Darren Mulvey reviews an action packed 2025 Leitrim sporting year

We finish our look back at the 2025 sporting year with Shannonside's Darren Mulvey this week as he details what caught his attention during the year.

As this is our final guest review, thanks to all our contributors for their interesting observations on the 2025 sporting year 

HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR

Always hard to settle on one thing for the highlight of the year, Kerry's performances in Croke Park, Rory McIlroy making history, and a novel Leitrim Senior Football Championship resulting in a maiden win for Leitrim Gaels would all be up there. After a tough Intermediate Championship, which maybe speaks to the competitive nature of the eight team format, Gortletteragh’s performance against Kiltubrid to retain Intermediate status was a highlight, especially Nathan Ward's two clutch scores near the end.

LOWLIGHT OF THE YEAR

Close to home the concession of Leitrim's NFL Division 4 game against Fermanagh was a lowlight for so many reasons. It brought the wrong kind of national focus on a group of players who could've done without it. On a wider scale the state of FIFA under Gianni Infantino continues to depress, the ticket prices for next year's world cup another example of the amorality.

PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

In the wider sporting world, hard to argue with BBC & RTÉ's endorsement of Rory McIlroy. Nationally Troy Parrot is getting rightful plaudits, but I think Kate O'Connor's World silver Medal went under the radar, and in a multi discipline sport such as Heptathlon, she's a great example for young athletes and sports people all over the country.

TEAM OF THE YEAR

Kerry. Hands down. As people like to say when describing the GAA season, there's 8 months of shouting and roaring and at the end, Kerry win it all. League, Munster, All Ireland, beating 4 Ulster teams on the way, all fuelled by Dara O'Sé's column in the Irish Times effectively writing them off after the Meath game, which might be the best piece of Kerry "cute hoorism" of recent times, but even still, they were imperious from the quarter finals on. Kerry will start 2026 as the team to beat, but have only retained Sam once since the great 4 in a row effort of the 80s, which will give hope to everyone else.

HERO OF THE YEAR

Troy Parrott. What a man. What a goal. After the Armenia horror show it was going to take something special to get out of the group and that's what we got. Qualifying for the world cup will mean Ireland will have won five games on the bounce which hasn't happened since the Charlton era, but you never know.

PERSON THAT MADE ME GO WOW IN 2025

Rory McIlroy winning at Augusta. With the weight of expectation on him and near misses in other majors in recent times, to do it in a playoff, with miracle efforts on the final few holes. Just magic.

ONE THING I’D DO TO MAKE SPORT BETTER IN 2026

I wish the GAA / LGFA would coordinate their fixtures calendar a bit better. As both codes get their 2026 games programs underway in the coming weeks, it will be impossible for supporters to attend both sides' games and for the media to give as much coverage as they would like to both in equal measure. There'll always be clashes no doubt but when both sides are at home and throwing in within a half an hour of each other it's just impossible. Another element of integration that there will need to be attempts made at improving when it eventually happens.

WHAT ARE THE BIG CHALLENGES FACING LEITRIM SPORT IN 2026?

They are the same as always, funding and population will be the huge challenges for the foreseeable future. The GAA have sounded the alarm with their recent demographics report, and counties like Leitrim need all the help that central Government can provide to ensure that rural Ireland remains a vibrant place in a people and a sporting sense.

ONE TO WATCH IN 2026

I went 3/6 on last year's predictions in this one so I'll revise those down a little bit. The European Athletics Championships are in Birmingham next August and Cian McPhillips will go to that with a target on his back as the fastest European over 800m at present. The Irish contingent will have vociferous support so that could make for a great few days. Also, with his brilliant finish to the NFL season on what looks like an improving New Orleans Saints team, Charlie Smyth's performances will only draw more attention.