Leitrim 2013. All matters including Mart reports here.

FBD league from Elphin...

Leitrim 0-06
Roscommon 0-05.

A morale boosting start to 2013. The hoors even deprived us of an outing in The Hyde. Eslin's Conor Beirne kicked the last 2 points to win it. Mulligan came on at half-time and added a brace. The Sheepstealers are in freefall.....

We're on a roll....Bring on Mayo/Galway/Anybody. Limerick in Kilmallock on Feb 2nd.will be a horse of a different colour but it's a start

Appetite for County football has re-energised the oft-maligned, but forever un-yielding and occasionally magnificent Barry Prior......
Gary Reynolds has also made himself available along with Ronan Gallagher causing a quandry in defensive selection for the Management.

Emlyn Mulligan (rightfully) has been handed the captaincy and Cian Reynolds (he of Ballyduff origin) has joined the squad,**

It's a way to go to Gaelic Park yet, ne're mind The Hyde but (given all going well, injury free and committment) we'll look like this:

Cathal McCrann.

Alan Wynne.
Ronan Gallagher.
Paddy Maguire.

Gary Reynolds.
Enda Williams.
Barry Prior.

Shane Moran.
Tómas Beirne.

Brian McDonald.
Emlyn Mulligan.
Wayne McKeon.

Adrian Croal.
Conor Beirne.
James Glancy.

In the frame: Ciaran Egan, Daniel Beck, Robbie Lowe, Paul Brennan, Darren Sweeney, David Wrynne, Fabian McMorrow and 3 Springers.
I'm allowing an inter-change between Wayne Mac and Barry Prior (either can do the alternate job).....

**Jury out as yet.

Would ye be playing Robbie Lowe on the west wing? .........

Parouisa wrote:Would ye be playing Robbie Lowe on the west wing? .........

No Sir....I have no faith in any Carrick plenipotentary* since Mickey Martin.....


*Cue a follower not un-known...

I had heard rumours of this during the week but didn't realise things were that serious. They're a decent bunch down in Glenfarne/Kilty and I have every hope that they will manage to pull things around.

No shortage of teams, just more volunteers needed. Hopefully she'll get 100 at the EGM.....

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

FBD league from Ballinamore.....

Leitrim 0-09.
Mayo 0-08.

Outstanding performances from Alan Wynne and Paddy Maguire at corner backs and the entire half-back line.
Wayne Mac gave an immense performance at midfield on his home pitch but as ever, our forwards failed to ignite.

That said and it's early days yet, we've conceded 13 points over 2 Sundays to our "alleged" superiors in Connacht so we can identify where our weakness lies. That weakness has been evident for the past 40 years and until we find a couple of marksmen our circumstances are unlikely to alter greatly.
Management used a few new faces again today which is encouraging.....Confidence is rising and I expect an onslaught on Pyramid Bookmakers in the morning to hoover up that 1000/1 for Sam....Hup!!

Conceding 13 points would be resilient 15 minutes for the Donegal McKenna cup team

I am delighted to welcome the latest addition to the family. a bouncing 8lb. female nugget who shall be known as Sarah.
Mother and daughter are the full solid finest the "exhausted" father informs me. Her paternal grandparents are also the finest..

I other news....courtesy of Shannonside:

Leitrim rounded off their group stages in the Connacht FBD insurance League today with a scrappy, hard fought 0-10 to 1-6 victory over a determined GMIT side.

Going into today's game which was played at the splendid surrounds of Ballinamore, Leitrim were already assured of their place in this year's final, (the first in the history of the County). Joint mangers Brian Breen and George Dugdale handed starting roles to Enda Williams who had recently returned from Australia, and Cian Reynolds who had joined the team under the parentage rule. GMIT were on the back of two defeats coming into today's encounter but the students showed a marked improvement on their two previous outings against Mayo and Roscommon and led by 1-3 to 0-5 at the interval. Two Leitrim defensive mistakes presented the visitors with their first two scores which were converted by Owen Warde from play and a John Ryan free. As the first half progressed the home side began to assume control at Midfield with the new partnership of Wayne Mc Keon and Paddy Mc Gowan enjoying the lions share of possession, and this enabled the forward line to register scores from Gerry Hickey, Brain Mc Donald and Enda Williams. By the end of the first quarter Leitrim looked to have gained a foothold in the game and they led by 0-4 to 0-2. With 20 minutes played Leitrim goalkeeper Cathal McCrann failed to hold on to a high ball that was floated in towards his goalmouth and the very grateful Conor Kelly was on hand to finish the bal to the unguarded net. Kelly who has represented Leitrim at inter-county level was a constant thorn in his former teams side today his goal helped GMIT to a one piont interval lead. Ronan Shanahan and Emlyn Mulligan exchanged further pionts before referee Marty Parker had sounded the half time whistle.

The second half could also be described as scrappy and error ridden. GMIT continued to hold the advantage for the opening ten minutes of the new period and outscored Leitrim by 0-2 to 0-1. John Ryan and Kelly raising white flags for the Galway based side, while once again the Leitrim skipper Mulligan kept the scoreboard ticking over for Leitrim. Trailing by 0-6 to 1-5 the Leitrim management team introduced Ray Cox, Adrian Croal and BB Breenan. The trio helped to inject some urgency into the Leitrim performance and with Croal and Cox hitting two pionts combined with a further Mulligan effort Leitrim once again hit the front on a score line of 0-9 to 1-5 with 10 minutes to go.

From here to the finish scores were at a premium in the heavy conditions, John Kelly landed a massive free from close to sideline to level proceedings once again in the 51st minute to restore parity at 0-9 to 1-6, however there was still time for Adrian Croal to hammer home the fact that there is slowly but surely strength and depth in the Leitrim panel nowadays as the Glencar Manor forward kicked the winning score, three minutes from time for a 0-10 to 1-6 victory.

Leitrim will play Sligo in the FBD Final next weekend, they will know improvement will be necessary on today's performance but at least the unbeaten run continues

Welcome to the world wee Sarah.

RMDrive wrote:Welcome to the world wee Sarah.

Many thanks RMD.

An interesting issue arose in the Abbey Bar there in the evening, based upon the use of adverbs (I think).
The Dauber mused as why we use words like below and above when referring to local places....eg from Fenagh...

Above in Aughavas/Cloone.
Below in Aughawillian.
Beyond in Carrick.
Over in Drumshanbo.
Inside in Ballinamore.
Within in Mohill.
Down in Glencar/Manor/Kilty (when it's northerly)
Up in Gortletteragh.

Naturally Dan sees us as the historical and cultural capital of the county and rightly so, our parochial records date back to 455 AD, but wonders would/could more common ground be found within the county if we were to use more all-encompassing phraseology to augment rather than diminish denizens of outlying parishes......

Boxtyeater wrote:I had heard rumours of this during the week but didn't realise things were that serious. They're a decent bunch down in Glenfarne/Kilty and I have every hope that they will manage to pull things around.

No shortage of teams, just more volunteers needed. Hopefully she'll get 100 at the EGM.....

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Saved......Best of luck for 2013 to my good friends in Glen/Kilty..

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Incredible scenes here ......

Boxty and Nanny are/were minding a lock of grandchildren while baby Sarah got settled in....

A noble oul' Hereford of Boxty's took to calving around 2.30 and the gaff went to Full Alert.

In scenes parralled to "The Field" or other, accompanied by Nanny and 2 grandchildren, aged nearly 8 and 6 respectively, the noble oul' cow produced a pair of bull calves in a fashion akin' to the trousering of a "Brown Envelope"....A First in Boxty's tenure...

Staggering scenes....Boxty has the yard lights on, the calves are all but in the house, and the small ones want to ring the world....

You can have the EEC, The ESM and all the other acronyms, nothing beats Agri-Ireland...

As good as it gets.....

Foundations for creative headage submission

Congratulations to Leitrim on their first every FBD league victory. The words unstoppable juggernaut .....

Well done to Leitrim, but spare a congratulatory thought for former manager Mickey Moran. First he nurtured Sligo, setting them on the road to an eventual Connaught title under Tommy Breheny. Then it was Donegal, developing some of the stars who would become All Ireland champions last September. And now, Leitrim's new managerial team are reaping the fruits of his past labours.

Fair play to Mickey, and his ever-loyal assistant John Morrison. Hopefully now they start to get the recognition that they deserve.

FBD Final result...

Líatroim 0-08.
Sligeach 0-05.

It's early days yet, no need to lose the run of ourselves. Great credit is due to Barney Breen and George Dugdale for allowing our meagre pick of players to express themselves, in direct contrast to the previous regime.
The elements today were not conducive to attractive football, the swirling wind and driving rain mitigated against our natural desire for open and flamboyant football but we adapted better, were hungrier and once again our defence were practically impregnable....

This isn't just about the GAA, it's about identity.
It's about why you always cheer for the underdog; it's about haydogs and tipping
trailers; it's about believing in something that's worth believing in; it's
about coming from the best little county in the whole feckin' country; it's
about community; it's about standing on the hairy shoulders of our forefathers;
it's about knowing your neighbours instead of fearing them; it's about the craic
down the back of the bus; it's about Lough Melvin and Lough
Allen; it's about '27 and '94; it's about cultured culchies;
it's about Sheemore; it's about always being the first person from Leitrim one
of your new friends has ever met; it's about all the backs we broke in the bog;
it's about 2,000 people singing inappropriate songs in Cartown after the
semi-final in 2000; it's about being sentimental for square bales; it's about
Ruined Liver; it's about training in the Pheonix Park with Frank Darcy; it's
about Love Leitrim; it's about being part of the biggest clan in the Big Smoke;
it's about New York in May; it’s about the Mart in Dowra; it's about the
shortest coastline on the island; it's about John McGahern and knowing what it
means to be blessed amongst women; it's about trying to see the driver of every
car you see around the country with an LM number plate in case you know them;
it's about the mighty Shannon; it's about An Dobharchú; it’s about the first
salmon of the year; it's about invisible St. Patrick's Day Parades in
Keshcarrigan; it's about the Hideout Bar on the 3rd Sunday of September; it’s
about Fenagh Abbey; it's about knowing the worth of a good pair of wellies; it's about Charlie and his Rock 'n' Roll kids;
it's about doing it for all the people that wish they were still back home in
Lovely Leitrim; and most importantly it’s about the Boys in Green and
Gold.’

Just to let you know in advance....Tomorrow is a Bank Holiday hereabouts...

Thomas Clarke wrote:Well done to Leitrim, but spare a congratulatory thought for former manager Mickey Moran. First he nurtured Sligo, setting them on the road to an eventual Connaught title under Tommy Breheny. Then it was Donegal, developing some of the stars who would become All Ireland champions last September. And now, Leitrim's new managerial team are reaping the fruits of his past labours.

Fair play to Mickey, and his ever-loyal assistant John Morrison. Hopefully now they start to get the recognition that they deserve.

You could look at that a completely different way too ......

Parouisa wrote:

Thomas Clarke wrote:Well done to Leitrim, but spare a congratulatory thought for former manager Mickey Moran. First he nurtured Sligo, setting them on the road to an eventual Connaught title under Tommy Breheny. Then it was Donegal, developing some of the stars who would become All Ireland champions last September. And now, Leitrim's new managerial team are reaping the fruits of his past labours.

Fair play to Mickey, and his ever-loyal assistant John Morrison. Hopefully now they start to get the recognition that they deserve.

You could look at that a completely different way too ......

which is what i was thinking when i read it too!!!!!!

Well done to Leitrim good to see it

Parouisa wrote:

Thomas Clarke wrote:Well done to Leitrim, but spare a congratulatory thought for former manager Mickey Moran. First he nurtured Sligo, setting them on the road to an eventual Connaught title under Tommy Breheny. Then it was Donegal, developing some of the stars who would become All Ireland champions last September. And now, Leitrim's new managerial team are reaping the fruits of his past labours.

Fair play to Mickey, and his ever-loyal assistant John Morrison. Hopefully now they start to get the recognition that they deserve.

You could look at that a completely different way too ......

I'm confident that Boxty will back me up on this one

Boxtyeater wrote:Just to let you know in advance....Tomorrow is a Bank Holiday hereabouts...

Congrats to Leitrim on winning the Feckin' Brutal Displays (FBD) league title. I sense that there is an opportunity here for the Dauber and the other fella to use that lock of wood they got some time back to build Leitrim's first ever trophy cabinet.

Dublin Co Board open top bus in en route to Carrick as we speak. There won't be a headage payment left in the county tonight ....

Hey Boxty - when is the Football's Bottom Division (FBD) cup heading to the Fenagh clubhouse? I might go down for that ....

Thomas Clarke wrote:
I'm confident that Boxty will back me up on this one

The suspect "winkie" was judiciously placed TC. I feel that despite a serious intake of porter and hours of increasingly more aimless and irrational "analyis", my decision to let your kind comment pass was perhaps best all round.

Mickey attended our qualifier victory over Wicklow last summer and I honestly hope that he's made, or is making, a full recovery to health.

Parouisa wrote:Hey Boxty - when is the Football's Bottom Division (FBD) cup heading to the Fenagh clubhouse? I might go down for that ....

I'm beginning to consider some of your anecdotes as material for the "Annoying Issues" thread....

We have never felt the need for what you urbanites refer to as "clubhouses". We've never had the money for one of those heavily leveraged "Drinking Dens". We were bequeathed a field in the early 80's and managed to build dressing rooms and a bit of a small hall.
The hall section sees it's greatest use on polling days and annual AGM's. Derelict thereafter.

In their wisdom The Parish Elders encouraged their flock to build circa 3,000 sq.ft. detached palatial mansions for their personal use. These pads are now to be the subject of, I gather, €225 p.a. in the dreaded Property Tax.

We're