Leitrim Club Team of the Week – Week 1

After an exciting opening weekend to the Leitrim Club Championships, our reporters contributed to a combined Round 1 team. Lets breakdown who was picked and why.

You can find the full team linked here on our Instagram:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by FinalWhistle.ie (@finalwhistleie)

GK/Full-back

The goalkeeper and full-back line are the foundation of a team so it’s only right to start there. Inter-County goalkeeper Brendan Flynn provided more than just stability though for Leitrim Gaels. Flynn saved Niall Brady’s penalty in their win over Glencar/Manor on Friday, and he did so at a time when the Gaels were already three points down.

Mohill picked up a victory of their own against a youthful St. Mary’s side, and a big part of that was the defensive performance of James Mitchell. The former county corner-back helped Mohill restrict their opponents to just nine points.

Another man who kept things tight on the weekend was personal trainer Dillon Keane. His solidity at full-back helped Annaduff to a comfortable opening win over Drumreilly in the Intermediate Championship.

Despite their loss on Friday night, Mark Fox was a stand-out performer for Glencar/Manor. Fox was constantly available from kick-outs and played a huge role in the town club’s ability to transition from defence to attack.

Half-back

The importance of the half-back line is ever increasing in Gaelic Football. The weekend saw a number of players in this area make an impact, but three in particular were well-deserving of a selection.

The reliable Wayne McKeon was man of the match in last year’s county final, and Ballinamore’s thrashing of Dromahair displayed his quality again. The former county player was excellent at wing-back as usual and also pointed twice.

The Leitrim and Mohill duo of Shane Quinn and Oisin Madden were easy picks for our team after Mohill’s victory on Saturday night. Quinn’s playmaking ability came to fruition in the six, while Madden used his pace to carry the ball excellently and help the team earn a perfect start to the Senior Championship.

Midfield

The midfield was the most contentious area in Round 1, and numerous players in the county are unfortunate not to feature here.

The well-rounded performance of inter-county midfielder Shane Moran helped Ballinamore begin their senior title defence impressively. Moran was good in possession and contributed three of the team’s 20 points. St. Mary’s man James McGrail was solid all over the pitch to no surprise, and put in a real shift despite his side facing defeat.

Honourable mentions in midfield are McGrail’s central partner Paul Keaney, as well as Colm Moreton of Leitrim Gaels.

Half-forward

The half-forward line hosts some free scoring performers with current and past inter-county experience. Points win games and these selections were probably some of the more undeniable ones.

A star with Leitrim U20s this year, Shane’s younger brother Paul Moran also made his mark on Saturday. He added 1-4 to Ballinamore’s dominant display against Dromahair, flexing his raw talent at wing-forward.

No one was shocked to see Leitrim’s Keith Beirne match St. Mary’s total tally of nine points, as the talented centre-forward led Mohill to their winning start. Similarly, the county is well accustomed to Ryan O’Rourke’s prolific goal scoring for both club and county. He scored 1-8 as Fenagh St. Caillins comfortably dispatched of Aughawillan in the Senior Championship.

Full-forward

At full-forward, three players stood out in Round 1, whether it meant leading the line as their team was victorious, or providing the bright spark in defeat.

Conor Gaffney was excellent for Drumreilly, scoring all but three of their points in their opening fixture at intermediate grade. In a game where Drumreilly really struggled against Annaduff, his accuracy from the corner sees him selected.

Gortletteragh’s long trip to Kinlough was well worth it when they beat Melvin Gaels by a single point, and it was Keoghan McGovern who spearheaded their attack from the square. His general play and crucial first-half goal sets Gortletteragh up for a potential run at the senior title.

County hurler Stephen Goldrick was an easy selection at corner-forward, putting on a classic display as Leitrim Gaels overcame Glencar/Manor. Goldrick scored 2-3, and his second goal was a piece individual brilliance.

As the Leitrim Club Championships continue, we’ll be breaking down the best 15 from from each round every Monday. Keep an eye out next week as we’ll be doing the same for the beginning of the Ladies Championships!