Darren Mulvey's highs and lows of Leitrim's sporting year in 2023

After some fascinating insights into the 2023 sporting year in Leitrim, we’ve come to the end of our 2023 Sports Review of the Year with three final contributions this week.

The Observer invited some of the county's outstanding sports people and journalists to look back over 2023 and it was an illuminating look back over an action packed year that featured some incredible highs and some equally disappointing lows. We’d like to thank everyone who took the time to share their thoughts   

Here is the final part of our look back on an exciting and action packed year, Shannonside FM commentator Darren Mulvey does an incredible job reviewing the year with an eclectic mix of events and people that caught his attention in 2023.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR

There's been a few so here goes .... 

1) On a personal note seeing our new facilities officially opened in Gortletteragh was a massive high point. It was the culmination of a lot of hard work but some fiercely dedicated volunteers and the generous goodwill of a brilliant community going right back to 07/08. 

Lap of the Map the highlight of Liam Cox's sporting year in 2023

2) Sending Chick Kennedy viral after the county final! That's a joke clearly but it's brilliant to get in amongst the madness after a big sporting win like that. It was a great win for Mohill and a great moment for Ronan and his family and teammates so I was delighted it got a bit of traction online and a bit of a spotlight on the game. Shout out to Tommy Stenson from Shannonside for being on hand with the camera! 

3) I'd been to NYC before but never for a Leitrim game. Result aside, it was brilliant to meet up with so many Leitrim people over there, see first hand the work that the likes of Seamus & Caitríona Clarke and others do and have done for the community around McLean Ave / Woodlawn, and to tog out for Gortletteragh (plus a few recruits from St Mary's and Eslin) and play a challenge against Rockland was class. 

4) GAA is all about grassroots and that's where you get the most enjoyment out of it. Having not coached at club level in a few years it was nice to get involved again in '23 with two really good coaching setups and young players with the Rinn Gaels 15s and 17s. We managed to win the B championship with the 17s, and contested the Div 1 League final, and contested the All Ireland Féile final with the 15s winning the Leitrim Féile and the U15 C Champ with the seconds. Success in material terms doesn't always come round at that level but it's nice when it does.

LOWLIGHT OF THE YEAR

In pure sporting terms, Leitrim losing on penalties in New York. Not much elaboration needed on that one. On a wider scale, the Irish Rugby team's Groundhog Day Quarter Final exit at the RWC. For all that the Vodafone ads would have you believe, this isn't Rugby Country just yet. I found it mad that people were taking it for granted that we'd just have to show up to beat the All Blacks, who were only ever going to get better as the tournament progressed. The wait goes on. In local terms, a lowlight for our entire community came in March when we said goodbye to a huge figure in our club as Seán Clarke went to his eternal reward. The new scoreboard at the pitch is dedicated to his memory so fittingly he'll always have a presence in our grounds.

TEAM OF THE YEAR

Locally, the Ballinamore SOH Ladies, they may have came up short against an experienced Glanmire that's been together and winning since 2018, but that aside, their achievements in Connacht and their All Ireland Never Say Die Semi Final is a huge boost for both codes of football in the county and another sign of the strides being made in the game in Leitrim in recent seasons. We've seen Ballinamore, Mohill and St Mary's all go very close to big wins in the men's  provincial championships in recent years, and maybe the Ballinamore Ladies have broken through that barrier now and the rest can follow suit. 

Internationally, I think we'll give it to the Irish Ladies Soccer Team for making a first World Cup and following it up with their recent Nations League performances despite the negativity surrounding Vera Pauw's departure.

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

THE LAST POINT

PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

David Clifford from a GAA point of view - he's more than generational, a once in a lifetime player. In a wider sense, Arsenal & Ireland's Katie McCabe had a great World Cup and showed she's right up there with the best in the world. I was delighted to see Rhys McClenaghan, Rhasidat Adeleke and the rowers have big years too, augurs well ahead of the Olympics next year.

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGEs FACING LEITRIM SPORT IN 2024?

No more than last year, facilities and funding will always be an issue when you're dealing with one of the smallest populations in Ireland. There's a combination of things there that will make things difficult down the line but with lots of GAA clubs pushing on and the Shannonside Sports Campus in Carrick getting underway we're getting there on the facilities front. Keeping rural GAA clubs alive is going to be a huge challenge in 2024 and beyond. 

PERSON OR EVENT THAT MADE ME GO WOW IN 2023

Eventwise, probably being in attendance at a rollicking All Ireland Hurling Final. Getting to bring the auld fella along and to witness a Limerick performance that threatened to lift the roof off the place was brilliant. Every score came with a thundering roar. Diarmuid Byrnes pulling the ball down from the sky in the second half and landing a monster point  from play was pure adrenaline. That team will be talked about in years and years to come as one of the best to ever do it so to see them at the height of their powers was a good time.

Equality for women's sport a sticking point for Leitrim's dual sports star Muireann Devaney

One thing I’d do to make sport better in 2024?

GAA - Bring in rules akin to rugby for treatment of officials. Speak with courtesy, only the skipper communicates, etc etc. Of all the nonsensical things we've imported into our sport from other codes (the forward mark, penalty shoot outs etc) that's one that would be so worthwhile at all levels and would encourage more women and young lads into reffing earlier in life. 

ONE TO WATCH IN 2024

Last year I predicted Áine Tighe to hit the ground running in her first full AFLW season and I wasn't too far off with that one! Hard to call this year, but I think we're in with more than a few medal shouts in Paris, particularly in the water and maybe even on the track. That would be some boost to athletics in Ireland. GAA wise, the U20's are one of the most talented groups in manual a year and being under the eye of the senior management, with a round robin championship, maybe they can ruffle a few feathers and give us an elusive win or two at that level. Also the “Jim McGuinness Returns” saga in Donegal will be keenly watched by all prospective GAA coaches.