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20 Oct 2025

‘You would have been laughed at to say a day like this could happen for our club’ — Flynn leads Leitrim Gaels to historic win

Aiden Flynn lifted the Fenagh cup for Leitrim Gaels as they are crowned kings of Leitrim for the first time.

‘You would have been laughed at to say a day like this could happen for our club’ — Flynn leads Leitrim Gaels to historic win

It was a moment 17 years in the making for Aiden Flynn, who became the first-ever Leitrim Gaels captain to lift the Fenagh Cup on Sunday at Pairc Shuin MacDiarmuida.

“It’s been a long journey to be here and to think this could actually happen,” said Flynn, who started playing senior football for Leitrim Gaels in 2008 when the club was still in junior football. “To be honest, you would have been laughed at to say a day like this could happen for our club.”

READ MORE: ‘Still huge quality’ in Ballinamore despite disappointing Connacht Gold Leitrim SFC Final loss says Henry

The feeling, he admits, is indescribable. “It's an amazing feeling. It's full of pride for the performance of every single player on that team and panel, and backroom staff and club. Everyone just pulled together this year, and I think we really deserved what we got today.”

Flynn has the unusual experience of tasting success at nearly every level of adult football in Leitrim, helping the club — founded in 1996 — reach the top this weekend. “They’re all special, but I think this day trumps everything,” he said.

The club, which has only ever made it to two Leitrim senior championship semi-finals in 2021 and 2022 was put out of the championship by St Mary’s Kilthghert in the quarter finals last year.

“We got knocked out of the championship last year. We sat down and decided that a lot of things needed to change. The way we approach our training and the way we approach getting ready to play football had to change a little bit. The lads bought into it and see what happens.”

READ MORE: Check out the faces in the crowd at the 2025 Connacht Gold Leitrim SFC Final - GALLERY

Flynn was quick to credit the wider club for their success. “We have a great club full of brilliant people, training underage teams, putting in time and effort on committees. We’re just full of wonderful people.”

He also singled out manager Mal Guckian, who has been part of the club’s journey from the start. “There’s been a lot of talk about the Joneses, and they certainly helped bring us out and play good football. But I think the story that’s often missed is Mal — he’s been there the whole way, and he’s the real story.”

The Gaels ended up running away with the game in the second half, but it was a nip and tuck until the last quarter, with Ballinamore threatening to take the game by the scruff of the neck at times in the first half.

“Ballinamore are an extremely talented team. There are a couple of really quality forwards and players around the middle. I don't think the scoreline actually reflects how tough of a game that was.”

Winning their first championship at the top level of Leitrim football is a milestone for the club. Flynn believes the victory will inspire confidence for the future.

“I do think it gives everybody confidence around the club.,” he says. “Before it's done, maybe it looks a little bit impossible. When we're down the divisions, it looks impossible. The fact that it has been done, why not? We dreamt big this year, and it came to fruition. I can't even believe I'm saying that. It's just a moment that I dreamed of since I was a little boy. It's here and why not get another few in the future?”

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