Leitrim name unchanged starting 15 for Wexford Tailteann Cup clash

Glencar Manorhamilton’s Barry McNulty named on the bench as Leitrim attempt to reach quarter-finals for second time

Manager Steven Poacher has named an unchanged starting 15 from the team that defeated Carlow in round 2B of the Tailteann Cup to face Wexford in Saturday’s crunch clash in Heartland Credit Union Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada.

Talisman Barry McNulty has been named on bench while, in an unexpected development another long term injury absentee Tom Prior of Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins has been named among the stand-by players for Saturday’s clash as Leitrim attempt to reach the quarter-finals for only the second time.

In the inaugural season of the Tailteann Cup, Leitrim defeated Antrim to reach the quarter-finals of the knock-out style format where they lost out to Sligo on penalties. In 2023, Leitrim did not advance from a group that included Antrim, Fermanagh and Wexford.

In 2024, Leitrim did qualify for the preliminary quarter-finals after victories over Waterford and Longford and a loss to Kildare before going out at the hands of Wicklow while last year saw Leitrim record their first win of an injury hit year in the final game against Tipperary after losses to Kildare and Sligo.

Eight clubs are represented on the starting 15 and 12 in total on the match day squad - Fenagh St Caillins again have the biggest representation with five on the starting team and six in total while St Mary’s Kiltoghert and Mohill both have three each on the starting 15, the Carrick men also having Paul Keaney named on the bench.

Glencar Manorhamilton have four players named in the match day squad, all named on the bench, while Allen Gaels have two named in the squad. Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins, Annaduff and Melvin Gaels all have players named on the starting 15 while Aughavas, Drumreilly and Aughawillan are represented in the squad.

The full Leitrim match day squad to face Wexford in round 3 of the Tailteann Cup is as follows:

Killian Gaffey St Mary’s Kiltoghert
Arek Oberwan Allen Gaels
Conor Reynolds Annaduff
Seán Harkin Mohill
Eoin McLoughlin Fenagh St Caillins
Mark Diffley St Mary’s Kiltoghert
Keith Keegan Mohill
Conor Quinn Mohill
Kieran Clancy Melvin Gaels
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 (Captain) Fenagh St Caillins
Oisín McLoughlin Fenagh St Caillins
Conor Flood Allen Gaels
Eanna McNamara Aughavas
Colm McLoughlin Fenagh St Caillins
Peter Prior Drumreilly
Jack Kelly Glencar Manorhamilton
Ruairi O'Rourke Fenagh St Caillins
Tom Plunkett Aughawillan
Barry McNulty Glencar Manorhamilton
Paul Keaney St Mary’s Kiltoghert
James Rooney Glencar Manorhamilton
Bailey McBride Glencar Manorhamilton

Standby Players

Cathal McHugh Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins
Tom Prior Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins

Wexford have also named their team with two changes from the team that lost out to Fermanagh in round 2A. Dylan Furlong comes into defence in place of Shane Doyle while Sean Ryan replaces the injured Sean Nolan. Ryan replaced Nolan in the last outing against Fermanagh as the Model County’s leading scorer suffered a season ending ACl injury.

The following is the Wexford team to face Leitrim: