Captain Michelle Guckian relishing home Final for Leitrim in TG4 Connacht LGFA IFC Final
TG4 Connacht LGFA IFC Final preview: Leitrim skipper expects a tough battle from Roscommon as Green & Gold seek to put League Final behind them
Fair to say that captain Michelle Guckian is really looking forward to next Sunday’s TG4 Connacht LGFA Senior & Intermediate Finals double header in Heartland Credit Union Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada, the chance for the Green & Gold to perform in front of their fans on one of the best playing surfaces in the province.
Leitrim face old rivals Roscommon as they battle for the Gift of Life Cup next Sunday at 1pm, the game followed by the Senior decider between champions Galway and Mayo but even after a long career, lining out in a Leitrim jersey at the county headquarters remains a thrill for Michelle.
“We had one Connacht Final in Pairc Sean in December during the time of Covid, we actually won that as well,” recalls Michelle of her experiences playing in Pairc Sean, “It was a very tough game, a dinger of a game but it was actually a lovely day for December 19, so kind of nice memories of that and we're looking forward to playing Roscommon on our home patch.”
With access to main county grounds still an issue in some counties, Michelle is thrilled that the County Ladies side are well familiar with the surroundings of Heartland Credit Union Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada: “I suppose the merger is happening now in the next couple of years but it's great to get playing in Parc Seán in fairness.
“We have been lucky to have a good few games in Parc Seán and we're delighted to have the Connacht final there so it's a big day for Leitrim ladies and Connacht ladies. Playing in Parc Seán, a home venue for us, is a big day for the LGFA in Leitrim. Hopefully we can get the support behind us now that it is a home venue and there won't be any clashes that day so we hope to get all our support out especially when it is a home venue and give it a good rattle,” said Michelle, referring to the recent clash of fixtures between the Men’s game in Markievicz Park and the Ladies Division 4 Final in Birr.
Mention of that game in Birr, a dramatic 3-13 to 4-9 extra-time defeat, is still painful but Michelle is confident Leitrim can bounce back, as they have so often in the past: “Obviously it was very very disappointing, going to extra time and to lose by a point is never easy, to know that we had more in the tank and we just didn't get across the line. But promotion to division 3 was always what we wanted and that's what we got.”
Leitrim don’t have to look too far back into the past for inspiration on how to bounce back from a disappointment, Jonny Garrity’s side going on to win the Connacht and All-Ireland IFC titles after missing out on promotion in 2024. And Michelle is hoping that the lessons of the past can help Leitrim.
“We had a disappointing league campaign that year, losing in the semi-final with the last kick of the game but we regrouped after that, said we're going to put a real emphasis on the championship which we did. That first game against Roscommon, we knew it was going to be a tough game but we dug in and we got a good win out of it.”
The Leitrim captain refers back to the 2024 Connacht Final where Leitrim prevailed 3-12 to 0-19 in Kiltoom, a victory that kickstarted the march to the Mary Quinn Cup: “The last time we played Roscommon was in 2024 when we had them in the Connacht final and then again in the All-Ireland quarter-final.
“Both games came down to the wire, there was literally nothing between us. We were fortunate enough that day to push on and win it but it definitely comes down to on the day. We'll give it all against the neighbours and they'll give us absolute hell as well. It is always a really close encounter. We know that there have been two divisions ahead of us at times and one division ahead of us some years but we know what style of football we can play and we know what they can play and we know it'll be a tough, tough battle and we’ve got to raise our game.”
Michelle Guckian pictured with Roscommon's Helena Cummins ahead of Sunday's Final Picture: Willie Donnellan
“For us to get through it, we're going to have to be at our best and to perform at our best and I suppose we all get spurred up a little bit more when it is a local derby. I think we're built on resilience and we get knocked down more than we get the easy way up but we always get back up.”
Key to that resilience is the sport within the camp as Michelle highlights the honour of playing for Leitrim: “We always have great morale as a team, we have a great bunch of girls and everyone really works hard for each other. If anyone is down, the rest of the team will pull you through so it's a great way to be.
“We have a great panel of players and a great management team so we're all delighted to be there. That's what keeps us oldies coming back, the camaraderie in the group that we do have. It is a great bunch and an absolute honour to play for Letirim ladies.”