Fenagh GAA

Fenagh St. Caillins v Gortletteragh

v

Fenagh St. Caillins v Leitrim Gaels

v

Fenagh St. Caillins v Aughawillan

v

Fenagh St. Caillins v Aughnasheelin

v

Fenagh St. Caillins v Leitrim Gaels

v

Fenagh St. Caillins v Glencar-Manorhamilton

v

Ballinaglera v Mohill

Leitrim IFC and JFC Previews

The Leitrim IFC and JFC near their conclusions, with relegation finals and semi finals to be decided this weekend.

INTERMEDIATE

SEMI-FINALS

Aughnasheelin v Kiltubrid

in Avant Money Pairc Sean MacDiarmada at 2:30pm on Saturday 8th October

The first of the two IFC semi-finals throws local rivals Aughnasheelin and Kiltubrid together. These two are well acquainted opponents, given how often they've played each other in recent years and the fact many of the players would have soldiered together at schools level over the years.

Last year's meeting saw Kiltubrid win by a single point, which saw them progress to this stage against Ballinaglera. Their championship run ended following their collapse in that game.

This year, Kiltubrid have been up and down. They've lost to Bornacoola, beaten championship favourites Allen Gaels and drawn with Drumkeerin but a big win over Ballinaglera by nine points saw them take vengeance for last years defeat.

A big win over Ballinaglera by nine points saw them take vengeance for last years defeat. They followed that up with another nine point win in the quarters against Drumkeeran, so they come into this in good form.

They followed that up with another nine point win in the quarters against Drumkeerin, so they come into this in good form. Backboned by some very experienced former Leitrim players including keeper Noel Gill and Shane Foley in defence. Around the middle of the park, Michael McCormack, Fionn O'Brien and James Tighe set the tempo.

Up front, Barry McWeeney has been impressive when called upon whilst the experience of Emmett Mahon and Mick Earley has been huge for the side. They'll look to Barry and Danny McWeeney for scores, as well as the O'Brien brothers.

Aughnasheelin will likely go in as favourites based on their squad's intercounty experience, but will still need a big performance. Kevin McWeeney has been solid in goals whilst Wayne Gilgunn, Ciaran and Cillian Cullen have been excellent at the back.

Aaron Hoare has dominated midfield whilst Fintan Fitzpatrick is the chief scorer in attack. His accuracy is a key reason as to why they're in this position at all after the lose of Conor Cullen who was in inspired form prior to his injury during the league.

Rumour's have circulated that large numbers of the current Aughnasheelin squad are bound for foreign shores in the coming weeks and if true this could be their last chance for a county title for some time.

Allen Gaels v Annaduff

in Avant Money Pairc Sean MacDiarmada at 4:30pm on Saturday 8th October

Two teams who were heavily tipped to go the distance square off in the second semi-final.

Since the change in the dugout a few weeks prior to the championship, Allen Gaels have gelled really well. Aside from a slight blip against Kiltubrid in round 2, they have been very impressive.

Some young exciting talent has emerged in Drumshanbo, with Caleb Duffy, Colin Moran and Ciaran Walsh leading the line. The trio have been responsible for some big scores for their side.

At the back, Ronan Moran has been solid in between the sticks. Martin Raftery, Alan Wynne, Mark Gunning and Radek Oberwan in defence have all performed in big moments.

Annaduff on the other hand were well beaten by their opponents a month ago in the group stage, 1-12 to 0-07. That result shows they enter this one as underdogs.

A black card for Adam O'Hagan in that game proved costly for Allen Gaels, as they couldn't find a reply to a 1-6 run in the last fifteen minutes. If they manage to keep their full fifteen on the field however, they will stand a chance.

Annaduff have made this final in recent years, losing to Gortletteragh in the rescheduled 2020 final. They'll look to experience here, but age isn't on their side. There are a few examples in recent years however, such as Drumreilly, that on the big day age doesn't matter.

Availability has been an issue but the indication is that Conor Reynolds should be back from his injury. Elsewhere, Dillon Keane and Dean Gill have been inspirational at the back whilst Sean McNabola and Kenny Cox have been good up front.

Allen Gaels will be favourites, but this will ultimately come down to who wants it more.

RELEGATION FINAL

Ballinaglera v Mohill

in Fenagh St. Caillins at 1:30pm on Sunday 9th October

Last years finalists face last years junior champions for survival.

Mohill have struggled due to eligibility rules and they come into this one as huge underdogs, also as a result of said rule. With the senior final also nigh, there's bigger fish to fry in this parish.

Ballinaglera are also concenred by rumours of emigration, so this club could be in a sticky position after the winter. They'll be hoping they can maintain their intermediate status for now.

JUNIOR RELEGATION FINAL

Glencar/Manorhamilton v Melvin Gaels

in Shane McGettigan Park, Drumshanbo at 1:00pm on Sunday 9th October

With the re-sizing of the JFC down to eight teams, Ballinamore and Aughawillan have already been relegated. One of the sides from North Leitrim will join them there after this game.

Melvin Gaels were relegated from senior football last week at the same venue and will look to avoid their B team suffering the same fate. Given the hangover from Sunday last, it's tough to know what the mood of the club will be like heading into this one.

Glencar-Manor will also be disappointed to be in this position and given how their senior season ended, they're in a similar position to their opponents. They won the Junior final in 2019, so to face the prospect of relegation would feel like a serious step back.

Melvin Gaels did compete in the tougher group, as two of their opponents progressed to the semi final. They also only lost to group winners Cloone by a point. They're probably slight favourites heading into this.

As usual, live text and audio commentary can be found for selected games through their respective links above.

v

Ballinaglera v Drumreilly

v

Fenagh 2-9 – 1-14 Leitrim Gaels

Chandler nets to send Leitrim Gaels to top of table

A goal from Shaun Chandler in stoppage time saw Leitrim Gaels through to the Connacht Gold Leitrim SFC semi-finals for the second year in a row.

With just one point between the sides Chandler had the opportunity to pop the ball over the bar to level matters but decided to go for goal and fired to the net. There was no way back for Fenagh.

Leitrim Gaels made a fine start to the game with captain Aidan Flynn firing over two points. Flynn was excellent throughout. Colm Moreton scored a fantastic long range point after that before a Stephen Goldrick free extended the lead to four points in the 10th minute.

The superb Ryan O’Rourke opened Fenagh’s account with a mark in the 11th minute. Minutes later he cut the gap to one point. Points were exchanged between the sides as the Gaels twice were ahead by two. 

The sides were level in the 28th minute. Just before half-time Ryan O’Rourke hit a powerful shot to the net to put Fenagh ahead for the first time in the game. The lead 1-6 to 0-6 at the break.

Goldrick kicked over a free at the start of the second half. Ryan O’Rourke then scored his second goal of the game receiving the ball from Oisin McLoughlin before finding the top corner of the net with a fantastic shot.

Leitrim Gaels response was excellent. Four points in a row including two monstrous scores from Colm Moreton cut the gap to one point in the 45th minute.

Riordan O’Rourke hit over a point in the 47th minute. Leitrim Gaels replied with points from Goldrick (free), Enda Moreton and goalkeeper Brendan Flynn (free) to regain the lead in the 56th minute.

It was all action in the final minutes as both sides went for the win. Fergal McLoughlin and Ryan O’Rourke hit over points to edge Fenagh back in front in the 59th minute. Leitrim Gaels went for the equaliser.

Aidan Flynn did all the hard work before he played the ball to Chandler and when he spotted the opportunity he went for goal and won the game for his side.

v

Fenagh 3-16 – 0-13 Aughawillan

Fenagh St. Caillins comfortably beat Aughawillan in Leitrim SFC Round 1

Fenagh made an impressive start to the Connacht Gold Senior Championship for 2022 with a late scoring flurry yielding 1-4 against a determined Aughawillan side who were minus the services of the suspended Fergal McTague and Noel Plunkett.

Aughawillan started brightly with Pearse Dolan winning the throw in and delivering long to Mark Plunkett who marked and scored. Riordan O'Rourke replied instantly before Barry Prior applied the finish from distance to a well worked Aughawillan move.

Fenagh then struck for their first goal, Riordan O'Rourke turning provider for Ryan O'Rourke to cut inside along the endline and roofing a shot past Colin Maguire to put them 1-1 to 0-2 on front on five minutes.

Fenagh would go on to hold the lead for the remainder of the half. Mark Plunkett hit a '45 to reply to Tom Gilheaney's point before Fenagh pulled further ahead through two more Ryan O'Rourke efforts. Donal Wrynn send two frees to the right and wide off the sod before Ciaran Gilheaney converted a free to leave the goal between them at the water break.

Aughawillan had the better of the second quarter. Gilheaney hit his second and third of the day both from play which was followed up with two from Gary Plunkett who was causing Fenagh problems on the '40.

Fenagh's response came through points from Aaron Smith and another couple from Ryan O'Rourke before another Gilheaney effort from a free sent Aughawillan in two points in arrears at the break, 1-8 to 0-9.

Aughawillan were much more direct on the changeover, but were left to inaccuracy in front of the posts. The ever dangerous Oisin McLoughlin opened the scoring two minutes in with Riordan O'Rourke getting his second of the day four minutes later. They came either side of Pearse Dolan rattling the Fenagh crossbar and hitting a succession of wides, with the Plunkett and Ciaran Gilheaney guilty parties as Aughawillan chased the lead.

It would be ten minutes before Aughawillan would get a score, coming from the lesser used right foot of Morgan Quinn. Ciaran Gilheaney got his fourth soon after and a Ryan O'Rourke point on 15 minutes meant there was still three between them at the second water break, 1-11 to 0-11.

Ryan O'Rourke and Quinn swapped free on the resumption of play before Fenagh added their second goal to make it 2-12 to 0-12. Aughawillan supporters were incensed that Morgan Quinn wasn't awarded a free after an overzealous Mark Keegan tackle but Keegan's turnover send Fenagh up the length of the field and Oisin McLoughlin done well to finish from a tight angle and beat Colin Maguire on his near post.

Aughawillan won the subsequent kickout and went straight down the field, with substitute Reece Maher having to settle for a point after his initial effort hit the Fenagh cossbar. That, surprisingly would be Aughawillan's last score of the game.

They attacked keenly for the next four minutes trying to force a goal chance among a massed Fenagh defence who were content to play on the counter attack. They hit three points in a many minutes through Wrynn, Ryan O'Rourke and the impressive Fergal McLoughlin before Ryan O'Rourke intercepted a short kickout and drove at the goal, this time proving for Riordan who finished low to the net.

He would go on to have the final say via a point from play to leave a handsome, if somewhat deceptive 12 point margin on the scoreboard at Gareth Foley's final whistle.

v