Leitrim V Wicklow

Following a one-point defeat by Clare last week, Wicklow got their League show on the road at Aughrim yesterday with a seven-point win over Leitrim.

Centre-forward Tony Hannon led the Wicklow charge, Scóring an impressive 1-4, with his opportunist second-half goal proving crucial.

Up to then Mick ODwyers men had laboured to shake off a Leitrim side that always controlled the vital midfield play through the work of Tomas Beirne and David OConnor.

The goal stretched Wicklows lead to 1-7 to 0-5 and inspired them to play their best football of the game over the next 10 minutes as they increased their lead to 1-12 to 0-6 with further points by Seanie Furlong, Paddy Dalton, centre-back Brian McGrath and a lovely brace from LeightonÓglynn, who had moved to corner-forward in the second half.

Although Hannon scored first for Wicklow with a point from a free, the westerners had the better of the exchanges in the first quarter, leading their opponents twice with points by midfielder OConnor and free-taking centre-forward Michael Foley.

They were ahead 0-3 to 0-2 after 15 minutes.

Minutes later Glynn picked out Dalton with a great cross-field pass. Dalton fired in a sizzling shot from 30 metres, but Leitrims Dermot Reynolds got down at the near post to make a super save, but at the expense of a 45. Wicklow lead 0-6 to 0-4 at the break before Hannon hit the back of the net in the second half to secure the win for ODwyers side.

Leitrim scorers: M Foley 0-3 (0-3f), D OConnor, D ODonnell, D Gilhooly, E Mulligan, C Regan, B Prior 0-1 each.

Leitrim  E Lyons, D Reynolds, J McKeon, B Prior, D Beck, G Reynolds, J Glancy (St Marys), T Beirne, D OConnor, P McGuinness, M Foley, C Regan, D ODonnell, J Glancy (Glencar Manor), D Gilhooly. Subs: W McKeon for Beck, E Mulligan for Glancy (Glencar Manor), D Sweeney for Gilhooly, S Foley for M Foley, Maguire for ODonnell.

REF — E Kinsella (Laois).

MATCH REPORT COURTESY OF IRISH INDEPENDENT

 

 

15-Feb-10 by Colette Fox – PRO