Mens and Ladies teams chase perfection as Football League resumes on Sunday

Leitrim fans, whether they are following the mens or ladies teams these days, will get to see a lot of the country next Sunday when the high scoring, table topping Green & Gold teams take to the road in their bid to maintain their perfect start to the 2023 National Leagues.

Andy Moran's men travel to the imposing Chadwicks Wexford Park, already one of the best grounds in the country but now upgraded with floodlights, as they seek a third win on the spin in the Allianz NFL Division 4 while Jonny Garrity's Ladies team head south west to Rathkeale for the Lidl NFL Division 4B clash with Limerick.

That's a trip of 154 miles for the men down to the south east and 135 miles for the Ladies, both routes the shortest but not the quickest according to Google Maps meaning any intrepid home based Leitrim fans making the journey will be spending a lot of time on the road next Sunday! 

On paper, both teams will be heavily favoured to maintain their unbeaten starts to 2023 and while the Ladies can move very close to booking their place in the Division 4 semi-finals, the men's team will be wary of a trap in Wexford against a team who pushed them to the limit last year in Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada.

Two late goals from Ryan O'Rourke and Conor Cullen, both now absent from the Leitrim set-up with long term injury, ensured a far from comfortable and somewhat flattering 3-9 to 1-11 victory over a Wexford side struggling to regain the form that made them so formidable a few years ago.

Leitrim's road warriors as mens & ladies football teams bid to maintain county's 100% start to National Leagues

Under former star John Hegarty, Wexford need a win next Sunday to get their campaign up and running after they drew with London at Chadwicks Wexford park  in their first outing and then lost by five  points to Laois  in Laois Hire O'Moore Park in the second round, the sort of results that leave you scratching your head.

Given how hard Leitrim had to fight to overcome the Exiles in London, Wexford's draw with the Exiles can't be dismissed but there is no doubt they'll be under a bit of pressure to get a result. Win and they will be right back in the promotion race - lose and it is hard to see them making up ground from dropping five points from their opening three games.

If there is pressure on Wexford, there probably is also a bit on Leitrim too as their high scoring exploits, and those of Keith Beirne in particular, have garnered national attention. Top scorers across all four divisions, Leitrim have scored 6-30 in just two games while only conceding 1-26 - it is a remarkable stat that compares with Wexford total of 28 points for and 33 points against.

On that, Leitrim would appear to have far too much firepower and on a hard, dry surface in Wexford Park, interestingly the same dimensions as Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada, the Green & Gold can expect to thrive.

If the men's scoring feats are impressive, they are only in the ha'penny place compared to the tallies the Ladies are racking up right now. Admittedly against the two weakest teams in the division, Leitrim Ladies have scored an incredible 12-41 in just two games while only conceding 1-2 in both games - safe to say their scoring difference is a huge advantage.

But for all that, Garrity will know that Limerick pose the first real test in his tenure as Leitrim manager. Limerick are also unbeaten after two games, having scored 7-19 in their two games while only conceding ten points - the same as Leitrim. What makes that total all the more remarkable is that last year's League top scorer Michelle Guckian has only scored six points in her two outings to date. 

Interestingly, the Treaty women scored an impressive 3-6 to 0-8 victory last weekend away to a Wicklow side who beat Leitrim in the championship last year so they are quite obviously going well.

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The game is fixed for Rathkeale, a long haul for supporters but the most recent meeting between the counties saw Leitrim cruise to a 4-12 to 2-7 victory with the Green & Gold putting the game out of sight in the first half before a late Limerick rally put a bit of gloss on the scoreline.

Leitrim have quite a bit of incentive to go for the win on Sunday in Rathkeale - while victory doesn't quite mathematically guarantee a League semi-final spot, it would put them in an incredible position given the huge scoring difference advantage they enjoy.

The remaining games in the group are something of a mini league with Leitrim facing both Limerick and Wicklow. Wicklow take on Kilkenny next Sunday with Limerick facing Derry in their final outing on March 5, and both would expect to register big wins in those games so it will all come down to who does what against Leitrim in the next two outings.

Of course, nothing is guaranteed yet for the Green & Gold - two losses would see them miss out on the semi-finals but no more than the men's team, you sense there is enormous momentum right now in the Ladies camp and they will travel south with plenty of justified confidence.

A night to savour for Leitrim sports

THE LAST POINT

Leitrim Observer Unsung Hero Award winner Aisling Quinn, Overall winner Shane Mallon and Hall of Fame winner Patricia Griffin pictured with sponsors, officials and special guest Jonny Cooper at the Leitrim Sports Star Awards. (Back, from left) Declan Boyle, Joe Lowe, Cllr Enda McGloin, Cllr Paddy O'Rourke, Mary Quinn, Cllr Finola Armstrong Maguire, Cllr Sean McGowan. (Front) Aishling Quinn, Shane Mallon, LCC Cathaoirleach Cllr Ita Reynolds Flynn, Patricia Griffin & Jonny Cooper Picture: James Molloy

For the men, I expect a ding-dong battle and you never get anything easy from a Wexford team at home. A big strong physical team, they will test Leitrim but no more than the Ladies, there is a growing confidence in Andy Moran's side. It will be close but you've got to expect a third win on the bounce!