The Irish Post London -v- Leitrim GAA Championship Preview Supplement

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LONDON V LEITRIM

CONNACHT SENIOR FOOTBALL QUARTER-FINAL PREVIEW SUNDAY, MAY 28 RUISLIP

NATURAL BORN LEADER Exiles captain Liam Gavaghan on his London Irish roots

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2 | May 27, 2017

The Irish Post

Connacht GAA Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final Preview

A momentous occasion for all SUNDAY, May 28 promises to be a momentous occasion for all British Gaels with the reopening of the newly-redeveloped Ruislip.

The year-long construction project is now complete on the new stand and playing field. It promises to be a wonderful day with club members from across the city expected to be out in force as the home of London GAA reopens.

There is also the small matter of the Connacht Championship quarter-final between the Exiles and Leitrim on that same afternoon. The winner will advance to a semi-final against either Galway, Sligo, Roscommon or perennial All-Ireland finalists Mayo.

This will be a fast-paced, physical encounter.

The loser goes straight into the qualifiers and faces the perils of a swift end to their summer.

London participate in the Connacht Football Championship along with the other external county, New York, due to the number of counties in the western province.

With only five teams participating, the smallest number out of the four Irish provinces, there is scope to include both London and New York.

London bainisteoir Ciaran Deely will be hoping his side can recreate the magic of 2013 where the Exiles made it all the way to the Connacht final against Mayo.

Londain Abú!

Deely: ‘We need to focus on producing our best performance’

The Irish Post

May 27, 2017 | 3

Leitrim manager Brendan Guckian is expecting ‘a massive battle’ against Exiles

BY CONOR O’SULLIVAN THERE is no chance of Leitrim’s bainisteoir Brendan Guckian taking the Exiles for granted when his side travel to Ruislip. Trips to London are viewed as a banana skin for any Irish county who know they will face an Exiles side high on motivation. Leitrim defeated London in the National League at the end of March by a socreline of 2-16 to 0-15.

“The league game will have no bearing on this contest,” Guckian said. “London will field a completely different team and the intensity will be incomparable. We’re expecting a massive battle and we’re not taking anything for granted. There’ll be a terrific atmosphere at Ruislip with the new stand opening but we just need to be fully focused on our own game.”

■ London v Leitrim’s last three Championship encounters have seen the sides separated by a single point ■ In 2012, Leitrim won in Ruislip 0-12 to 1-8 but London had their revenge in 2013 after winning a replay 2-11 to 1-13 ■ The Exiles went on to contest the Connacht final in 2013 against Mayo before losing a qualifier to Cavan in Croke Park

CIARAN DEELY said he is satisfied with London’s preparations ahead of their Connacht Championship quarter-final against Leitrim on May 28.

The team has just returned from a training camp in Ireland where they played two challenge matches against Waterford and a Cork junior side. They lost both contests by a narrow margin.

“We need to make sure we’re still in the game after 60 minutes and give ourselves an opportunity to put Leitrim under serious pressure in the closing stages,” Deely said.

“We’ve been training very hard over the last number of weeks. But the problem for London is always the lack of games. During our trip to Ireland, we looked at some players who haven’t had much game time. I’m fortunate that I have a few selection headaches going into the Leitrim game, which you always want as a manager.”

The Exiles endured a difficult league campaign in which their only victory came against Carlow. Deely retains a pragmatism managing London where the long-term goal is to produce home-grown players and be competitive against the Irish counties.

“There are a lot of unique challenges managing London. The work on Ruislip this year meant we were travelling for all our league games, which was a huge ask on the players but their attitude and commitment has been top class.”

Deely, who began coaching London as a selector in 2015 under former bainisteoir Paul Coggins, knows he will be judged on games like these where the home support

Tale of the tape

expects a close encounter. The former Wexford captain knows how to get the most out of young athletes through his sports science and coaching work for Queen Park Rangers’ academy after relocating to London.

“We have some very talented footballers with London and we’ve shown over the last few years we can compete against good teams,” he said. “It’s always going to be very difficult for us going up against Mayo or Galway but I know I will be judged based on how we perform against teams like Leitrim and I accept that.”

Deely will work tirelessly in the next few days preparing the team for their biggest game of the year in what will be a momentous occasion with the reopening of Ruislip.

But Deely is certain his players will be entirely focused on the job in hand.

“It’s going to be a special occasion for everyone involved in London GAA,” he said.

“But the management team and players must be fully focused on the challenge of Leitrim.

They have some very talented players and will punish us if we’re not switched on.”

In what could be a season defining clash, Deely is reminding his players that no matter the outcome of the Leitrim game, there will still be another match to prepare for in June either in the Connacht Championship or qualifiers.

“The message I keep relaying to the players is that regardless of the result we will be back in the gym the following Tuesday evening preparing for another huge game.”

Guckian has been dealt a quarter-final and lost to major injury blow ahead of neighbours Sligo in London and the game with talisman round two of the Leitrim most Emlyn Mulligan ruled out qualifiers. for the entire ChampionThe St. Mary’s recently played in ship with a torn cruciate Kiltoghert clubman All ianz League ligament. The prolific has assembled a Division 4 where centre-half forward star studded backLeitrim were victors suffered the injury at the room staff including Leitrim end of training. Leitrim former by a scoreline of All-Star Seamus have already lost ace 2-16 to 0-15 Quinn, former Mayo forward Nevin O’Donnell for player Michael Moyles the season through the same and ex-Galway manager injury.

John O’Mahony, who led the “Losing both lads is a huge blow,” Tribesmen to two All-Ireland titles Guckian said. “Emlyn will be a huge in 1998 and 2001. Ciaran Deely and loss on the pitch and in the dressing room.”

London defeated Leitrim in a replay on his selectors will have their work cut out their way to the Connacht final back in 2013. pitting his wits against such an eminent The two sides were only separated by a single coaching staff.

“We have invaluable expertise in our backpoint four years ago. room team,” Guckian said. “All three of the Guckian is in his first year as manager of Leitrim and guided the Ridge County to four lads bring so much to the group. John (O’Mawins and three defeats in Division 4. Leitrim hony) has obviously done it at the highest finished fifth out of eight teams. Guckian was level with Galway so I’m very lucky to have appointed manager after Leitrim endured a such great support. The main message we’re disappointing 2016 championship. They were giving the players is to expect a very difficult well beaten by Roscommon in the Connacht challenge at Ruislip.”

Pictures: Inpho

London v Leitrim at Ruislip - Sunday, May 28

4 | May 27, 2017

The Irish Post

Connacht GAA Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final Preview

‘It’s my first year out for London, we’ll do our best’ Ryan Jones London centre half back Club: St Brendan’s “We’ve been training since November, so can’t believe it’s finally here.

One of the biggest challenges is going to be putting the day behind us. It’s the opening of McGovern Park so it’s going to be a big occasion. But in the end it’s a game of football, 70 minutes. We’ll be trying to make that our main focus.

Liam (Gavaghan) is a fantastic leader. I only met Liam this year as it’s my first year, and he’s been an inspiration. There are not many English-born players in the game and he’s probably one of our best.

Being from Tyrone myself, I was 11 years old when I first saw Mugsy (Owen Mulligan) grace the pitch for Tyrone, so it’s an absolute pleasure now to be play along him. He’s been an inspiration coming into the team. He’s helped us so much. He’s helped the team settle and mature, and added a lot more experience.

But in the end it’s just another game of football. I’ll be playing my game, marking my opponent. We’ll do our best.”

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THE WILL

Triple All-Ireland winning forward Owen Mulligan bri

BY CONOR O’SULLIVAN

T

HE Exiles will have a triple All-Ireland winner in their panel on May 28 when they line out against Leitrim in the Connacht Championship quarter-final.

Owen Mulligan has always been a distinctive character with his peroxide blonde hair, larger than life persona and devastating ability on the football field.

He is remembered as one of the greatest forwards of his generation and was a catalyst in Tyrone’s three All-Ireland successes in 2003, 2005 and 2008.

The sight of Mulligan catching a high ball and running defenders ragged before converting for a score became a customary sight during his career with the Red Hand county.

His goal against Dublin in the 2005 All-Ireland quarter-final is ranked as one of the greatest ever scored at Croke Park.

Mulligan was a sublime player with a fierce competitive streak that yielded three All-Irelands, four Ulster titles, two national league titles, an All-Star and two All-Ireland intermediate club championships with his boyhood club Cookstown Father Rock’s.

At 35, Mulligan’s playing days are still not over. He has kept himself in good shape and upon moving to London earlier this year for work commitments, he lined out for Fulham Irish in an intermediate hurling championship match, which made him eligible for selection into the London football panel.

He started in a challenge match for the Exiles against Waterford during their recent training camp in Ireland. His experience alone is an invaluable asset to the younger London players going into the high-octane pressure of a Championship encounter.

“We brought Owen in at the end of the league campaign and he’s been a great influence on the entire group,” said London manager Ciaran Deely.

“Owen has that Championship experience and knows what it takes to win big matches from his Tyrone days.”

Mulligan will bring a winning mentality to the team entering

Leitrim looking for London victory SINCE making his Championship debut in 2014 against Roscommon, Donal Wrynn has been a regular fixture in the Leitrim team in a variety of positions.

This year the Fenagh St Caillins’ man has been given the honour of captaining his county.

Having lined out at full-back, midfield and full-forward in recent years, the 23-year-old has been playing much of his football from centre-back this year.

“I enjoyed my first year playing fullback. Last year I spent the majority of the season at midfield, different days it was great,” he said.

“Full-forward is great but when you are struggling and there is not much coming and you’re living off scraps it’s a hard position to play.

“This season I have played centreback for most of the year.

“I would like to get forward a bit more, but you get to be involved in the start rather than the finishing off and you are looking forward, which I prefer.”

Leitrim and London met in this year’s league campaign but Wrynn is refusing to read anything into his side’s victory in Carrick-on-Shannon in March.

“London will definitely be looking at us as an opportunity and we’re going to go over there with all guns blazing,” he said. “We’ll do everything we can to get the win but it’s not going to be easy and we know that.

“We’re taking nothing from what went on in Carrick-on-Shannon. We know London have been looking at the Championship game and neither of us had any

chance of going weren’t going to blazing, but we over to Ruislip th game ahead of u In a youthful p a bridge betwe who impressed the more experi Eyebrows ma he was given th of the year acknowledges shock - but he in “I’m very pro he said. “Whe asked me at surprised becau one of the you great honour an

The Irish Post

May 27, 2017 | 5

London v Leitrim at Ruislip – Sunday, May 28

L TO WIN

‘We’re used to the underdog tag but anything can happen’ Cormac Coyne London left wing back Club: North London Shamrocks

rings a wealth of experience and class to Exiles camp another Connacht Championship as underdogs. But the Cookstown native is used to being written off by the experts.

His Tyrone team shocked the GAA world with their 2003 All-Ireland triumph, defeating Ulster rivals Armagh in the final.

Mulligan was man of the match in the 2005 final against Kerry and played a vital role in the 2008 victory versus the same opponents. London will hope Mulligan can bring a similar intensity to their set-up.

“Mugsy has been great to have around the camp,” said Exiles captain Liam Gavaghan. “He’s achieved everything in Gaelic football so to have someone of his pedigree in the group especially for the young lads is invaluable.

“His attitude is top class and he’s still a quality player at his age.”

Renowned as one of the first rock stars in GAA, he has since left his wild days behind him, focusing on his career in the construction industry and running his self-named pub back in Cookstown.

But he retains an insatiable appetite for Gaelic games, which has led him to joining Deely’s charges.

This unwavering passion for the sport he has played since he was a boy burns brighter than ever as he drags himself across London to training sessions knowing there is no guarantee he will receive much, if any, playing time against Leitrim.

“Owen’s trained really well and he has a great attitude,” London manager Deely added. “There’s no complaints about the facilities from a player who is used to the highest standards of preparation.”

Expect Owen Mulligan to be the calmest figure in the hours leading up to the Leitrim match.

Nerves inevitably play a role when a game of such magnitude is looming, particularly with the added pressure of playing in front of a large crowd at the redeveloped Ruislip.

But Mulligan is used to performing at the highest level and is still capable of turning a match on its head.

Mulligan is a wildcard in Deely’s pack against a Leitrim side who will be wary of his impact. The former Red Hand maestro could be a match winner for the Exiles from the bench if there is a narrow scoreline going into the latter stages.

‘Mugsy’ was and remains a man for the big occasion.

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y: ‘We’re going over guns blazing’

g up in the league so they o be coming at us all guns e know that when we go here is going to be a tough us.” panel, at 23 Wrynn offers een the younger players d during the league and ienced campaigners. ay have been raised when he captaincy at the start a move even Wrynn was something of a nsists it is a huge honour. oud, it’s a great honour,” en Brendan (Guckian) the time I was quite use I still consider myself unger players but it’s a nd I have enjoyed it so far.

“We’re taking the game as it comes, we’re used to the underdog name tag, but we’re under no illusions about how tough it’s going to be.

We’ll see on the day – anything can happen.

Our job first and foremost is just to play football. Everything else will look after itself, the day, the occasion that will pass you by. The things we will remember is the 70 minutes on the pitch. We’ve to make them memorable, never mind the day that’s in it.

I did learn from last year with Mayo, there was a big crowd and hopefully this year will be the same.

The things I remember from last year – it was the game, that feeling of what was left behind. The day, the occasion is not what we train for. It’s the 70 minutes of hard work – hard, hard work.”

“I’m just looking forward to leading us out against London and hopefully to victory. In my mind I have just kept doing what I have always been doing, which is training, doing what’s laid out for me in training, sticking to gym programmes and my diet and trying to be an example for the younger lads that are coming in.

He added: “The older lads, I won’t say they don’t need leadership but they’ve been a great help to me this year, the likes of Emlyn Mulligan, Gary Reynolds, Ronan Kennedy - they’ve shouldered a part of the job.”

When pushed for one area on the pitch where Leitrim may be able to impose themselves Wrynn said: “I think our inside forward line. If we can get the ball into them and they are on form hopefully we will be able to take London.”

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6 | May 27, 2017

The Irish Post

Connacht GAA Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final Preview

HISTORIC OCCASION A new home to be proud of – London GAA to bear the fruits of Ruislip redevelopment

BY CONOR O’SULLIVAN

O

N a warm day in mid-May at the outer reaches of west London, a pillar of the Irish community is being prepared for its grand reopening.

Anyone driving by on the West End Road can catch a glimpse of the re-laid pitch at the Emerald GAA Grounds now renamed as McGovern Park. To Gaels, it is simply known as Ruislip. But a new pitch only scratches the surface of all the hard work that has gone into redeveloping the headquarters of London GAA. Upon entering the car park, the new stand and a floodlit training pitch at the back of the main pitch is the culmination of an idea conceived in 2012. Workmen are putting the final touches on a facility that would rival many county stadiums back in Ireland. GAA President Aogán Ó Fearghaíl will be in attendance for the official reopening ceremony.

The clubhouse is a hive of The redevelopment will be the activity with County Chairman culmination of a process started by John Lacey leading a group the Ruislip committee in Croke down to the far end of the stand Park back in early 2013. They to inspect an issue on the worked in partnership with both training pitch. County Secretary the London and Connacht Council and London half-forward Mark to push forward the proposal.

Gottsche works in a small prefab Gottsche began his role as Secretary in 2013 where a business plan adjacent to the clubhouse and was proposed to headquarters in the small room is stacked with Dublin and funding was secured. documents for him to sign, hard This was supported by a commithats, high-visibility vests and a CHAIRMAN: John Lacey ment to raise internal county funds bag of footballs.

“It’s all a bit hectic at the moment as you can and secure planning permission.

“It’s all run fairly smoothly,” Gottsche said. see but we should have everything ready for the 28th of May,” said Gottsche who will line “The only disappointment is we didn’t quite meet our target for the stand capacity and we had to out for the Exiles against Leitrim. scrap plans to put a gym underneath the stand.

The Galway native has a long afternoon of work ahead of him before an evening training But overall, we’re very pleased with the work.”

It is a testament to Gottsche and the redevelopsession with the team. ment committee that they have managed the “It should be a very special day,” he adds.

project in tandem with five construction firms and met their target of having the site ready on time for the Connacht Champioinship.

The redevelopment has cost approximately £4.3 million.

GAA PROUD: Mark Gottsche The provided the majority of the funding with a contribution from the £5.5 million sale of the New Eltham site in southeast London, the previous home of London GAA before the move to Ruislip. The London County Board have raised over £500,000 through patronage and the sale of individual £125 seat plaques from club members.

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May 27, 2017 | 7

London v Leitrim at Ruislip - Sunday, May 28 STANDING TALL: Preparations are in full swing for the opening game at London’s new GAA grounds Pictures: Mal McNally

Building Ruislip county board member for over a decade Noel Dunning says that once completed, Ruislip will be a modern county ground “…which all Gaels in London can feel proud of”.

“The motto of the Development Committee is ‘our vision must become a reality to be left as our legacy’. Younger players coming through now have an arena which they can aspire to play in with their clubs and county, similar to their counterparts in Ireland,” he said.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Gottsche added.

“The old Ruislip was a real throwback and had a lot of character but it wasn’t sustainable as a facility.

This new stand will go some way to putting us on an equal footing with Irish counties and will benefit the London clubs immensely in the long-term.”

“It will be an historic occasion,” Dunning said.

“Not just for the London County Board, but also for all GAA members in Britain, as it shows what can be achieved by the GAA outside of Ireland.”

While the clubs will be counting the days until games are held at Ruislip again, the clubhouse staff are also anxious to see the pitch officially reopen.

“It’s strange seeing it so close to completion,” said Kevin Kelly, Ruislip Clubhouse General Manager for the last 14 years. “But it will be a great occasion on the 28th and we’re looking forward to having a busy clubhouse again because it’s been a slow year for us.

“It will have a massive impact for London GAA. They’ve done a great job with the stand and the pitch is immaculate.”

A groundsman is ploughing up and down the pitch on a lawnmower and Gottsche strides along the freshly cut blades of grass basking in a haze of sunshine.

“Hopefully, we’ll get weather like this for the Leitrim game,” he said, standing at midfield and facing the new stand. “This pitch is magnificent.

I remember the old one was hard as a rock in summer and like a mud bowl in winter. Hopefully we can do this new one justice.”

The new pitch has a full irrigation system that should keep the surface in good condition all year

GOOD FOR GAA: Kevin Kelly round. Goal posts should be erected in the next week and Gottsche, a former Galway inter-county footballer, can look forward to the short walk from his office to the training pitch at the far end of the stand.

“I’ll have the shortest commute in all of London,” he jokes before being ushered away by Lacey to address another issue. The devil is truly in the details with the end so near in sight.

“It’s a luxury compared to the old stadium,” said Matthew Burke of Fitzgerald and Burke Ltd, principal contractors for the project. “Our company is very proud of the work we’ve done here. I’m looking forward to the official reopening and the Leitrim game,” he adds before walking down the back of the stand to consult with his team.

A lot of work will be done in the next 10 days getting the clubhouse and pitch ready for the Leitrim game. The sense of occasion is tangible in every corner of the ground.

Come Sunday, May 28, anyone driving by on West End Road will see a new home that all London Gaels can be truly proud of.

McGovern Park – There’s a new name in town...

The Emerald GAA Grounds in Ruislip will not only have a new stand, floodlit training pitch and main field but also a new sponsor.

In April, the naming rights were granted to McGovern Brothers (Haulage) Ltd, a waste disposal contractor based in northwest London.

A total of 1,950 patrons will sit in the new covered stand at McGovern Park on May 28 for the official reopening of Ruislip and the Connacht Championship quarter-final between London and Leitrim. The redevelopment of Ruislip and the commercial partnership with McGovern Brothers leaves London GAA in its strongest ever position as well as creating new

sponsorship opportunities for Irish businesses in Britain.

“We at McGovern Brothers are delighted to have worked on the redevelopment at Ruislip and are honoured to have the Tony McGovern Stand named as a recognition of our contribution to the project. We are all looking forward to the reopening ceremony on May 28 in what should be a great occasion for patrons of London GAA.” McGovern’s staff will also be among the many supporters at Ruislip on May 28 to cheer on the Exiles in their quest for a major Championship scalp!

■ Sports field specialists Prunty Contracts Ltd were responsible for redeveloping the pitch ■ Longford company Kiernan Structural Steelwork Ltd oversaw framework on the stand ■ Fitzgerald and Burke Ltd, the principle contractor handled the general build ■ Brentford-based Foran Construction Ltd were entrusted with the ground works ■ Tobin Consulting Engineers, with offices in Britain and Ireland, were hired as consultants and came up with a design for the new stand

8 | May 27, 2017

The Irish Post

Connacht GAA Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final Preview

Captain fantastic

Liam Gavaghan – An Exile born and bred in London

H

E has a strong English accent but there is no question that Liam Gavaghan holds a strong affiliation with Ireland.

The Tir Chonaill Gaels forward will lead London out for their Connacht Championship quarter-final against Leitrim in his first year as senior captain. Gavaghan is among a number of home grown players on the panel. His clubmate Philip Butler and half-forward Adrian Moyles are other established members of Ciaran Deely’s squad who were born and raised in England.

“London is slowly but surely producing home-grown players and that can only benefit the senior team in the long run,” Gavaghan said. “It will be such a proud moment for me and my family captaining the side against Leitrim. I’ve been going to Ruislip games with my dad and brothers since I was a kid so to lead the team out for a Championship game will be very special.”

The 25-year-old was born and reared in Greenford, west London but was destined to play Gaelic football. His parents moved over to London from Ireland in 1988 with a young family and Gavaghan always had a strong sense of his Irish roots. His father, Liam Gavaghan who is originally from Sligo passed on his deep

passion for Gaelic games to all his sons. All three boys practised their skills on Tir Chonaill’s field after games.

While many of Gavaghan’s childhood friends were focusing on soccer, the Greenford local knew that Gaelic football would be his priority.

“

London is slowly but surely producing home grown players, that can only benefit the senior team in the long run “I just preferred the speed and physicality compared with soccer,” he said. “I loved how direct the sport was and how the games could change in a flash. When I turned 16, I knew I had to give it my complete focus because it was the only sport I wanted to play.”

Gavaghan’s impressive performances for Tir Chonaill did not go unnoticed and he was called up to the senior panel in 2011 as an 18-year-old by former manager Paul Coggins.

His boundless energy, robust physique and elite skillset make him an indispensable player for club and county.

“We were delighted to be able to make Liam captain this year,” Deely said. “Not only is

he a London-born player and it is his home county, but he has probably been the best, most consistent player in London for the past two seasons. From the first session this season back in November, he has led from the front and is a really important player for us.”

Gavaghan had to leave the panel between 2012-15 due to a series of rigorous exams earning an engineering apprenticeship and he now works for the London Underground. In the last few months, he has been working night shifts.

While the rest of his teammates are heading home for some sleep after a long day and commute, Gavaghan’s shift is just beginning.

“It was difficult at first going straight from training into work,” he said. “I have a physically demanding job so you definitely need to be in decent condition to balance the work and training commitments. But I’m used to it now and I can sleep during the day. The key is to be militant about your routine.”

Gavaghan is a natural leader and commands the upmost respect from his coaches and teammates.

London wing-back Cormac Coyne who played U-21 football for Sligo said Gavaghan is the ideal captain.

“We’re blessed to have him as a captain, Liam’s good enough to play for most counties in Ireland,” he said. “I played

against Liam in my first club game for North London Shamrocks and it was my first exper i e n c e marking an English player. I realised after his second goal of the game that I was dealing with a serious footballer.”

“

I’ve been going to Ruislip with my dad and brothers since I was a kid so to lead the team out for a Championship game will be very special

High praise indeed for a player who learnt the game in a pocket of west London where the Irish community passes on its traditions to the next generation. Liam Gavaghan will lead his team out against Leitrim and look to the crowd where he once stood as a supporter.

The lad from Greenford will be the proudest Gael in Ruislip before leading his troops into battle.

Best of luck to Leitrim from all at the London Leitrim association!

Good Luck Leitrim in Ruislip!

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