Leitrim GAA is set to appoint Steven Poacher as the new manager of the County Senior Football team. The announcement came after the Leitrim County Board approved the appointment of the Down native and former Roscommon senior football team coach, subject to ratification at the next meeting of Leitrim GAA County Committee. Poacher will be taking over from Mickey Graham who surprisingly stepped down from the role on October 8, citing "circumstances beyond his control". Graham had been appointed in August to succeed Andy Moran having served as Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins manager in 2023 and Assistant Manager to Moran in 2024.
Management Team
Poacher will be joined by a team of experienced coaches. Donegal's Anthony McGrath, a former Donegal senior who has coached Donegal at Minor, Under 21 and Senior level winning an Anglo Celt Cup, will join the team as performance coach and selector. McGrath has also been Sigerson manager in Queen’s University and has been involved in successful club campaigns in Ballybay and Slaughtneil.
Former Carlow star Daniel St Ledger joins the backroom team as coach. St Ledger has represented Leinster in the Inter-Provincial series, and has been St. Sylvester’s Manager in Dublin for the last 3 years. Ryan Jones, this year’s Leitrim Gaels Senior Football Coach, completes the managerial team. Jones, the former Fermanagh senior football captain with over 150 appearances, was also last year’s Leitrim Under 20 coach and will act as coach and selector.
Underage Teams
Barry McWeeney, selector under Andy Moran, has been appointed as manager of the U20 team. McWeeney will be a direct link between the Under 20s and the Seniors. His complete management team will be announced in due course.
Danny Beck and Ciaran Kennedy will take joint charge of the County Under 17 Team for 2025. Their complete management team will be announced in due course.
New Era for Leitrim Football
The appointment of Steven Poacher represents a new chapter for Leitrim football. Poacher's experience at both inter-county and underage levels, coupled with his impressive track record as a coach, makes him a strong candidate to lead the team to success. Leitrim GAA has expressed its excitement about working with Poacher and his team as they prepare for the upcoming season. The county will be looking to build on the momentum gained under Moran and make a strong push in Division 3 of the NFL and the Tailteann Cup. Poacher's appointment has been met with cautious optimism from fans, who are eager to see how he will fare in his new role. The new manager will be hoping to bring his expertise and leadership to the team, inspiring a new era of success for Leitrim football.
