Devastated Poacher had sights set on Connacht title, not just Galway scalp

Leitrim manager Steven Poacher expressed frustration with the dismissive coverage surrounding his side ahead of their Connacht Senior Football Championship semi-final encounter against Galway. Despite limited external confidence in the team's prospects, Poacher maintained belief in his squad's capabilities going into the fixture at Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada.

The manager's comments reflected a broader sentiment that punditry ahead of the game had been disrespectful to Leitrim's preparation and ambitions. Rather than viewing the Galway clash as merely a test of competitiveness, Poacher's focus extended beyond securing a scalp against their provincial rivals, with his sights firmly set on championship progression.

Following the semi-final, Poacher appeared devastated, suggesting the outcome fell short of the standards his management had been targeting. His remarks underscored a campaign that had clearly been built around genuine aspirations for Connacht success, rather than simply hoping to compete against stronger opposition.

The manager's pre-match criticism of the narrative surrounding the tie highlighted the gap between external perceptions of Leitrim's prospects and the internal conviction within the squad ahead of provincial competition.

More details are available in the Leitrim Observer.

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