrynn and Jack Gilheany, Leitrim Gaels’ Aidan Flynn and keeper Nevin O’Donnell while League final panel members Evan Sweeney (Glencar Manorhamilton), Killian Gaffney & Paul Keaney (St Mary’s Kiltoghert), Jamie McGreal (Ballinaglera) and Radek Oberwan (Allen Gaels) are also no longer involved.

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Nevin O’Donnell’s departure to Cavan means there will be a new goalkeeper this year with St Mary’s Kiltoghert’s Sean Reynolds and Leitrim Gaels’ Brian Cull battling with new recruit Daire O’Shea of Louth club St Mochta’s.

Among the new faces are Drumkeerin’s David Feeney, Aughavas’ Eanna McNamara (who will line out with the Leitrim Schools’ team on Friday in the Mezzino Connacht PPS Senior A Semi-Final), Fenagh’s Conal McGovern, Eoin McLoughlin and Mark Keegan, Leitrim Gaels’ Brian Cull, Paddy Keane and Shane Finn.

Mohill, who have the largest representation on the squad with nine players, also see new faces in Ryan Bohan, Evan & Sean Harkin while there returns for David Mitchell, Keith Keegan, Jordan Reynolds and Keith Beirne. 

Also returning to the squad is Ballinamore’s Keelan McHugh who joins his brother Cathal in Poacher’s squad while Diarmuid Kelleher, who has lined out with the County hurlers over the past two years, have returned to the football squad.

The full squad is as follows: 

• ANNADUFF: Darren Cox
• AUGHAVAS: Eanna McNamara 
• BALLINAMORE SEAN O’HESLINS: Cathal McHugh, Keelan McHugh, Paul Honeyman, Tom Prior 
• DRUMKEERIN: David Feeney
• FENAGH ST CAILLINS: Conal McGovern, Eoin McLoughlin, Mark Keegan, Riordan O’Rourke
• GLENCAR MANORHAMLTON: Barry McNulty, James Rooney
• KILTUBRID: Jack Foley, Stephen McLoughlin
• LEITRIM GAELS: Brian Cull, Donal Casey, Jack Flynn, Paddy Keane, Shane Finn
• MELVIN GAELS: Cillian McGloin, Kieran Clancy
• MOHILL: Conor Quinn, David Mitchell, Evan Harkin, Jordan Reynolds, Keith Keegan, Keith Beirne, Ryan Bohan, Sean Harkin, Shane Quinn
• ST MARY’S KILTOGHERT: Adam Reynolds, Ben Guckian, Diarmuid Kelleher, Mark Diffley, Sean Reynolds
• ST MOCHTA’S LOUTH: Daire O’Shea