Heaven or hell awaits as Leitrim teams go in search of unique treble

It could be heaven, it could be hell but next weekend, three Leitrim teams will be going out to win their place in National Leagues Finals, a unique occurrence in the annals of Leitrim gaelic games.

Leitrim hurlers get an action packed weekend up and running on Saturday at 2pm in Shane McGettigan Park when they lock horns with Longford again in the Allianz NHL Division 3B Semi-Final, knowing a repeat of their win last weekend would see them into the final against Cavan a week later.

On Sunday, Andy Moran's Senior men are next up with a 1 pm throw-in in Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada where they know a win would almost certainly, but maybe no mathematically definitely, earn them promotion and a place in the Division 4 Final a week later in Croke Park.

Leitrim have to concentrate on own performance against Sligo warns Moran after euphoric Laois win

Then to complete the trio of games, Leitrim Ladies make the short journey to Bawnboy to take on Fermanagh in the Lidl LGFA Division 4 Semi-Final as Jonny Garrity's side seek to earn promotion back to Division 3.

I'm not sure that's ever happened before - in my time with the Observer, the men's footballers have only been in one League Final back in 2019, the hurlers have a couple of appearances while the Ladies are regulars in these sort of occasions.

#Allianz Football League - Div 4@LeitrimGAA v @sligogaa
Sunday 26th March
⏰ 1pm
Páirc Seán
Advance Ticket Sales Only - Tickets Available later on leitrimgaa/tickets
Or
Centra Drumshanbo.
SuperValu Ballinamore, Manorhamilton, Carrick On Shannon. pic.twitter.com/vptBImgUgk

— Leitrim GAA (@LeitrimGAA) March 21, 2023

Win all three games and Leitrim fans will be in heaven, lose one or two and the devastation will be profound and while the men's senior football team will occupy the thoughts of most fans, reaching these finals is just as important to ambitions and hopes of the hurlers and ladies footballers.

Whatever about tactics or injuries, the psychological aspect of all three games is interesting - the hurlers beat Longford with a late Joe Murray point last Saturday in a game best described as a phoney war as both teams were not near full strength.

Does that give Olcan Conway's side the advantage or does it increase the pressure on the hurlers? Hard to tell but if a full strength Leitrim team can play with the same drive and passion the hurlers did last Sunday, they can go on to book a place in the final against Cavan.

#Allianz Hurling League - Div 3B - Semi Final@LeitrimGAA v @OfficialLDGAA -
Saturday 25th March
⏰ 2pm
Drumshanbo
Advance Ticket Sales Only - Tickets Available later on leitrimgaa/tickets
Or
Centra Drumshanbo.
SuperValu Ballinamore, Manorhamilton, Carrick On Shannon. pic.twitter.com/r1zTztY56r

— Leitrim GAA (@LeitrimGAA) March 21, 2023

Andy Moran's side had a do or die encounter last Sunday to keep their hopes alive and they delivered. They now face a derby match against a Sligo team who defeated them three times last year and it is again a must win encounter so is the pressure lessened or increased?

The danger is feeling that the tougher job was done against Laois but that is somewhat misleading. Sligo don't score as much as Leitrim, a difference of 19 points but they've also conceded 18 points less so who does that favour?

Sligo need just a draw to go up but with the prospect of another championship meeting just four weeks later provided both overcome New York and London, the chance to lay down a marker for the future is just as important.

What is going for Leitrim is the enormous boost in confidence they will take from beating Laois but for all that euphoria, it will come down to who does the basics the best next Sunday.

We are looking forward to our National League Semi-Final where we meet our neighbours @fermanaghladies
The match is
@templeportgfc Bawnboy, Co. Cavan
⏰2pm
Sunday next 26th March#SeriousSupport
@ShannonsideFM @NorthernSoundFM @oceanfmsport @leitrimdaily @LeitrimLive pic.twitter.com/XP9KbzIFLy

— Leitrim LGFA (@LeitrimLGFA) March 19, 2023

For the ladies, it is subtly different - they will be hot favourites, even against a  Fermanagh team that can be difficult opponents when they are fully invested in the county side. That hasn't always happened but the talent is there and they'd love to get one over on Leitrim.

The Jonny Garrity connection adds spice to the encounter but with the way he has lessened the scoring burden off Michelle Guckian while also keeping his captain as the key figure in attack has given the Ladies a much more varied and dangerous attack.

 Leah Fox mightn't get the scores of her teammates but she creates havoc in opposing defences while Leitrim's defence has also coped well with quite a few changes in personnel this year. They'll be heavily favoured to win and while that adds pressure, expect them to deal with it.

With the championship fast approaching on the horizon for all three teams, you couldn't get better preparation. All three games will be tough but here's hoping we have three victories to celebrate come Sunday evening.