Emlyn Mulligan told the Leitrim Observer that his county's 2014 season was 'a bit of a joke.'
After a battling second half display against Roscommon in Hyde Park staved off humiliation, Leitrim were battered in the first phase of the qualifiers by Down. 4-18 to 0-9 was the end tally - a finishing scoreline which was actually marginally better than their 8-13 to 0-10 defeat to Armagh last year.
These results are particularly disappointing given that Leitrim claimed the last two Connacht FBD League titles and made an excellent start in Division 4 this year.
Mulligan was well fed up when quizzed afterwards by the Observer.
What started out as a promising year turned into a bit of a joke, to be honest, with everything that went on and different things but we have to learn from it because we're not going to make any progression down the line if we don't.
Leitrim were forced to make seven changes between the Roscommon and Down games. It is this which has irked Mulligan most.
We have the boys out there (who played against Down), they're not the problem, it is other boys who need to get on board and give the commitment.... at the moment I don't know if there is that hunger there for boys to play with Leitrim. People are nearly happier to put more into their clubs than their county.
When asked whether he thought manager Sean Hagan should stay on, he said:
'He'll (Hagan) have to sit down, reassess the whole situation and see if the players are willing to give it 100%, not only 10 or 11, we need 30-35 players willing to give everything for Leitrim football.
Yesterday, Leitrim County Board secretary Diarmuid Sweeney told the Examiner that Leitrim should think about dropping out of the Senior championship altogether.
We can't expect to keep taking hammerings like Sunday. Under the current system, there is always going to be a gap between teams and it is only going to grow as time goes on.
There is talk of Leitrim entering the Junior championship and forgetting about senior status. It would be a big move. Consideration needs to be given to that and the question needs to be asked 'would Leitrim be better served in the championship?' The Junior championship can be competitive and maybe that is the level we are at.
[Leitrim Observer]
[Hogan Stand]
