Mickey and John show will revolutionise Leitrim

LEITRIM players can prepare themselves for a completely new style of training under the management of Mickey Moran and John Morrison, which should see them improve on their rising stock in the coming seasons, according to TV3’s GAA pundit David Brady.

During the duo’s brief but eventful term with Mayo in 2006, Brady, who played for 13 seasons before announcing his retirement at the beginning of this year, experienced their unorthodox style.

Moran had already coached his native Derry, Sligo and Donegal when taking over the reins at Mayo. He led them to an All-Ireland final in 2006 but a fall out with the county board in the wake of the heavy defeat to Kerry led to his departure.

Brady has nothing but praise for the former schoolteacher and his assistant, however, and regards their appointment as a very clever move by the Leitrim county board.

“We had just 12 months experience with Mickey and John but it was very positive. It wasn’t all plain sailing of course but they have a different approach. They’re like ‘good cop, bad cop’.

“John Morrison is extroverted and Las Vegas is the place for him with the bright lights. Mickey is straight down the line and more of a fatherly figure. He is very passionate and sometimes gets too caught up in the emotion of it all but there’s absolutely no badness in them at all.

“There’s not too many fellas that could train counties like Sligo, Mayo and now Leitrim and not be hated by anyone, or not have any ill-feeling towards them, which tells you a lot about them.”

Moran and Morrison have always eschewed convention when it comes to preparing teams. They were using more scientific approaches to training long before it became popular. They are always looking to introduce something different to proceedings as well and the quirkier the better, as Brady reveals.

“Their training methods are short, sharp and focused. When you’re doing a drill you’re focusing on a particular aspect of the game, either to improve on it or change it. Guys will not be run into the ground either. The longest time of continuous running we did was a minute and a half.

“Apart from that, they are always trying things, whether it’s having the stereo on with tribal music playing in the winter, or sending Valentine’s cards in February.”

While Brady does reckon that Moran and Morrison can become too bogged down with tactics and formations at times, he is predicting an improved and very different Leitrim in 2009.

“Sometimes those tactics got lost on players and sometimes they worked” says the Ballina man.

“I could never speak badly of them because they got Mayo to an All-Ireland. They had a fall out with the county board but that had nothing to do with the players.

“I wouldn’t be surprised to see Leitrim become the third rated team in Connacht now with the way Roscommon and Sligo have gone. I was very impressed with them against Galway this year and they have some fine players, with Emlyn Mulligan looking very good in his first year.

“One thing’s for sure, it’s not going to be normal Leitrim when Mickey gets his hands on them.”