Poacher calls on Leitrim fans to back the Green & Gold against Carlow
Leitrim manager urges fans to turn out in big numbers for crucial Tailteann Cup tie on Saturday in Heartland Credit Union Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada
Steven Poacher has issued a rallying cry for Leitrim fans to get behind the Green & Gold Senior men’s team ahead of next Saturday’s Tailteann Cup Round 2B clash in Heartland Credit Union Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada, urging them to provide the support that might get his young team across the line against Carlow.
Speaking to the Observer, Steven pointed out that next Saturday’s game is potentially the men’s senior team final home game in Carrick-on-Shannon and stressed that Leitrim, coming off a 1-27 to 0-16 defeat against Down last Saturday in Newry, need every bit of support to get them across the line.
“Regardless of how the game goes, it is going to be our last home game of the year,” Steven told the Observer, “because, from round 3 on, from what I’ve been led to believe, it is a neutral venue for the games so it is a massive opportunity for everyone to get behind the boys.
“From our perspective, at the games this year, particularly the games against Sligo and Galway, the crowd was nearly like a 16th man when we turned balls over or when we got goals, to hear the roar from Leitrim people was amazing. They are a young team and they respond very well to support so if we can get all the gaels of Leitrim out on Saturday and get behind these boys, they will respond to that.”
Certainly, the Leitrim manager feels backing from the stands and terraces against the Division 4 champions could make a big difference on Saturday: “We are unbelievably grateful to the people who support the team because we haven’t given them a huge amount of good days but we feel this year, we’ve given them a really good Connacht Championship.
“We really want to get a win in the Tailteann Cup, extend our season to round 3 and give our injured men a chance of returning to the field and see where it takes us then because one win can kickstart your Tailteann campaign.”
In fact, the Leitrim manager took plenty of solace from a deep dive into the match stats from last Saturday’s defeat in Newry: “I know the scoreline mightn’t suggest it but, for us, it was one of our best performances of the year statistically on the ball. I think we had 29 possessions and 24 shots, Down had 38 possessions and 33 shots.
“If we had spun that around, maybe winning four more kickouts and Down losing four, all of a sudden the game becomes very different. Those are the fine, fine margins and as I said, it is a young, young group and if we can get that level of support behind us, it will make a massive difference in the game.”
We really, really want that support, we want all the gaels of Leitrim, all the clubs of Leitrim to come out and bring plenty of colour and really get behind the team because the lads will respond to it, there is no question about it.
Saturday’s clash with Carlow comes too soon for some of the injured players that includes Barry McNulty, Tom Prior and Cillian McGloin but they could return if Leitrim can come through Saturday’s test: “Everybody is ok at the minute, the men who are coming back probably need another week or two but it is just all about getting through Saturday which is a huge, huge game.
“Obviously everybody knows we have an extremely young panel and they are putting in a savage amount of time and effort. We talked about how they are representing their clubs, their families, their friends. It was unbelievable a few weeks ago when we had the ‘bring a ball’ to training today for the kids.
“We really, really want that support, we want all the gaels of Leitrim, all the clubs of Leitrim to come out and bring plenty of colour and really get behind the team because the lads will respond to it, there is no question about it.”