Leitrim manager Steven Poacher says “an unfortunate set of circumstances” has led to his side conceding tomorrow’s Allianz Football League Division 3 clash against Fermanagh.

It was confirmed earlier today that the Connacht side would not be fulfilling the fixture with the Ernesiders in Ballinamore, with Leitrim county board outlining in a statement that “the reasons for this are genuine and revolve simply around the availability of enough fit to play players to fulfil this fixture”.

Speaking to RTE Sport since, Poacher spoke of the “uncanny” set of circumstances this week which have led to his side only having 16 players available for this weekend.

"It's an unfortunate set of circumstances. We're probably in unprecedented territory in that we are the one county in Ireland that has six U-20 players that are on the panel - and that five of them started most National League games this year,” stated the Newry native.

"We have a new panel, a young panel, with 20 players coming in who have never played county football before so they have been exposed towards a heavier load of training, S&C and games. We have played five weeks in a row after our first game against Laois was postponed because of the storm.

"So five weeks in a row coupled with a young panel; the U20 championship on Wednesday night; 12 soft-tissue injuries and the uncanny set of circumstances this week where both our first-choice goalkeepers collided and got concussion, well you couldn't write the script."

'An unfortunate set of circumstances' - 'U20s exposed to a heavier load of training' @LeitrimGAA football manager Steven Poacher on the decision to forfeit the Division 3 league clash with Fermanagh #rtegaa #allianzleagues pic.twitter.com/ARYpwQeDt5

— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) March 15, 2025

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