Moycullen rightly favourites but can Leitrim Gaels cause upset?

Everyone in the GAA world loves being an underdogs and, for the first time this year, Leitrim Gaels get to savour that feeling as they take on a formidable Moycullen in next Sunday's AIB Connacht Club SFC Semi-Final in Pearse Stadium (1.30 pm throw-in), writes John Connolly.

Provincial Club winners just three years ago, Moycullen have, over the last six seasons, morphed into the new Corofin - appearing in every Galway Senior Final since 2020, winning three titles along with that Connacht title in 2022.

Some clubs, like a Corofin or a Kilcoo in Down start the season looking at the All-Ireland Club championship as a realistic ambition and it would be foolish not to include Moycullen among that select few. Repeated forays into Provincial fare broadens the horizon and certainly the Galway men are looking much further ahead than a County crown.

Leitrim Gaels may have been hot favourites for the Fenagh Cup once the news broke that the Jones brothers were joining their ranks but at the time, that was the summit of their ambitions. Now they have new mountains to climb but that isn't a reason to think they don't have a hope.

Salthill Knocknacarra and Caltra both went from winning a first ever Provincial title all the way to winning the Andy Merrigan Cup in 1990 and 2003 while our own St Mary's Kiltoghert, after winning their first Fenagh Cup in 38 years all the way to the Connacht Final in 1995 so there is a precedence.

MAL GUCKIAN HAS FULL FAITH IN HIS LEITRIM GAELS TROOPS AHEAD OF MOYCULLEN CLASH

The Gaels look to be one of the best equipped Leitrim teams to leave the county in some time but they have been hit by the devastating injury to Donal Casey and the return of David Bruen & Stephen McDermott to Australia.

Casey & Bruen were the primary man markers in the Gaels' ranks, you'd expect one of them to pick up Dessie Connelly who landed 1-10 against Shamrock Gaels last Sunday and there is the knock-on effect of losing three starters - those who come in are undoubted quality but it reduces option for Mal Guckian in other areas.

Playing in Pearse Stadium may well be an advantage to Moycullen but it might also work well for Leitrim Gaels, particularly if the wind blows as it usually does as the Gaels are efficient and well organised and with Conal & Garvan Jones, they have the ability to hit long range scores.

Unless they spring a surprise with Bruen & McDermott returning from Oz, Leitrim Gaels are that bit weaker than they were in the County Final but that may release them to play without fear and simply go for it.

Moycullen are favourites for a reason but they are unlikely to take Leitrim Gaels for granted, there has simply been too much talk about the impact of the Jones brothers on the Leitrim champions for them to be anything but wary and prepared next Sunday.

The Gaels certainly have the ability to cause an upset but you've got to think that Moycullen's impressive physical strength and ambition will carry the day.