Ballinamore Ladies & Katie Taylor tops for John Lynch in 2023 Leitrim Sports Review

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. 

In this piece, commentator John Lynch looks back over 2023 with the exploits of Ballinamore ladies, Dean Clancy, David Clifford and Liam Cox catching his eye as he joins us for our Sports Review of 2023. Here, in John’s own words, are the highs and lows of the 2023 Sporting year.

Leitrim GAA & LGFA 50 Miles in January Challenge off to a flying start - GALLERY

Supporters from Leitrim GAA & LGFA gathered on New Year's Day in Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada to start off 2024 in style at the start of the 50 Miles in January Fundraising Challenge and Observer photographer Willie Donnellan was there too to capture the event ...... see who you can spot!

TEAM OF THE YEAR

The Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins Ladies team surely deserves this plaudit. The Club has great tradition and is no stranger to Provincial Club Competitions.  To win a Connacht title on top of a county title is some success and then to qualify for an All-Ireland final is the best way possible to finish off the year. The way Ballinamore girls are winning games in equally impressive fashion, they are never beaten until the final whistle. It’s been claimed that many teams are reflections of their manager, and in Brian Breen Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins have a manager that is a winner as a player (1994 Connacht championship winning panel) and as joint Leitrim manager with George Dugdale they won a Connacht FBD title.  In 2023 Barney is still winning matches and I’m delighted for him, one of the gentlemen of the game who is adding to his club’s legacy.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR

Once we get a truly great world champion, someone unique, someone that we know we may never see her likes again, we want to go on forever or at least finish successful on their terms - something sport seldom allows. For me, it was Katie Taylor claiming redemption with a majority decision victory over Chantelle Cameron in Dublin to become undisputed light-welterweight champion back in November. These two have history and they produced a classic at 3Arena in a gruelling 10-round contest that Taylor eventually won. All the sweeter after Cameron had dominated their previous bout in May and expected to be successful again this time around. The Bray woman now holds the WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO light welterweight belts and may yet add more silverware before she eventually retires.

LOWLIGHT OF THE YEAR

The increasing abuse of sports people online by Keyboard warriors. Being in this game you are almost to have an online presence and where most people are responsible there are some cases where lines are crossed. An example this year was the New York Leitrim Connacht SFC game. The game was a lowlight in many ways, but some team was always going to get caught over there and unfortunately, it was Leitrim on penalties that were first to be taken down.

The ingredients were in place for the perfect ambush and although Andy Moran’s charges had enough chances to win two games, that's football. Some of the online abuse in the aftermath of the championship exit was uncalled for, social media companies need to regulate what can be posted.

We have known for years how there is a mental health pandemic in this country and harmful abuse being allowed online is as damaging as anything for anybody who is vulnerable.  Finally, GAA players, officials, and management teams feel bad enough after a defeat no need to add to their woes on social media. My other big disappointment was the Irish Rugby team not advancing at least to the semi-final of the Rugby World Cup, I felt that this could have been our year.

PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

My choice is endurance athlete Liam Cox - some of the challenges that Liam has taken on for excellent causes have to be acknowledged. Taking on the decision to run the coastline of Ireland in aid of North West STOP. A 2,500km journey that started back in August 26 and finished in Carrick on in early October. Three years ago, he ran 12 marathons in 12 days over Christmas. It’s not just the vital funds that Liam is collecting but it’s the attention through the media he is drawing to the likes of North West Stop is equally as important.

PERSON  THAT MADE YOU DO WOW IN 2023

Once again David Clifford is a magic to behold.  Although they failed to win the All-Ireland final and even though some have questioned his suitability to win Player of the Year awards for me there is no better Gaelic footballer at present. I had the pleasure to commentate on him in a Sigerson cup once in the Connacht GAA Dome and in that environment he was unstoppable. There is a reason why he is the first player to retain the GAA Player of the Year award. At just 24 He has won an All-Ireland title with Kerry and his club Fossa. Five All-Stars and a two-time footballer of the year. I rest my case.

Willie Donnellan's highs and lows from Leitrim's 2023 sporting year

THE LAST POINT

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

I would love to see VAR officials who actually know the game of soccer put in charge of big matches in particular. The game of soccer has changed a lot of it, not for the best. Some VAR calls have been poor, to say the least.

I’m also excited about watching the Republic of Ireland without Stephen Kenny in charge.

I honestly think we have better players than our results suggested. The attitude of Kenny supporters pissed me off for a while now, he may have managed successfully in the League of Ireland, but International football is a different animal. It’s a results-driven business.

Kenny was applauded for introducing young players, however getting beat in all games does nothing only destroys confidence. Let's see with another manager if we are as bad as Kenny’s local fans would have us believe.

WHAT ARE THE BIG CHALLENGES FACING LEITRIM SPORT IN 2024?

For the majority of clubs and indeed the County Board in GAA I think finance is going to be difficult. The spending that inter-county and some club sides are recording is enough to land Eddie Hobbs back from the ‘celtic tiger’ years with lessons on how to spend the communion money. For rural clubs finding numbers will be difficult. There was a pattern that everybody had to live in a town or built-up areas and whereas the bigger clubs were benefiting, the more rural clubs risk going out of existence.

In Gaelic Football, coaching needs to be examined about players continuing to play the game. At underage level, it needs to be enjoyable. Imagine if Jim McGuinness is successful with the 2024 version of defensive master class (puke football), there will be underage coaches with baseball caps, boards with magnets attached, and cool tracksuits studying the latest theories that will be preached by the footballing gods on YouTube and looking to implement them with underage teams. Just cast your mind back to the 2011 All Ireland semi-final between Donegal and Dublin, a game that Pat Gilroy’s side eventually won 0-8 to 0-6.

ONE TO WATCH IN 2024

My choice is Sligo man with strong Leitrim connections, Dean Clancy - he has qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games and I am quietly confident he could do well. When he secured his seat on the plane for Paris he did so with a very impressive win over Gianluigi Malanga of Italy at the European Games in Krakow. The win was all the more remarkable due to his dealing with difficult personal circumstances at the time. The Sean McDermott Club man has the potential to be a real medal contender.