Leitrim manager Steven Poacher says he is proud to wear the Leitrim crest following his side's near miss against Mayo in Carrick-on-Shannon yesterday.
The county Down native's side lost by seven points in the end after a battling first-half that saw them only one behind at the break.
"I'm very, very proud to wear the Leitrim crest on my chest today," Poacher told RTÉ Sport.
"I am so, so proud, filled with joy and pride today because this has been a tough year for those young men. It's been a tough year.
"They've been through the mincer. You know, it's been a difficult couple of months, as we know."
Leitrim had to forfeit their league clash against Fermanagh in March due to an injury crisis and commitment to the under-20 team, who were beaten in the Connacht championship by Galway three days after the fixture.
The combination of injuries and a young team means Poacher isn't blessed with squad depth but the return of key players did allow his side to remain competitive against a strong Mayo panel.
"Ten days ago, we trained with 11 players in the centre of excellence. You know, we don't have the options to play 15 v 15 in-house games.
"We're trying to get bodies back in the field. Immensely proud of Donal Casey and Cillian McGloin there today. They played their first game in a year."
Knowing the task ahead Poacher studied Mayo to create a plan that focused on the battle in the midfield, which was a talking point in post-match analysis thanks to the large frame of Barry McNulty.
"We had a good look at Mayo a couple of weeks ago. I went down to Castlebar myself.
"They get a lot of scores off their own kick-outs. We knew we could sort of get after Colm a little bit. We did in the first-half. I thought we did well.
"We've got the big man back in the middle. Barry wins our primary possession. The game now is all about winning the battle in the air, winning the war on the ground."
Poacher feels, like many, the changes to the kick-out have been positive and is enjoying the chaos created by the change in tact from the FRC and was key in allowing his side to get a grip in the first-half.
"The kick-out rule is enjoyable because it does make it a real war of attrition in that middle third. Having Barry and Cillian around that middle gave us a foothold in the game and allowed us to get a bit of primary ball. We haven't had them all year.
"They're the lowest scoring team in division 1 with two-point efforts. So we knew if we could sort of sit a little bit deeper, collapse our arc a wee bit, and get in around that wall ball."
Once the hooter went Poacher was quick to gather his players into a huddle, watching on it was clear the team were proud in spite of the loss. The highly rated coach reveals he told players they were the future of the county.
"The future of Leitrim football, I can tell you now, in the next few years, will be in a very, very healthy state."
Kevin McStay was maybe not feeling quite so passionate after Mayo secured their place in the Connacht Championship final but agrees with Poacher that the midfield battle wasn't easy for his side in Carrick-on-Shannon.
"The midfield battle wasn't simple... We know he is a very good player (Barry McNulty)... and had a right good show of it today."
There were some positives to take for McStay, who revealed he is pleased with how his team coped when put under pressure by a battling but eventually tiring Leitrim.
"We had nine or ten, 11 scorers which is always good.
"I think the manner in which we didn't get stressed when the squeeze that was on us, the lads just stayed with it, we felt they might tire in the third quarter, then we got a run on them, a succession of four or five points, they didn't go away they kept chipping away back at us, but the last five or 10 minutes looked like there was only going to be one winner."
Who Mayo will face in the Connacht final will be decided this afternoon when Galway visit Roscommon, but whoever it is, McStay says he is fully focused on his own side.
"I couldn't care less if its Galway or Roscommon in the final.
"It will be about us and what we can bring to the final, we will be at home, it will give us a great lift to be in McHale Park... We will chase it down with every ounce because we have had our eye on that final from a long way out."
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