Connacht Gold Leitrim SFC reaches boiling point

In many ways, the Connacht Gold Leitrim GAA SFC and Sweeney Oil LGFA SFC are now knockout competitions as the group stages come to an end with the final round of men's group games next Saturday evening while Sunday sees the second last round of the ladies competition.

The Ladies have a little bit more room to play around with as they have another round left but a win next weekend could guarantee the winners a place in the semi-finals.

For the men's teams, the battle is for quarter and semi final spots and avoiding the relegation final, adding to the intrigue. 

Below we take a brief look at the games:

CONNACHT GOLD SFC

Melvin Gaels v Fenagh St Caillins: Melvin Gaels have been better than their results suggest - they’ve tested Leitrim Gaels and Ballinamore at times but where they fell down was against Aughawillan, a win there would have left them battling for a place in the quarter-finals and not headed into the relegation final.

Fenagh are just the sort of team you don’t want to see rocking up to Melvin Park - power and pace in all sectors of the field, I think it is fair to say that St Caillins haven’t fully sparked yet in this campaign but they’ve shown flashes, potent and deadly flashes, of what they are capable of and when they get moving, they’re hard stopped. Oisin McLoughlin missed their last game with a hamstring injury and you could see it reflected in their play but if it were me, even with a place in the semi-finals at stake, I’d rest their mercurial play maker for bigger games and trust that the strong scoring presence and leadership of Ryan & Riordan O’Rourke will be enough to get you through.

Melvin Gaels will make it almighty difficult for Fenagh but with a semi-final spot beckoning, Fenagh’s hunger should see them home.

Glencar Manorhamilton v Leitrim Gaels: An intriguing contest here because a win for the home side would see Glencar Manor pip Leitrim Gaels for an automatic semi-final spot and that is a prize worth claiming. It is also intriguing because the Gaels are such hot, hot favourites right now with their blend of physical power and intensity really impressive.

Another interesting subplot is how the Gaels’ Ryan Jones fares against Manor’s Barry McNulty - fair to say that both have been the outstanding midfielders in the competition so far and they each represent a different sort of challenge than what they’ve faced before. Also, have the Gaels come up against an attack with such mercurial scoring threat as what Manor possesses in McNulty, Jack Kelly & Evan Sweeney?

Manor also have questions - Conal & Garvan Jones are the sort of forwards they haven’t faced but the Gaels’ overall running power and scores from everywhere and then you add the outstanding Donal Casey into the mix! It is the sort of challenge that will stretch Manor’s resources, maybe to breaking point. How much will both sides put into it? Hard to tell but if we’re going on form so far, you have to think that Leitrim Gaels will take the victory but in Boggaun, anything can happen as St Mary’s found out in the first round!

Mohill v Aughawillan: Winner takes all - a truly huge game for both teams that, on the face of it, should be a simple enough affair as the two time defending champions Mohill take on an Aughawillan team that many predicted would be in the relegation battle before the start of the campaign - but it is not quite simple.

Aughawillan, despite being down the considerable presence of Mark Plunkett and Pearce Dolan, have been genuinely competitive against Fenagh and Glencar Manor and will relish their underdog status in Cloone. In Tom & Jamie Plunkett, they have forwards with an eye for a score and nobody is better at upsetting the odds. In their last two games, Mohill have become very reliant on Keith Beirne’s accuracy, particularly from placed balls and distance and if Aughawillan keep their discipline and restrict two point attempts, will that disrupt the champions? That’s a very hard question to answer but Mohill certainly have the quality.

The champions tend to find ways to win games if they are tight, a trait Aughawillan built their legend upon. This may be tighter than we expect but Mohill, in the games I have seen, have the edge and they should advance to the quarter-finals.

St Mary's Kiltoghert v Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins: Probably the game of the weekend but it is a close run thing - both teams can qualify or miss out in the Mohill & Aughawillan tie but that all depends on St Mary’s beating Ballinamore and that is far from certain. If St Mary’s lose, it doesn’t matter what happens in Cloone.

Hard to know what to make of St Mary’s - they had Leitrim Gaels and Fenagh at their mercy at various times in games but they’ve allowed them slip away and they’re in deep trouble, a trait that also afflicted them in their loss to Glencar Manorhamilton, albeit with a dollop of controversy thanks to a somewhat soft late penalty. The pressure is on St Mary’s and that’s not easy to deal with. They’ve been competitive with the two top teams in the competition so they’re not a million miles off the pace but finishing games has been a problem. Fix that and Mary’s will be a serious threat.

Sean O’Heslins face a quandary - a big win and a loss for Leitrim Gaels might see them sneak into a semi-final spot while a loss would also leave them facing the Carrick men a week later in the quarter-finals. Do they go all out to dump out a potentially strong rival or do they save themselves for a true winner takes all contest in the quarter-finals? Ballinamore haven’t really hit top, top form yet either but they are scoring well and it is always hard to beat that - the return of Paul Honeyman and Tom Prior leaves them well placed but O’Heslins are waiting to burst into life and this game could be the perfect platform.

This really is a tough one to call with so many factors coming into play - St Mary’s need for a positive result is the primary factor but, on form so far, this really is too close to call.

SWEENEY OIL LGFA SFC

St Mary’s Kiltoghert v Glencar Manorhamilton: The champions have mixed good form with underwhelming periods but the key factor is that when games are there to be won, Glencar Manor tend to come out on top. St Mary’s are an improving outfit and having Kasey Bruen back is a huge plus but it would be a massive surprise if they get one over on the north Leitrim women.

St Francis v Kiltubrid: This is a potential relegation six pointer - if Kiltubrid lose, they are in the relegation final but a win gets them back in the mix. Kiltubrid have been close but St Francis, who are under pressure too with a final game against Glencar Manor and need the win here, have been in better form and their win over St Mary’s may just kick-start their season. It could go either way but Francis just have an edge.

St Joseph’s v Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins: Another game that will leave the winner in the semi-finals and the loser looking over their shoulder. St Joseph’s were competitive against Glencar Manorhamilton and would be heavily favoured to reach this year’s final but they’ve been beset by misfortune this year and Ballinamore know a win leaves them home and dry. Very hard to call this one with so much at stake.