We were brave and took a risk says McWeeney as Leitrim U20s look for a win

With the championship on the line, Barry McWeeney admitted that Leitrim U20s took a different approach to last Wednesday’s Dalata Hotels Connacht U20 clash, revealing that his team took a risk and went man for man in a bid to spark their campaign into life.

“We took a risk tonight, we had to” Barry told the Observer, “We had to change things up so tonight we were brave. We knew there was a risk but went man-to-man.”

Agreeing that the approach carried a risk of leaving yourself open, Barry feels that Leitrim perform better with a high tempo: “By doing that, you're taking a risk. You're going to leave gaps at the back and a few simple mistakes and it costs us. You concede five goals in a game, you're going to find it very hard to win it.

“Tonight they showed what Leitrim football is about. When we play at a higher tempo, we're a better team. We tried to slow it down too much against Mayo and you can't do it. It suits Leitrim to play at a higher tempo and that's what we have to do.”

Incredibly Leitrim scored 2-22 on the night and still lost by four points, a fact that left the manager stunned! “There aren't many games that you go in and kick scores like that and play football like that and you don't win. The scoreline against Galway didn't justify the performance that we put in. 

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“I knew there was more in it for us and it's just a bit of a sickener now that we're coming away with nothing to show. We needed a good start. We talked about it all week and we got it. We asked the boys to press and really go after it, that it was their individual game that was going to make the difference here tonight. 

“You get some breaks and  sometimes you don't and you have to take it. The lads have been phenomenal all year. They  really gone after what we've asked them to do. We've been unlucky with injuries but there's quality -  Jack Rowley and Liam Chandler were phenomenal.

“I thought Dessie when he came in was brilliant. He was fantastic. He won a couple of balls there around the middle, kept it simple. Coxie was brilliant up top. Paul hasn't trained a whole pile in the last couple of weeks and he just went after it. Real brave men. Real characters in that dressing room.”

Leitrim  head to the B Final but Barry reveals that his squad are eager to make a go of it: “They're talking about the Philly McGuinness thing and that's huge. These boys are enjoying it and that's what we want. We need to bring a bit of joy back into it. They played with a bit of joy there tonight. 

“1994 all started with a B All Ireland. These are good kids and we need to provide the environment for them to excel. We've seen a glimpse of it tonight so hopefully we can get a bit more out of them over the next couple of weeks.”

For Barry, the emphasis is on producing players capable of playing for Leitrim for many years to come: “My job here is to try and get more fellas through to play at senior level. Prep them that they understand what it is to prepare themselves and play at that level. It's something that we definitely have to look at because we have to be careful with these lads.

"We have to try and get these lads through that they'll pay for seven, eight, nine years. We can't afford to lose lads and leave them in a situation where they're burnt out and sick of playing for Leitrim. What they've dealt with and how they have carried themselves is phenomenal. I keep talking about their character. They've worked so hard and I'm so proud of every one of them.”