Philip Howard: Welcome to the second episode here of Lake Ritchima. Gary, we've made it to the second episode, that's not bad.

Gary Reynolds: Yeah. we haven't gone worried wide yet to leave, but I'm expecting that to happen in the next couple of weeks, we'll see.

Philip Howard: Absolutely. So look, we've a very special episode today. We have a championship semi-final preview. We hadn't really intended on doing these sorts of episodes, but I suppose we're in the middle of the championship, but coming up to the semi-finals, and what a better thing to talk about only the two big matches at the weekend. We have Mohul versus Van der Moore, and we have Fina versus Leitram Gales, and we have a very special guest, Evan Sweeney from Manor Hamilton. is gonna come on to us in a couple of minutes and we're gonna have a chat about those. matches. So those are obviously intriguing battles and we'll get into the finer details of those matches in due course. Gary, how are things yourself? Did you get up to much the weekend?

Gary Reynolds: Good Philly, yeah. all's good. All's good. yeah, loads of sport, loads of sport at the weekend, which is gr I always enjoy. Premier League is back. I watched Villa beating Spurs on on Saturday, lunchtime actually was the early kickoff. It was it was a good first half, but Spurs were all over us and then Villa came good in the second half. So first win of the season so badly needed. So that put me in put me in good humour for the weekend and then took in a bit of local local football yesterday. I went to one of the Needs quarterfinals here. Don Chocklin played Rat Out over in actually Dungani, which is the centre of Excellence in Lead there. It's an impressive setup. It's been a long time since I was there. I think I actually went down geez, it could be ten years ago to watch Lee Trum Minors in the challenge there. maybe it's not ten years ago, but it's not far off. and that would have been the last time I was in it properly and I've done a serious job of it. So yeah, went down, watched that and it was a lovely day yesterday actually. I think it was up around eighteen, nineteen degrees. So enjoyed that game. beat them by two in the end. It was two eighteen to two sixteen, but serious football on show and fairness and I couldn't I just actually been there and I was pitch side 'cause it's all enclosed. Couldn't get over the physicality of of the needy lads around the middle. as as McGe

Philip Howard: Nice, yeah.

Gary Reynolds: calls it, as me McGeini calls it piggery on the kick outs, it was just the competing was outrageous. So that was my weekend to play I had yeah, play the soccer game Friday night as well actually. So that was it, yeah. Good weekend. Loads of sport, which is great. I'm delighted about all it's all back and and you're getting the kinda sample. What about yourself?

Philip Howard: yeah, all good. I'm

Gary Reynolds: ran a couple of Americans, did you?

Philip Howard: well I'm actually I'm trending for the marathon at the moment now, so we were down down in Tipperary and I did twenty eight K part of the plan, so just trying to keep ticking away. So we've double marathon in a couple of weeks. So yeah, sticking to the plan reasonably well. It's not easy now at the moment with with kids' sport on and bits and pieces, but yeah, I got got twenty eight K in. so yeah, n sets me up nicely for for another few weeks, another few long runs now every weekend for the next few weeks. And hopefully

Gary Reynolds: Taper down then.

Philip Howard: we we'll give it a rattle. I was I went up then to the Barnacula Melvin Gales match. took that in on Sunday so that was obviously the intermediate quarter final and obviously Melvin Gales came out on top there. But it's you know I think Barnacula from where they were halfway through the the group stages they got a great win obviously against Drummerhare and that set them up for for a battle against Melvin Gales. Played well in the first half, probably left it behind. The chances that they didn't take, they were definitely on top around the middle, had lots of lots of possession, were getting the ball in and maybe taking, you know, options that wasn't the right option at the time. so it was half time, was level. And then Melvin Gales took over in the second half and Barnacuda ran out of steam a bit. But look, I think in general the club, there's a lot of young players coming up, are under seventeens. Ring Gales are in the Division One final, Championship final, which is which is great. there's players now featuring in intercounty teams that probably wasn't in the last you know, maybe previous years. So I think it's it's a positive enough time for the club. club grounds are being redeveloped at the moment, so it's it's in gr it's a great nick. It's actually, you know, every time I go down, I'm you're so proud of the place. It's it's in serious order.

Gary Reynolds: Yeah.

Philip Howard: so yeah, so look, I think it's obviously disappointing when you probably play your best game in the week before the championship quarter final, but you know, that's the way it goes. You know, I think Melvin Gales probably probably were the better team. And if you look at it actually, Melvin Gales I'm just looking at the fixtures there. They actually were in the you know, they were in the s senior quarter final last year, which is which obviously they got relegated and and you know you're playing a team there and you weren't too far off them and and maybe didn't play your your full game. So so it is It's it's disappointing but look, it's it's there's there's lots to build on going forward. So

Gary Reynolds: Definitely there it seems to I Bonacouva a lot of young ones coming through. He's had a couple of county minors in under twenties the last years, probably hadn't any for a long time before that. Maybe Barr, you know, Damien or one or two others. But seemed to have a young team there. I we played you the last few years and there was always a few young faces, so that's always a good sign. but I think yeah, I I

Philip Howard: Yeah.

Gary Reynolds: don't think that nothing too shabby if we into a quarter final.

Philip Howard: no, absolutely not. But look, we'll we'll we'll hopefully we'll hopefully have something to build on next year. And obviously I as I said, Gary is actually Gary is playing soccer at the moment. You're banging in a few goals for Dunchauckland Youths. there'll be no sign of you talking out for Carrie Gallen in a relegation final at the weekend. You get the you get the call back.

Gary Reynolds: No yeah, no, no, they're they're they're moving on and they're moving up. Look, hopefully, no, playing a bit of soccer, yeah, it's harmless less now. I didn't even know an over thirty fives league existed until until I got brought out here the last year or two to play a bit of soccer, but so it's a bit of crack and keeps me keeps me half middle and fit. But no, look the boys, yeah they look they're they're in a battle this weekend. probably against a team who didn't expect to be down there. I don't think anyone would have drunk here in i in that in that relegation final. we were always going to, you know, no more than yourselves, no disrespect probably in Bornaculo is t to to keep head above water this year and we were very close to that. put in for three quarters of the game, put in a really good performance against Scott Letra but just the game turned on one goal and the and the lads' heads dropped a little bit. But look, we've we've had a massive turnover players in the last year or two, a lot of a lot of experience gone. And a lot of really good young lads coming in as well. they probably just need a bit of help from a few others and and they've just lost a lot of people at the same time. So it's it's unfortunate, but you know, it gives them every chance this weekend to parch on with pitch with a lot of youth and a lot of pace, as do Dunkirn, so it'll be it'll be a dog fight, no doubt, this time of year, especially if you don't know what the weather's gonna be. I think it's the curtain raiser to File the Mole and Mohul,

Philip Howard: so we're gonna chat to Evan and we're gonna crack on with that Okay, great. So we're here with Evan Sweeney. Evan, how are you?

Evan Sweeney: Good lads, thanks for having me on here.

Philip Howard: Fair play to you. So Evan is our resident expert here now on Laker Litrama. We seven Gary probably haven't been at too many matches of senior championship matches in the last little while. So we decided we'd have to get someone on who's a current player. he's obviously been involved with Leitram senior football team for the last few years. so he's a man in the know and he'll be able to provide us with a good bit of information on what's happening on the ground and from his own experiences playing and obviously. you know, knowing these lads on the on the intercounty scene. So Evan, how's what's the crack with you? You you had a good win at the weekend there. it's obviously nice to get over the line and you don't have to worry about any relegation stuff. so tell us a little bit about yourself. How how'd the year go for you overall?

Evan Sweeney: Yeah, that's it really. So obviously played a Willem there at the weekend in the relegation final and it's relegation finally the tricky one because the reward is massive, but you don't get that instant, know, where the likes of you win a quarterfinal, you get straight through to a semi. You get the benefit of winning that game, you know, next year and into the future. So we got over the line all right. Tough enough game to kind of get up for because To be honest, it wasn't where we planned to be, but it's where we deserve to be in the end of. So we got over the line and yeah, I suppose just starting off the start of the off season now, but looking forward, I suppose you'd be jealous. Definitely if the teams that are still in the championship and obviously the semi-finals, we'll talk a bit about that after, but you you'd definitely be jealous, you lads know from playing with your club and for your county over the years. To be looking forward to big game like that, be here, to be in the semi-final would be where we'd love to be, or, you know, in knockout football. But, yeah, that's where we found ourselves this year, so.

Philip Howard: And you obviously weren't far away. I was looking at the table there. Like you you ended up on z on you know zero goal difference, yet you only got two points. so you were really close in a lot of games. So like it's not as if you're that far away. And I know you've a young squad, you've a lot of good young players coming through. and you know, I'd say in the club you're probably saying, Jeez, we're not far away, lads.

Evan Sweeney: Yeah, definitely. Look, over the last kind of number of years, last three, four, five years, we have had a difficult enough stint with the Manor senior team. There's no point saying otherwise. In terms of just that kind of players coming through, it's only in the last real two years there's been an influx of players coming through, particularly the last two, three years. I think last year, so say the beginning of 2025, I think there was up in 12 players came through for minor and maybe six or seven of them started last year on our senior team. This year we had four or five come up and we had three guys who got consistent minutes. So, look, we definitely think over the past two years, we've kind of turned that corner and we're starting to go in the right direction. And we definitely are in terms of some of the things, know, in terms of the... performances and giving lads game time. But this year, I suppose it's grand. We got close to Leitron Gales, the better by a point. Fianna, better by a point. And then all of a sudden we're going into the last two games looking to get a win against Allengales, which we got, and then looking to beat Mohul away from home. So I suppose, yes, you can kind of look at it with a glass half full and say, definitely we're going in the right direction, but At the same time, it's a league table or the championship table doesn't lie. We ended up in the bottom two. it's kind of, yes, there is positives, but we need to start turning the performances

Gary Reynolds: You're

Evan Sweeney: into results, you know.

Gary Reynolds: you seem to be, and though I think you've won a couple of minors in a row now, haven't you in Manor, you've really focused on kind of driving the underage thing over the last maybe ten, twelve years. So by your own admittance probably in in in in the top, you probably knew this kind of bit of a lull was coming and then trying to integrate those players as quickly as you could because As you'll know yourself, you're very experienced in Philly will know, like you get a couple of good minor teams or or ten or twelve good young lads, and sometimes it doesn't always transition to to good senior players. And back in the day it might have happened a little bit easier, but w with everything young lads have going on now, it's very hard to get them into that and into the same pace that you boys are operating at. So I I you know, from the outside looking in, it seems like you've done that pretty successfully, although You know, the kind of guy you are, you're you're obviously looking at a relegation final, not where you want to be, but by staying up now gives those guys another year next year of of of senior football, you know?

Evan Sweeney: Definitely and then you know the guys that have come on come in this year like as you said there Gary like there's there's huge work going on in the underage structures going back I think Barry McNaughty's age won the minor championship in around maybe 21 and That was the first minor championship in the club's history and then the one

Gary Reynolds: Way.

Evan Sweeney: another one yeah, it was the

Philip Howard: Right.

Evan Sweeney: one it was the one the minor title was the one that I don't know, just went on. It went

Gary Reynolds: He had a bit ludicy.

Evan Sweeney: on so long. Yeah. And then they went and we would have been obviously division one in a lot of the minor football and that, but then they backed it up and won another one in 2024, which would have been like Jack Kelly, Bailey McBride's age. those guys that have come in have been fantastic over the last two years. You we probably we expect a lot from them at 17, 18 and just going 19

Philip Howard: Yeah.

Evan Sweeney: some of them. But Yeah, they just need that time to play senior football. yeah, in terms of talent and ability, know, there's no issue there. The club would have put a lot of work into that. A lot of good people around the club over the last kind of 10 years, they would have put a lot of work into academies and stuff like that. Probably going back further, further than 10 years, really, 15 years, yeah.

Philip Howard: Yeah. And I suppose look, we all know, like I know myself, when I was coming up, we were winning minor championships under twenty ones, and there was the the automatic thing was suddenly you're gonna win a senior championship and you know there's it's not a smooth transition. As much as you're competitive, you know, to neck to take the next step, it it doesn't happen automatically. you mentioned there our friend Barney McNulty scored one thirteen at the weekend. when you heard that Barry was going to these AFL trials, was there was there ever a sort of a feeling that you were gonna get a a few nails and a hammer and lock the door with with and don't let him out?

Evan Sweeney: Good man, Philly. Thanks for that one, It's a great one to go.

Gary Reynolds: He's looking for the scoop Evan. He's in the straight away looking for scoop. He's he's like all these journalists now, yeah.

Philip Howard: That's it, yeah.

Evan Sweeney: Well, I have nothing that you don't have. Yeah, there was nearly there was no

Gary Reynolds: Be careful now.

Evan Sweeney: there was no family feud or anything. But I actually and I'm not just saying that it's funny when I when I'm talking to Barry, it's seldom about football. I actually don't know. I honestly don't know what the crack with that was. yeah, he's very talented and look, we're very, very lucky to have him like and himself and Tom Plunkett at the weekend put on a show of

Gary Reynolds: Exhibition.

Evan Sweeney: two pointers like, you know, it was actually it was it was a joy to watch. the two of them going kind of toe to toe. But yeah, the two-pointer suits some players now. I don't think they suit all of us, but yeah, Barry's so talented now. And it's surprising that he hasn't gone for something like that before. It was inevitable that was going to happen at some stage, but I'm afraid, Philly, that's all I have for you.

Philip Howard: Have a look, that's fair enough.

Evan Sweeney: Yeah.

Philip Howard: right, we're going to get on here into our matches that we have at the weekend. So Mohul is playing Ball Lamore in our first match. So that's the match we'll start off with on five o'clock on Saturday evening. You know, I think that's an intriguing battle. these two teams have played each other a lot over the last few years. They obviously played in the final in twenty twenty four. Mohull won the replay there, and they were playing in the I think twenty twenty one as well, which Ball Lamore won. And they had a c draw on the group stages as well. so they're probably evenly matched. Both of have have a lot of really good players in their team, especially in the forward line. Did you p who did you play? Did you play both of these teams this year or did you play one or the other?

Evan Sweeney: So, played Mohal, didn't play Ballina Máir. Now we've played Ballina Máir in nearly every year, I'd say, over the past five, six years, so we would know them fairly well. But yeah, it's an exciting game, lads, isn't it? It's an intriguing contest, like you could really make a case for both sides here. I know they played in the group stage and they finished their draw, but these are the... These two teams have met a lot in recent years. I know they met in the final and had to be separated just on penalties. So, like there's very little between these two sides, you know, going into the weekend.

Philip Howard: And I think as well, like you look at you look at the firepower that Mohal have and we mentioned there with the two pointers and you know it's you know, I think Keith Byrne there, he's these two pointer scores, it's tailor-made for his his ability to kick from far out. Like he's just such a powerful player, and obviously if he gets the ball on his left foot. And like I know that you can imagine Baltimore will have him earmarked from a mile out, but knowing who their who the danger man is and stopping him is a different story. and then obviously you have you have your other boys on the other side with Tom Tom Pryor and with Paul Honeyman and obviously Michael McKieron as well. So there's lots of talent there in in both ranks. where do you think you know the game is going to be won? Obviously we mentioned the the attack and threat. Is there anyone I haven't mentioned there who you've seen that maybe is is is a is a good attribute can can really make a difference for either team?

Evan Sweeney: Yeah, well, look, you've touched on a lot of them there. Like, if you just focus on Ballon d'Amour for a moment, like Ballon d'Amour into year three now of their, I think it's year three, possibly year four, with their current manager.

Gary Reynolds: Same manager, yeah.

Evan Sweeney: same manager, yeah, Henry. So like, you know, he's experienced, they're all as very difficult to break down Ballon d'Amour and they have a good mix of kind of experienced players. and then a couple of younger guys kinda coming on the scene as well. Now they do have a good experience, cohort of lads, like if you look at their strength and depth this year, they seem to be a team that are really putting everything into this to try and get a title. Probably, maybe they might look at maybe, they might see themselves as possibly underachieving over the last couple of years with the talent that they have. They've been there, thereabouts in fairness to them. They got one title. in 2021, but like in terms of the strength and depth, the McGoverns are back, I think, back playing for Ballina

Philip Howard: Yeah.

Evan Sweeney: More as well. Now, I don't know how much football they're playing the last few years, but they're going to add good size around the middle. They're obviously big physical men as well. The Ballina More thing, Ballina More generally would be, you know, a direct team, strong running team, physical around the middle, as I said, but they also have players like the likes of Tom Prior as a touchdown there, like... very unique player. He goes and he picks holes and he picks holes. He's very evasive and he'll just take his man on nine times out of ten. Then you have the likes of Paul Honeyman who is probably now at what maybe 20, 21. Probably expect a lot out of him, but he's at the stage now where I'd say he's ready to take this on in terms of leaving out the scoring side of things. But they have a lot of scorers. They also have The likes of Dylan Byrne there as well has been chipping in with a few, Paul Moore and Shane Moore, I'm probably leaving out a few there. You know, they have different options in terms of scoring threats around the field. When you look then at Mohal, like Mohal are so experienced. The one thing about Mohal is they're so connected in terms of what they're doing. Like there's great clarity in terms of their game, their tactics, what they're trying to do on field. Now, although they're into, you know, they're a new manager, year one and all that, but they still have massive experience. And the one thing about Mohal is they may not have the underage structures that other clubs may have, but they're adding a player that's having an impact every year. Do know, Gary, if you

Gary Reynolds: Real. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Philip Howard: Mm.

Evan Sweeney: see that, like, just think back to the Harkins a couple of years

Gary Reynolds: Yeah.

Evan Sweeney: ago. That's going back a good few years ago. Then the likes of Jack Rowley, know, Frankie McManus has come in this year and is holding his own. So they're just adding one or two and then they're retaining what they have. So going into the weekend, like, obviously, I do think and you could easily make a case for either side and fully convince me of your case, but I just feel like Ballina Moore, I just had that instinct that there just might have enough. And I'm saying that very tentatively in terms of scoring threats around the pitch. If you can keep keep burn to five or six from play, it's probably a very good day's work, you know. I still have Donald Flynn, they'll Shane Quinn, Squiggy Keegan that might come in and add to that. But I just think Ballamore might just have that extra bit of scoring progress around the pitch really.

Gary Reynolds: You mentioned the bench as well, and the two McGoverns being back, Evan, and I know that the last couple of games I think Wayne McKeone came in at half time and some of those. So, you know, not to sound too much like Jim Gavin in his years with Dublin, but a lot of the games now depending on the two pointers and also because the pace of the games is up and down so much, it just means now that the bench is making a serious impact on all these games. You're bringing I don't know if the two McGoverns will start, by all accounts they're meant to be both have come home in great shape and injury free. So I think the beezer Bees

Evan Sweeney: Okay, yeah.

Gary Reynolds: are McKiernan only kind of come on the last day as well. Now these boys could end up starting of course at the weekend because it's winner takes all. But yeah, you're you're raising some interesting points there because as me and Philly are are are not going to try and pull the wall over anybody's eyes, we we haven't seen enough of these teams over the years. But you're right, some of the names you're mentioned are still still you know flying and you're you're spot on. I I think Ballinmore, you know, even chatting to a few of them would feel like they should have more county medals to show for the kind of squads and dominance that they've put together over the last couple of years. So yeah, it's got it'll be a Titanic battle and these know each other so well as well, the pair.

Evan Sweeney: Yeah, and similar to Mohul as you touched on there, Badalamore are adding one or two players as well. They've got Louis Quinn that's doing quite well for them there as well. Just adding different players. Obviously, Michael McBride, you probably know, he's still been quite a young guy. only out of under 20 in the last year or two. They have good experience and the one thing they do have, and both sides have it, is when you look at this game, it's so hard to call it. a couple of key markers you look at. Kick outs, the midfield battle and the big one is going to be the match ups. So if you're coming out on top in two out of three of those, you're probably going to win the game. And just finally there, you touched on McKeown. I think he came on the last day. Yes, they have a bit of kind of a mix of youth and experience, but he is key to them, particularly with the new rules. the new rules in terms of like he's nine times out of 10, he's going to try and move the ball with the foot like, you whereas Ballon

Philip Howard: Mm.

Evan Sweeney: d'Amour would have been that kind of more hard running team, but he would probably buck that trend in terms of if he sees it on, he'd move the ball with the foot if at all possible and the likes of Paul Moat. Yeah.

Gary Reynolds: Yeah, and and you talk about putt you talk about Tom Pryor, Evan, that kind of your teams are playing a low block and then depending on how click out settle around that middle eight, that middle eight, I just find it's you know, as and I said it already at the beginning, McGee called the piggery, but that's it. And if you can get like if McKeone's dropping into that kind of quarterback roll just spraying and he's hitting Tom Pryor in space, I mean if Pryor gets a one v one. So yeah, it'll just be interesting to see how both teams set up from that perspective.

Evan Sweeney: Definitely, yeah. It's, no, it's, as I said, lads, it's a really intriguing game and it's, I just feel possibly just with the open planes of Parrot Sean, I know I'm playing there Saturday, it's not getting any smaller.

Gary Reynolds: Yeah.

Evan Sweeney: it's a big open pitch. I just about give Ballina Moore the nod in terms of their firepower up front. And I just feel like they'll be at the place now where they think it's kind of their time to try and make a state for it. obviously, look, you could flip that and say what Mohul have good size around the middle. They're athletic. They're very experienced. And as I said, to be fair to them, they've been there and done it. And you know, you'd have to respect them in terms of what they've done over the last number of years, you know.

Philip Howard: Yeah. And I think as well, like y you know, with all these games, both of these games I think, you know, as you said, Evan, th there's nothing between them. you look and you look at Bal Namor in the last two finals, they'll I'm sure when you when you lose two finals in a row, you're absolutely gunning for the next one. And I think, you know, the fact that they have these lads back and they've everyone firing and they've obviously you know, you're you're putting everything into this. So they're obviously putting their putting their the all their eggs in this basket and in the more than Mohell as well. And I just given looking at the stats there, Mohal have been in every in every final in the two thousand and twenties apart from last year. So they know how to get to finals as well. So the thing is you said you can make an argument for both teams. So I think it's a toss up this one and and you know we'll we'll we'll we'll see who who comes out on top on Saturday evening. But Evan Sweeney here is going for Ballon amore just about. So we'll see how that plays out. so look we're gonna get on to the next match. and it's Fina and Leitram Gales and again a really interesting match. Fina are obviously a team that is providing half the Leitrim team at this stage of of the course of the year. Leitram Gales are the reigning champions. So it's it's you know, again it's really interesting. Fina will feel like they have to win a county final at some stage. I think it's nineteen thirty-two since Fina have have won a county final and they haven't been in a final since two thousand and three. So Evan, what's your run on this one? and you've obviously would know obviously a lot of players on both teams. you came up against both of these teams in the championship this year, did you?

Evan Sweeney: Yeah, so we play both week on week. Our first round played Lí Trombe Gael in second round Fianna. So like this is this is a very like for for two lads like yourselves and me too. Like it's this is a very interesting game in terms of there are two teams. When I look at it, totally different styles, different kind of make up of players and just different approaches to the game, I would say. Lí Trombe Gael, to be fair to them, When we played them, I'd say they weren't, I'd say they'd admit that themselves, they weren't at their best, but just grounded out and just did enough on the evening, you know. And they seem to be just kind of doing that this year. I know they got over the line against Alan Gayles. I think they won comfortably in the end, but by all accounts, that game was much closer than the scoreline suggested. Then obviously the same with Fina, so they've already got over the line with Fina again, just about. I think it was a... Stephen Mcgoldrick, two-pointer with the last kick and then they were just pipped by St Mary's. I suppose that St Mary's game possibly a bit of a caveat. I don't think they really had much to play for. So that's always a difficult one to judge. look at Leecham Gales, obviously last year they went to a totally different level with their game. They obviously went undefeated for the entire year. The three Joneses came in. Definitely brought their game onto a new level and were massive performers for them. know, they brought that years of Inter County experience to Leitrim Gales and the Leitrim Gales players seemed to kind of feed off that and they really got things going and kind of worked together and were a strong force. This week in now look at Neitrim Gales are physical, similar to Ballina More in ways, direct, physical, strong runners with the ball. They will look to kick at times, like Ryan Jones and Aidan Flynn around the middle of the field, kind of dictate everything they do. And in fairness, I would have played a lot of football with Aidan Flynn, he's, you know, Aidan's an intelligent player. He's at the heart of everything that's good about Neitrim Gales. everything is, you know, his work rate is exceptional. He can man mark, he can go up, can assist scores, he can get on ball. Now, I don't know as regards his fitness, I had heard he pick up a bit of a knock. I don't know if he has no aiding, unless it's very serious, he's going to go and play. I have heard that Garvin Jones is out. So that would definitely... sway my thinking in terms of Leechroom or in terms of Fina having the advantage this weekend, you know.

Gary Reynolds: D do his cruise shit evidence or rumors that he's that he's done something like that.

Evan Sweeney: Yes, I would have heard that he had a serious injury. look, hopefully it's not too bad from his point of view that he makes recovery.

Gary Reynolds: How how do you how how do you approach a team like Leitram Village? I mean, it's probably unique for you guys in manner, Evan, the fact that you've got a Barry McGulke round the middle, but if you're a team planner, you've obviously got Donald Ryn around the middle for Fina as well, big unit and can can match in the air with anybody, but how do you go about you know, there's so many teams now trying to set up for Leitram Village with the Joneses. Are you kinda going just go man to man on them or are you 'cause I know y you mentioned Ryan Jones there. He likes to a bit like Wayne McKeon, he likes to dictate the pace himself and Aiden Clinton. So are you tagging them man to man or are you dropping off them and giving them that space? You don't want them to dict the dictate the play and Fina won't want to do that. So I suppose the question is, do you play them on the front foot or do you kinda are are Fina gonna still look I'd imagine with Mickey Mickey Graham and Martin done over Fina, they're gonna have a plan in place for them anyway, but From your experience, you know, what what would you think has worked well in the past from what you've seen?

Evan Sweeney: Yeah, well, the one thing I'd say when you approach Leacham Gaines, they're very, very efficient with the ball.

Gary Reynolds: Okay.

Evan Sweeney: Like they really, you know, get as much as possible out of their possession. if you're a foursome,

Gary Reynolds: No pot shots.

Evan Sweeney: I was going to say, yeah, if you're a foursome ball or if you're having a pop and dropping ball short and coughing up possession, know, Leacham Gaines will feed off that. And in fairness, they're quite good on the counter attack. They'll transition fast with the ball. especially if you're turned over around your own 45 or on opposition 45, sorry. So that's one thing I'd say Fianna will be very mindful of going into this weekend. And whether the step off, it probably depends, Gary, on the situation in the game to give you kind of a not the answer you want.

Gary Reynolds: weather, everything. Yeah.

Philip Howard: Yeah.

Evan Sweeney: Wind, I know we played in Park Shaw on Saturday, the wind totally dictated our approach to

Gary Reynolds: Okay.

Evan Sweeney: it. So yeah, like. I doubt they'll be fully dropping off either, Fianna. Like I'd say, they'll be going in and trying to start this game at intent. But yeah, look, it'll be interesting.

Gary Reynolds: Okay. Especially with the forwards they have as well.

Evan Sweeney: Exactly like Lietroam Gales and Fianna Steven McAuldrake's a very good player, lads. He's a shooter. He may not take his man on 1v1, but he's one of these forwards who you probably can all think of different players in your head there that just need that yard so he won't go by you. He just needs a yard and he has a good boot on him.

Gary Reynolds: He'll sit he'll sit out in the pocket and he'll he'll wait to make that kind of run in behind them when when the second phase and stuff like that. He is he's a smart footballer,

Evan Sweeney: Yeah, he'll come on the loop or he'll and get a bit of a cut and he'll...

Gary Reynolds: yeah.

Evan Sweeney: He is and in fairness he's very...

Philip Howard: Always seems to come up with scores as well.

Evan Sweeney: 100 % fully very good from dead ball. yes, Garvin Jones will be a massive loss for them in terms of the scoring threat. So there will be a bit more kind of responsibility on Stephen McAulerick. And then obviously defensively, they're going to have to do, their matchups are going to have to be, know, I know the two Chandlers there will be very good defenders in fairness.

Gary Reynolds: Tiger spies, yeah.

Evan Sweeney: Yeah, in fairness, good on the slavs. They'll do what they need to do. Yeah, I'm probably leaving out a couple of lads there too, but on the flip side of that, Fianna, like if you're Lícheam Gales going into the Fianna game, you know, it's a different, it's a different prospect in terms of they've got pace, they've got power, they've got athletes, they're athletic, but they've got, and Lícheam Gales would to a certain extent too, but they've got a lot of technical players that can do a lot of damage, you know. Big thing I'd say going into, yeah, it's very fully weird.

Philip Howard: And I think as well sorry, just on and I suppose on on on Fina there, like you know, Fina, I I suppose they've got Ryan Reardon, you know, Ocean Fergle, all these lads are on on the back of a really successful intercounty campaign that probably pushed on Rory as well. you know, the they have an excellent forward line that are probably brimming with confidence. They they they had they they had a good win in the quarter final. But I suppose there's a huge expectation potentially that they'd need to get to a final. maybe that is something hopefully that's not weighing too much on their shoulders from their point of view. Do you think the fact that, you know, the lads are obviously in with the county for the season, is is that a negative? Or is that just maybe something that the fact that they're now embedded into the team and in the management team are now having a chance to kind of get to get the full kind of run at it here with these lads?

Evan Sweeney: Yeah, like they're talking, you're probably talking seven, eight guys are you involved with in terms of county panels, probably more, probably nine, 10, 11, under twenties.

Gary Reynolds: twenties, probably a few twenties, yeah.

Philip Howard: Yeah.

Evan Sweeney: And you're talking six, seven starters and key players. I think Philly is, it can work for you at a certain stage of the year. I think come championship, inter-county experience. And for those lads, the O'Rourkes, the McLaughlins, they're playing and they're actually contributing to Leitrim. So the experience they're bringing back to the club is going to be massively beneficial to Tufina. I think if it's earlier in the year for league football, I think it can be, I know we had it with Manor back when I was starting off playing, we had maybe that amount of number. It was disjointed at the start of the

Philip Howard: Yeah.

Evan Sweeney: year, but come championship, I think it's definitely going to be a benefit. You're right about Tufina thing, like in fairness, they're a small area, like they're a rural area and... You know, there is that bit of expectation around FINA and to be fair to them, they've been very competitive over the last number of years. think that bringing in Mickey Graham is a huge, it's an ambitious move to be fair to them and you'd have to admire them for that. Possibly they've seen what Mickey Graham did with Mullin Yacht and Longford back maybe 2017 and 18, kind of a rural area with maybe not massive playing numbers. And they saw obviously the one I think was a Leinster title. So it'll be very interesting to see the kind of what Mickey Graham can bring to the fray. But I just get the feeling that Fina haven't really set the world alight yet, but I don't think that's any harm, lads. They're in the semi-finals. The one thing, they're strengthening depth, unless they've got a few lads back. If then more so nobody wants any injuries to the key players, but Fianna can't really afford any injuries because they seem to be working off a smaller panel even in compared to maybe two or three years ago. I don't know if Jack Alini is involved at the moment. He wasn't against us. Connor Dwyer wasn't involved. Mark Egan wasn't involved. So they're three lads that kind of would have been around the place a good bit. would have been good players for them. Maybe not. They might not have got the headlines like some of the other lads, but unless they're back in the fold in the

Gary Reynolds: Big, strong men, yeah.

Evan Sweeney: last, yeah. So that's the only thing I would just about give Fianna the nod this weekend, just when I see potentially a couple of injuries on the Lichengael side. If Fianna have a full deck, I think they might have enough. Now there's another kind of a subplot going here. Fianna and Lícheam Gales have this kind of ongoing rivalry. Yeah,

Gary Reynolds: on a while, yeah. From intermediate from intermediate, I you haven't right up, isn't it?

Evan Sweeney: they've been on a similar trajectory, Gary, like from 18, 19. So Lícheam Gales have probably got over the line a few times recently, but yeah, this game at the weekend, it's, if it turns into chaos and an open, a a shootout, you'd obviously tip Fianna. Ryan is... Brilliant to see Ryan back playing and fit. He's a joy to watch. He's a joy to play with when you play with him. He's one of these players

Gary Reynolds: Polices.

Philip Howard: Yeah. He's he's exceptional.

Evan Sweeney: that makes everyone around him better. He was exceptional. I watched the last quarterfinal. was the difference. And Fianna actually just about did enough. But yeah, again, no more than the other semi-final match-ups around the middle. Fianna have a new keeper this year. It's probably a bit of an unknown in terms of his kick outs, but he is, I wouldn't have known much about him. Callum Andrews is his name. He's chipping in with two pointers. Like he's got a couple of two pointers every game. So that's an interesting one to keep

Gary Reynolds: Jesus.

Philip Howard: Nice. That's a serious addition.

Evan Sweeney: an eye on. Yeah.

Philip Howard: And it's also just on the just I suppose just came to me there. Like if you know, if Leitram Gales are obviously down, you know, Donald Casey, who who would have made a huge impact at the end of the championship. that's a huge experience that you mightn't have

Evan Sweeney: Yes, Donald KC being missing is a massive, massive loss. No shadow of a doubt.

Gary Reynolds: Stonewall would have been picking up. You'd you'd imagine he'd have been picking up Ryan, wouldn't you?

Evan Sweeney: He'd be going straight to Ryan, definitely, yeah.

Gary Reynolds: Yeah, yeah.

Evan Sweeney: Well, either him or possibly Aidan Finn could be used as a stopper either.

Gary Reynolds: Do you think okay, okay.

Evan Sweeney: Him or Donald Casey would be the obvious ones. But yeah, the one actually thing on Bruun, suppose, Bruun came back quite late last year and he made an impact, but he's been back now. He's

Gary Reynolds: A while.

Evan Sweeney: been back. He's played three or four games now, I'd say, so So he's a lad now that will only be going from strength to strength. Because obviously, power-wise,

Gary Reynolds: Experienced as well.

Evan Sweeney: athletically, he'd have a lot. It's probably just his football, his get the eye in and his first touch and stuff. So he will be a big addition to Leitrim Gael's too.

Philip Howard: Yeah he will actually.

Evan Sweeney: So yeah, it's just interesting. Can Fianna get over that semi-final? You know, can they just get over that semi-final marker? That's, know, just from kind of speaking to final lads over the years and the fairness, they'd say it themselves, they just want to try get over that line and get to a final and see what happens from there, you know.

Philip Howard: Well look at there are two intriguing battles at the weekend. sorry, Evan, you've mentioned there the players to watch out. Who do you think you're gonna give the nod to for the for the for the second match there at the weekend?

Evan Sweeney: I might ask you lads after if you're both but...

Gary Reynolds: We're too we're too long away from eleven where where it'd be cheeky for us to

Philip Howard: Two draws. Put two draws there and we get a hip money back.

Evan Sweeney: No, no, I'll not... You wouldn't be surprised with two draws in fairness. No, I'll not sit on the fence. I may as go, no, I do think Fianna just might have enough. Form doesn't really suggest that Fianna would have enough. Licham Gales probably don't know fully where they're at. They've been doing enough to get over the line in fairness to them. They've had a three week break, which is tricky enough to navigate.

Philip Howard: Yeah.

Evan Sweeney: Whereas Fianna obviously played two weeks ago. If Garvin Jones, which by all accounts Garvin Jones is out, that definitely changes it because the Jones have been really performing for Leitch & Gale since they came in. Aidan Flayne, if he doesn't play, that definitely would sway me towards Fianna. But even as it stands with just Garvin Jones being possibly missing, I just have a feeling Fianna with Mickey Graham on board might just have enough. They've added some serious talent up front, obviously the ones we all are aware of. But they have a couple of good defenders as well that can match up. And they have bit of size around the middle to match Leach from Gale's size. But Rory Roark is a player, he's very young, he's an exceptional player, I think, for his age. We obviously know Rory and Ryan, but and Usheen. The key thing with Fianna is... And when we played them, you can stop two or three of them. It's just trying to hold four of them is very difficult. You

Gary Reynolds: Yeah. Yeah.

Evan Sweeney: know, we managed to keep Ryan, which was relatively quiet for his standards. But then all of a sudden, know, Oisin was one that kind of got away with us, got away from us. So there's a lot of fires to put out there for Leitrim Gales. But I just about think that Fianna will have enough to get over the line. I think the open pitch in Part Sean. might suit them and yeah, think they've put everything into getting Mickey Graham and trying to get over this semi-final challenge.

Philip Howard: Okay, very good. Thanks Evan for very much. so there you have it. Evan Sweeney is predicting Fina in the second match there just slightly. But look, I think it's two intriguing battles. we're we're all looking forward to to the matches at the weekend and we will hopefully have good football matches to to to watch. And I think look the nature of the championship this year, because the teams are so close, they're you know, it's really it's really bringing the standard up and there's good matches for everyone to watch. So thanks Evan very much. Thanks

Evan Sweeney: Yeah.

Philip Howard: for coming on.

Gary Reynolds: play out.

Evan Sweeney: No, no, no bother lads. No, look, I think you definitely have the, I'd say the best four teams left in it. So it's interesting. So look, thanks very much for having me on. Hopefully a bit of insight there.

Philip Howard: And all going well. We might depend on what the viewers say, like we'll we'll get feedback here on on your on your analysis here now in the next few days and we'll if we if you're if it's all good we'll

Gary Reynolds: them all wrong now, Evan, we we could be we could be in trouble for the for the final preview.

Evan Sweeney: Yeah, there's a

Philip Howard: We could be getting some could be getting someone else in.

Evan Sweeney: There is a likelihood that I could potentially be wrong on both of them there, but look, you can't sit on the fence with these things. You have to...

Gary Reynolds: That I can't agree more, even having been away, Evan. Like there's four teams. Normally you always get a l a team that comes late or someone that pulls off a big quarter final win and they're unexpectedly into a semifinal. Nearly if you go back to last year's there's always somebody there. And I just think there's four teams here where genuinely not a kick of a ball between the four of them. So that's what I think makes us so interesting. So yeah, it'll be it'll be

Evan Sweeney: And...

Gary Reynolds: it'll be good to see.

Evan Sweeney: Well, like sometimes, you know, when you look around other counties, you might have one dominant force. You know, if you think of maybe Riscarman at the moment, St. Bridget's

Gary Reynolds: Bridgets.

Evan Sweeney: would be Faber, you might have the likes of maybe Mike Hollen at the moment in Galway. I know Sligo is a wee bit more open, but the Leitron Championship is one that is, you know, it's one that is anyone, any of those four teams would definitely fancy their chances. So it's a... Yeah, as I said at the start, you'd love to be in the situation and getting ready for a big day. But yeah, no, we'll definitely look forward to them and enjoy the games over the next couple of weeks.

Philip Howard: Great stuff. Okay. Evan, thanks a million for coming on with us and we'll we'll catch up maybe before the final and hopefully we'll get a few good games at the weekend. So cheers, thanks a lot.

Evan Sweeney: Thanks lads and good luck there