Leitrim manager Andy Moran is sure his players will pick themselves up after an opening day Tailteann Cup defeat to Antrim.
Leitrim having come undone 3-18 to 2-12 in Corrigan Park by Antrim, were the hosts dominated the second-half.
However, Wexford grabbing a surprise 1-13 a-piece draw with Fermanagh in Brewster Park, putting Leitrim’s campaign on the line.
A “very unusual result” mused Moran after watching his own sides defeat. “What do Wexford do against Antrim next week? It’s a home game for them and they go into with a lot of confidence”.
“It will complicate things for us” admitted Moran, his side can’t afford to lose out to Fermanagh on Saturday evening.
“The major message, over the last four/five weeks, we haven’t lost one player” declared Moran on his Leitrim panel’s commitment. “Everyone has trained. Everyone players and management are putting their shoulder to the wheel”.
A defeat for Leitrim to Fermanagh would almost certainly mean their best finish would be third place in group four. However, the worst performing third placed team do not advance to the play-off round. Therefore New York take the place of the worst third-placed team.
The defeat to Antrim stung Moran, his side have now gone three games without a win.
“All these games are important” declared Moran. “This was a really big game. We played Antrim last year and we came up confident; but Antrim played well”.
“They produced two forwards that we knew about, but hadn’t seen much of” explained Moran. “Dominic McEnhill and Adam Loughran, they’ve only played bits and pieces, so it made it difficult for us”.
“However, it was the same as New York we need to get better with the finishing. But conceding 3-18 is too many” admitted Moran.
“Leitrim people have picked themselves up over the years. They don’t know need me to tell them, they’ll pick themselves up and go again next week”.
