Landing the double with Mohill the highlight of Shane Quinn's footballing career

Mohill captain Shane Quinn reflects on an historic year for his club in the Leitrim Observer Sports Review of the year as he gives his personal highs and lows of 2024.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR

The highlight of the year has to be finally getting over the line and retaining the Senior Championship. On a personal level, it's the highlight of my footballing career, to be the first Mohill captain to do it but for a lot of us there that have been there for all the final defeats makes this achievement extra special as a lot of people doubted our bottle to retain the Fenagh cup after losing it in 2018 and 2021 and to finally be the first team to retain it since that great Glencar Manor team of 2008-2011. This year felt extra special as we definitely did it the hard way, going to Ballinamore to play against Ballinamore, going to a replay, going to extra time and finally finishing the job on penalties.

LOWLIGHT OF THE YEAR 

A few spring to mind. The first one is the National League Final against Laois in Croke Park. As great as the achievement was to get promoted, I feel we left a chance to bring silverware back to Leitrim. The second one was the result in the Connacht Championship for the club. We definitely felt it was a good chance at a Connacht Final especially after seeing the Sligo champions beating Pearses in the Final. We had our chances early in the game and just didn't take them. The last lowlight, for me anyway it's probably a bit greedy but would be on how we missed out on the club League Final with better score difference overall and just lost out on a three way head to head with Sean O'Heslins and St Mary's.

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

Hard to know with all the rule changes going on this year. Some rules definitely needed but in my opinion, far too many pointless ones. Improving the standard of coaching within the GAA would improve the standard of football rather than X amount of rule changes.  Another thing I'd like to see happen would be for clubs to be allowed to stream their games  again to allow more people home and away to watch their club team and give the club scene and players more exposure within the county. 

HERO  OF THE YEAR

Hero of the Year for me is our very own Seamus Browne. One of the best club men you could have. He’s always first to tell me who is refereeing our next game and tell us to keep quiet or we'll be sent off. Seamie is at every training and every game at all levels for the club, always supporting, shouting us on and giving out to us for giving the ball away or for Papa's bad kickouts. 

TEAM OF THE YEAR

As much as I'd love to say Mohill, I definitely can't as there is only one team that deserves the title as team of the year and that has to be the All-Ireland Champions, the Leitrim Ladies. What they achieved this year speaks for itself, the excitement of the finals, the way they played on the front foot, attacking football. It was one of the best games of football I was at in a long time. The celebrations after the final whistle and the videos of Michelle Guckian leading the team through Carrick in the lashing rain with the streets lined with support. It was just amazing.

PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

Has to be only one person and that's my own cousin Charlene Tyrell. Charlie is a larger than life character, winning her second All-Ireland medal seventeen years apart bringing her son Noah up with her to lift the cup was brilliant, winning all the personal awards and all the gas interviews that followed the All-Ireland.

EVENT THAT MADE YOU GO WOW IN 2024

Armagh's run in the championship this year. Losing to Donegal in the Ulster final on another penalty shootout, topping the "group of death", extra time against Kerry and winning the All-Ireland. Their ability to keep coming back to the well winning tight games when they looked dead and buried.

WHAT ARE THE BIG CHALLENGES FACING LEITRIM SPORT IN 2025?

The big challenges facing Leitrim sport in 2025 are the same challenges as every year and that's the ability to hold on to young players in all sporting codes in the county. 

ONE TO WATCH IN 2025

My own clubman, Jack Rowley. Jack had a breakout year for Mohill in 2024 after being injured the previous year and was one of our best players all year even though he didn't square the ball to Mattie Murphy for a tap in goal to put us four up in extra time of the County Final Replay. Jack is in with the County U20 team and he's definitely one to watch this year.