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Leitrim bid to break duck

Leitrim want to mark their first championship clash with Wicklow by bagging a maiden qualifier victory.

Although heavy underdogs in the Connacht semi-final, the manner of the 22-point defeat by Mayo doesn’t sit well with players or management.

Having never won a qualifier since the series was introduced in 2001, breaking that duck would be the perfect way to soften the blow of what transpired in Castlebar.

“The expectations were so low against Mayo and nobody really believed we would do anything different and that is fair enough,” stated co-manager Barney Breen.

“Expectations were low and it is justifiable in one sense but I hate buying into it. Myself and George [Dugdale] are winners at heart and losing hurts hard and it has to hurt hard for players too. It is very easy when you are getting beat year-in and year-out to become defeatist. Sometimes it doesn’t hurt enough for lads, but it doesn’t happen overnight.

“I don’t know if it is fair to say that the pressure is off, it is in some ways but the pressure is also on this year to win a qualifier game. We’re very much well aware we have a big fat zero in our rankings from previous years in the qualifiers.

“It is important that this group of players are determined to show progress within this group for the year. If we can get a win, it can possibly redeem some factor of our big loss to Mayo.”

Breen is calling on the home fans to help Leitrim make football history.

“We badly need support. It is very easy to support a team when they are winning but we’re looking for that help now and any little bit of help we can get in beating Wicklow, we’ll surely take it.” Home

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