Congratulations to the Leitrim minors who had their first
win of this year’€’s Connacht Minor League last Saturday evening in Pairc Sean
beating Mayo with a score of  3-08 to
Mayo’€’s 1-09. Not many would have tipped Leitrim to beat Mayo after their first
three outings but this looked like a much stronger team, more determined and they
proved to be too good for Mayo.

Mayo got off to a great start with a goal in the first 20
seconds of the throw-in which looked ominous for Leitrim and I’€’m sure Leitrim
supporters feared the worst but with less than a minute gone Leitrim levelled
with Mayo with a super goal from Niall Brady. The goal helped settle the nerves
they began to bring the game to Mayo. Leitrim’€’s Jack DeLacy got the first point
of the game with a build up move involving Nicholas Moore, Mark McGrory, James
Rooney and Padraig Gallagher. In the seventh minute Mayo levelled the game with
a point by Shane Hennelly and that was followed by an Adam Gallagher point
which put Mayo ahead. Drumkerrin’€’s Felim McHugh pointed to level the game after
tenacious play from Mark McGrory in regaining possession.

Referee TJ Keaveney was perfectly placed to see an off the
ball incident and Mayo was reduced to 14 players when Cian Burke was issued
with a straight red card for an off the ball foul on James Rooney. Leitrim went
on to score a further three points by Niall Brady, Donal Wrynn (free) and
Nicholas Moore. Mayo’€’s Stephen Conroy replied with a point which was quickly
cancelled out by a Padraig Gallagher free after a foul on James Rooney. Just
before half time Mayo reduced Leitrim’€’s lead by getting two points from  Eoghan Lavin (free) and Brian Mullin which left the score at half-time Leitrim (1-6) Mayo (1-5).

Within six minutes of the 2^nd half Mayo went into
the lead with points from Shane Hennelly and Stephen Coen but Leitrim’€’s Niall
Brady levelled the game with a great point. Patrick Durcan’€’s point for Mayo put
them ahead again and at this stage it seemed that Mayo was getting control of  the game and were playing better football.
Leitrim’€’s Aaron McLoughlin who had just come on scored a fantastic goal from a
pass by Niall Brady and shortly afterwards Aaron came close to Scóring his
second goal but his shot was cleared off the line by the alert Patrick Durcan
who was having a good game and both ends of the pitch. StephenÓgilheaney
converted a free for Leitrim but that was cancelled out by a Patrick Durcan
point. With just 4 minutes to go Leitrim secured a win when James Rooney
delivered an unstoppable shot past Mayo’€’s goalkeeper giving Leitrim their 3^rd
goal and ensuring a victory over Mayo.

Final score Leitrim
3-08   Mayo 1-0

Leitrim

Brendan Flynn, Brendan Byrne, Enda Fowley, Gary Butler, Jack
Delacy (0-1), Eanna Madden, StephenÓgilheaney (0-1), Feilim McHugh (0-1), Donal
Wrynn (0-1), Padraig Gallagher (0-1), James Rooney (1-0), Nicholas Moore (0-1),
Conor Gaffney, Mark McGrory, Nialln Brady (1-2),

Subs: Cathal
McCauley for Butler (HT), Aaron McLoughlin (1-0) for McGrory (41 mins), Gary
Plunkett for Gaffney (59 mins)

Mayo

Marcus Moylette, Brian Walkin, Sean Moran, Donal Ronayne,
Patrick Durcan (0-2), Cian Burke, Kevin Lynch (1-0), Brian Mullin (0-1), Ryan
Coleman, Eoghan Lavin (0-1),  Stephen
Coen (0-1), Sean Regan, Shane Hennelly (0-2), Adam Gallagher (0-1), Stephen
Conroy (0-1),

Subs:  Stephen Moran for Conroy (HT), Paul O’€’Gara for
Roynane (HT), Val Roughneen for Lavin (44 mins), Diarmuid O’€’Connor for Coleman
(44 mins) Conor Langan for Moran (58 mins)

Referee:  TJ Keaveney

11-Apr-12 by Gerri Mulhern – PRO – Coiste na nÓg

This weekends Connacht Minor League game between Leitrim and Mayo will take place on Saturday 7th of April 2012 in Pairc Sean MacDiarmada at 5.30pm.  

We would like to wish Mark and the team all the best.

Referee:  TJ Keaveney

05-Apr-12 by Gerri Mulhern – PRO – Coiste na nÓg