Photo: @ConnachtGAA
Hard luck to Seán McLoughlin’s Juniors, who lost out this evening to Leitrim in the Connacht JFC final at Charlestown. In what, from the sounds of it, was a cracking contest at Fr O’Hara Park the visitors came from six behind midway through the first half to win by three at the finish. In doing so, they torpedoed our hopes of claiming a Connacht three-in-a-row at this level.
For Leitrim this evening’s win was their seventh Connacht JFC title and their first since 2004. It’s also – as this match report points out – a welcome bit of good news for the county, coming as it does hot on the heels of the enormously disappointing news that their star forward Emlyn Mulligan has suffered a third cruciate injury.
Congrats to Leitrim on a well deserved win this evening and best of luck too to Emlyn as he sets off once more on the road to recovery.
3rd time cruciate injury?. Now that’s tough luck. London could well now prevail to take on the rossies. Here’s hoping for better times on Sunday and please God the team that’s named the team that starts.
Third time cruciate injury sure is hard luck and that’s Leitrim’s second cruciate in a week or so as likely debutant Nevin O’Donnell has also been hit with the same injury. But rumour has it in Leitrim that Mulligan was off to the USA after the London game for the summer.
However Leitrim were well deserving winners this evening and this win, with a comparitively young team augurs well for them. I had predicted it was more than a possibility in a posting after the Mayo Sligo game. Winnng in London will be crucial for their fortunes.
Long time reader of this magnificent blog, dipping the toe in the comment section now for the first time. I’ve noticed over the last few months, that a few posters seemed to be a bit insulted that the media are predicting a Dublin/Kerry final, I think they’re doing us a massive favour to be honest. There’s no unnecessary pressure on Mayo going into this championship, which can only be a good thing. In fact I think there’s more pressure on Galway as they are playing at home. We have to get through Sligo first, so from what I’m told, the squad are taking nothing for granted this year. Sligo will be given the utmost respect on Sunday, and I’m expecting a big Mayo performance.
Horrible injury for Mulligan, very talented player. Can’t see how he would be going to the states after London as I think he is a Garda in Dublin. I actually expected Leitrim to beat Roscommon with Mulligan on board, as I hear their going well, and with Moyles and O’Mahony running the show anything is possible. McStay has a dream run now to the final, and is a lucky man I think. Best of luck to the players on Sunday.
MayoDunphy, Mulligan has been on leave of absence/Career break from Gardai for some considerable time now. As regards “very talented”, he is or rather was if left unmarked. In his good days he usually played on the 40 and roved around. If the centre back held his position as centre backs tend to do Mulligan could pick off points but if he was assigned a marker it was goodbye Mulligan as an influence. As in, I think, 2012 v Mayo when Lee Keegan picked him up after he had scored a few points