Down test to see if Leitrim are on the up in Tailteann Cup
Green & Gold hit by injuries to Barry McNulty, Tom Prior and Cillian McGloin ahead of Newry trip on Saturday
Underdogs they definitely will be but Steven Poacher’s Leitrim travel to Newry’s Pairc Esler on Saturday evening, determined to use to the clash with Tailteann Cup favourites Down to see if the fortunes of the Green & Gold are truly on the up!
Puns aside, the clash of Leitrim and presumptive Tailteann Cup favourites Down is one of the toughest draws Poacher’s side could have been handed, the Mourne men dumping Division 1 champions Donegal out of the Ulster Championship before suffering a record breaking defeat at the hands of their neighbours Down a week later.
As sure as night follows day, Leitrim can expect a backlash from the home side next Saturday evening (6pm throw-in) but Steven Poacher will be anxious to see if Leitrim can continue to build on the form they showed against Connacht finalists Galway in their semi-final defeat.
The fact that Leitrim will line out without three key players in Barry McNulty, Tom Prior and Cillian McGloin, all of whom started both Connacht SFC games against Sligo and Galway, is a massive blow for Poacher’s side with all three missing out due to injury, the loss of McNulty and Prior particularly frustrating after both won Player of the Match awards.
One of the problems Leitrim have faced all year was in putting back to back performances together, a trait that derailed their Allianz NFL Division 4 ambitions when strong performances against London and Longford were followed by heavy defeats to Antrim, Tipperary and Carlow as heavy pitches exacted a heavy toll on a young and light Leitrim team.
But the advent of championship football has seen Leitrim score a first Connacht Championship win over a home based county in 15 years when they defeated Sligo in Markievicz Park and they followed it up with an impressive battling display against hot, hot favourites Galway in Heartland Credit Union Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada.
While Leitrim are anxious to bounce back, Down are equally anxious to set the record straight after their Ulster Championship defeat, Down’s Ryan Magill telling RTE Sports at the launch of the Tailteann Cup that the Mourne men are looking to the prize of a place in next year’s Sam Maguire.
“It's massive to have another competition that we can bounce back from [after] the Ulster Championship," Magill told RTÉ Sport, “If you win the Tailteann Cup you have an automatic spot in the Sam Maguire next year so we'll try to get ready to go again and try our best and hopefully be in the Sam Maguire next year.
“It's difficult to get back on the horse after taking such a bad beating but, no, if you have any aspirations to go further we need to dust ourselves down and go again and see where that takes us. We know within ourselves, the quality we have and the hard work we put in, we had lads who played brilliant games against Donegal and then maybe just didn't show up against Armagh.”
For Leitrim, there are areas that they know they can improve on from the Galway outing, their shooting accuracy the most obvious and if they do that, Poacher’s side will pose a significant attacking threat.
The fact that Steven Poacher is facing his native county is another factor that is sure to attack quite a bit of attention in the lead-up to the game and while it will undoubtedly add an edge to the occasion for the Leitrim boss, the fact remains that it what happens between the white lines that will decide how this contest goes. Poacher’s knowledge of his own native county will certainly help Leitrim but his presence on the Leitrim sideline will also mean that Down won’t take Leitrim for granted, they’ll play with an edge to ensure victory next Saturday evening.
One wonders if the fact that the potential opponents for round 2A and 2B is already known will play a part but you couldn’t imagine either team not going full tilt in Pairc Esler. Down, no more than Galway, are favourites for a reason but if Leitrim can bring the obduracy and resilience they showed against Galway, it will make for a very interesting evening in Newry!
LEITRIM TEAM: Killian Gaffey St. Mary’s Kiltoghert; Eanna McNamara Aughavas; Conor Reynolds Annaduff; Seán Harkin Mohill; Eoin McLoughlin Fenagh St Caillins; Mark Diffley St. Mary’s Kiltoghert; Keith Keegan Mohill; Conor Quinn Mohill; Colm Mc Loughlin Fenagh St Caillins; Fergal McLoughlin Fenagh St Caillins; Ben Guckian St. Mary’s Kiltoghert; Riordan O'Rourke Fenagh St Caillins; Paul Honeyman Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins; Ryan O'Rourke (C) Fenagh St Caillins; Oisín McLoughlin Fenagh St Caillins. Subs: Daire O'Shea St Mochta’s Louth; Arek Oberwan Allen Gaels; Donal Feely Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins; Peter Prior Drumreilly; Jack Kelly Glencar Manorhamilton; Ruairi O'Rourke Fenagh St Caillins; Tom Plunkett Aughawillan; Kieran Clancy Melvin Gaels; Michael Mc Kiernan Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins; James Rooney Glencar Manorhamilton; Bailey McBride Glencar Manorhamilton
DOWN TEAM: Ronan Burns, Peter Fegan, Pierce Laverty, Finn McElroy, Callum Rogers, Pearse McPolin, Ryan Magill, Odhran Murdock, Daniel Guinness, Shane Annett, Ceilum Doherty, Miceal Rooney, John McGeough, Pat Havern, Adam Crimmins. Subs: John O'Hare, Patrick Brooks, Jamie Doran, Gareth McKibben, Tom Close, Barry O’Hagan, Seamus Loughran, Ruairi McCormack, Eamon Brown, Finn Murdock, Órán Cunningham; Stand By Players: Donal Scullion, Liam Kerr, Caolan Mooney, Ryan McEvoy