Leitrim face unknown as Clare under pressure in Allianz NFL

A trip into the unknown in terms of the new playing rules that came into force for this year's Allianz National League faces Leitrim next Sunday when they make the long journey to take on Clare in  Ennis Cusack Park (2pm throw-in).

Leitrim are one of six counties yet to experience the new playing enhancements in a competitive setting thanks to Storm Éowyn forcing the cancellation of a number of game last weekend, and with a largely new and young panel under Steven Poacher taking their first steps in the League, the postponement of the Laois game could come into play.

Clare, however, are also under pressure after suffering a three point loss in Corrigan Park, with Antrim winning 1-9 to 1-6 last Sunday. Getting a result in the Belfast venue is far from easy as Leitrim will attest and a howling wind did little to ease either team into  the new rules.

Ironically, Antrim's victory was helped by the new rules with Clare hit for two points under the enhancements - one for dissent and the other when Clare were caught out when one of their three attackers strayed over the halfway line. But Clare boss and former Kerry manager Peter Keane felt it was that his team hadn't performed as he would have liked.

“First half, we struggled to get into the game and took wrong options at times, but second half we fought with fierce heart,” Keane told the Examiner, “If you are against the wind, you could be beaten by halftime, but in fairness to the boys, they weren't as they kept battling and got stuck in, so I'd praise them for that second half. We had chances we just didn't take and could have come out of here with something.”

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Clare missed out on promotion last year by a single point but went on to compete in the All-Ireland series, having reached the Munster Final for the second year running. The Banner footballers, however, are considerably strengthened by the return of star forwards Eoin Cleary and Keelan Sexton but they will be anxious to pick up their first win of the campaign and at home as well so there is a little bit of pressure on Keane's team.

Leitrim's last meeting with Clare came in 2019 in the All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifiers with the Munster side cruising to a 3-17 to 0-17 victory in Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada, having led 2-12 to 0-6 at the break. The last League meeting came in 2014 when Sean Hagan's team secured an injury time equaliser in Milltown Malbay to deny the home side a win, the game ending 0-11 to Leitrim's 1-8.

Clare definitely have an advantage in terms of experiencing the new rules in a game setting, despite the loss in Corrigan Park, and even the fact that they have had an outing is definitely a plus.

But to be honest, Steven Poacher's young team have nothing to lose in Ennis and if they can frustrate the home side, Leitrim have nothing to fear as they finally start their 2025 campaign.