GIVE ‘EM A CHANCE

Leitrim are perfect example of just why fixture re-structuring is badly needed

IN the opening round of last year’s Allianz League, Leitrim went to play Derry in a Division Three tie at Celtic Park, with the home side relieved to earn a draw after kicking the last two points.

By the time the League was wound up in March as Covid-19 struck, Leitrim had just scored an eight-point win over Louth.

But a Covid outbreak saw them forfeit their tie against Down and while they could still have saved themselves by beating Tipperary in their last game, they lost by two points to the eventual Munster champions.

A week later, they were competitive against Mayo for the majority of their Connacht quarter-final but eventually lost 2-15 to 0-10.

On Sunday, that margin increased to 24 points as Mayo routed them in Castlebar.

Having finally found some momentum under Terry Hyland, it’s long gone now. Though the pandemic clearly hasn’t done anyone any favours, it’s probably the single-biggest reason for that.

Leitrim would have entertained thoughts of another promotion from Division Four this year but, a first half red card, brought on a defeat by Sligo.

Mickey Harte’s Louth beat them next and all they had to look forward to was a knockout Championship tie, away to last year’s All-ireland finalists, seven weeks in the distance.

Player turnover is part of the natural evolution of any team but while it’s been endemic in Leitrim, Hyland has certainly brought more stability across the board with 10 players starting against Mayo both this year and last.

Yet, just four, have started all of their three Connacht Championship games under the Cavan man.

As Hyland alluded to, whatever hope Leitrim have entering fixtures like Sunday’s, they have no chance of even being competitive from a standing start.

“Anybody from Division

Three or Four, are they better off playing against their own teams and improving on the back of that and building a bit of confidence?” he wondered.

Striking that balance between competitive games, without completely cordoning counties off and perpetuating gaps that already exist, is key.

Whether the proposals coming before

Special Congress later this year are fit to achieve that is debatable.