PJ Leddy's highs and lows of Leitrim's sporting year in 2023

We're back to that time of the year where we look back and look forward at the same time and in the Observer sports department, we're no different! Or maybe we know what works as we return with our popular sports review of 2023 over the next few weeks.

The Leitrim Observer invited some of the county's outstanding sports people and journalists to look back over 2023, picking out their highs and lows. Here is the first part of our look back on an exciting and action packed year

In this piece, local journalist PJ Leddy reviews the year gone by, taking in boxing in Poland, gaelic football in New York, Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins’ ladies achievements as well as the exploits of Manorhamilton’s Muireann Devaney.

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Here, in PJ’s own words, are the highs and lows of the 2023 Sporting year.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR

If the gods had smiled on Mohill in this year’s Connacht Senior Club semi-final, perhaps they would be Leitrim's first Connacht Club senior champions. After a magnificent and disciplined performance against St Brigid’s, they were very unlucky to come away on the wrong side of a two point defeat and the Roscommon side went on to lift the Connacht title. A superb performance.

LOWLIGHT OF THE YEAR

Leitrim’s first ever defeat at the hands of New York on Saturday April 8, after a penalty shootout in Gaelic Park and a first ever Connacht SFC victory for New York. The defeat was made worse still for Leitrim people who watched the game on GAAGO, a channel mired in controversy, as poor Wi-Fi coverage led to a totally inadequate and completely substandard reception of this all-important game.

PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

Seán McDermott Boxing Club's Dean Clancy made history at the Nowy Targ Arena, Poland on  June 28 when he defeated Italian Gianluigi Malanga to win the bronze medal in the European Games and book his place on the Irish  team that will compete at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Clancy will be the first ever Leitrim club boxer to represent Ireland at the Olympic Games, commenting after  qualifying for 2024 in Poland Dean  “Since I first came into boxing it’s been my dream, it’s the pinnacle of the sport.”

TEAM OF THE YEAR

Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins Ladies and their never say die efforts that took them to a LGFA All-Ireland intermediate club championship final in Croke Park were Leitrim's best of 2023. The dramatic nature of their victories over Sligo’s Eoghan Rua in the Connacht Final and Steelstown Brian Ogs in the All-Ireland Semi-Finals thanks to a last minute Aoibheann Flynn goal makes them the stand out choice.

PERSON THAT MADE YOU DO WOW IN 2023

Muireann Devaney scored notable achievements in winning a senior Women's FAI Cup medal with Athlone Town on Sunday, November 19 when they defeated Shelbourne while she played a starring role in Glencar Manorhamilton winning a fourth Leitrim LGFA Senior A title in a row in October, scoring a crucial goal in their victory over St Joseph’s. 

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ONE THING I’D DO TO MAKE SPORT BETTER IN 2024

If better facilities and other essential back up support were provided for all sports in all areas of Leitrim it would provide a great shot in the arm for each sport catering for the talented young and adult people involved in what is a voluntary lifeblood for all communities within the county. This could result in a great uplift of community and county spirit for people countywide, like occurred when Ballinamore Ladies senior football team won the 2023 Connacht Club championship and went on to contest the All-Ireland final.

WHAT ARE THE BIG CHALLENGES FACING LEITRIM SPORT IN 2024?

More volunteers needed to come on board to assist with the very heavy load of work that a relatively small band of highly dedicated volunteers are currently doing year in and year out. While Leitrim does have some good sports facilities many other sports pitches, etc., are very much in need of upgrading to near 21st century standards within the county – one example of this is the St. Clare's Comprehensive School athletics track which was first opened over four decades ago.

ONE TO WATCH IN 2024

Fenagh St. Caillins who lost semi-finals in the last two years to eventual winners St Mary’s Kiltoghert and Mohill. 2024 may be the year they bridge a 97 year gap and claim the Fenagh Cup  for the first time since 1932 when they defeated Drumreilly