‘It's not like Wicklow are taking these beatings week in, week out’: Garrity impressed with Leitrim display

Leitrim continued to mercilessly stamp their mark on this League with a hammering of Wicklow in Ballinamore.

For manager Jonny Garrity, despite the one-sided nature of the contest, there is plenty to take away from the game, though he was quick to recognise that Wicklow are a footballing county in transition.

“I think we'll take plenty from it because ultimately it was about us, it was about our approach and about how we implemented our game plan, the energy that we brought to it, and I thought all of those things were excellent.”

Controversy surrounded this fixture last year when Leitrim made the trip to Wicklow only to be forced to make the same trip the next week after the game was cancelled.

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“That almost summed the thing up last year,” said Garrity.  “Two trips to Wicklow for the price of one, and it just added to the fatigue and the lack of momentum that we had, but looking at this year, it's the complete opposite. Things are falling for us, and we're playing good football, we've got a fantastic strength and depth, and we're using that really well at the moment.”

“I think last year was the year after the year before, if that makes sense, with the All-Ireland win. So we probably didn't get off to the best of starts in the league, and then, as I say, momentum was elusive for us.“

“It was a really good feeling all week, and the warm-up was electric; we felt that this performance was brewing.” Said Garrity

“It's not like Wicklow are taking these beatings week in, week out in terms of the scoreline, so I think it says more about us than them. I think our performance was awesome at times today, and we're really, really happy with the girls.”

Garrity was happy with their adherence to the game plan and the role their subs played when they came on.

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“I think it's a range of things. Obviously, it's adherence to the game plan and playing with a really, really high intensity, but I think what also marries into that is the strength and depth and the battle that the girls have to try to win a jersey or try to even get a finishing spot on the team.”

“So there's that fierce sort of battle that's happening within the panel right now to get game time, and that's really bringing out the best in everybody … perhaps we're stronger this year when you look at the numbers and quality right through the panel I think it's probably a stronger panel overall, but we've got that magic momentum and that's really taking us on now.”

Leitrim are sitting pretty at the top of the league and look set for a place in the semi-finals once again, with Derry up next, but Garrity says they are taking nothing for granted.

“We also know how treacherous of a road it is to get over the line. We're not over that line, and we won't be over the line until we get over it. So we're taking nothing for granted. We're resetting again after today, and we'll be approaching Derry like it's a championship match.”