Honours Shared in Allianz League Opener.

Leitrim 0-15 Longford 1-12

(Photographs from the game are available on our Facebook page)

Neighbours Leitrim and Longford shared the Allianz League Division 4 points after an always entertaining and full blooded encounter in sunny, but bitterly cold Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada earlier this afternoon in front of the 1000 attendance . A match that looked to be heading the way of the home side towards the end of the third quarter, at which stage they held a handsome five points lead, was turned on its head by a spirited Longford revival, sparked by three points in as many minutes. As it turned out both sets of supporters were on the edge of their seats wondering who would take the spoils after a thrilling final quarter. At the end most would agree a draw was perhaps the fairest outcome.

After a scoreless opening period, Leitrim were first to exercise the scoreboard after seven minutes with a Paddy McGowan point. Fergal Clancy with left footed effort doubled the advantage before Brian KavanÓgh with a 35m free opened the visitors account. Kevin Conlan with a fine free from distance restored the home side’s two point cushion. An excellent Longford goal chance was spurned as KavanÓgh pulled his shot across the face of the goal and Leitrim supporters breathed a sigh of relief. A period of missed chances for both sides followed before Donal Wrynn fisted over a Fergal Clancy delivery to open a three point lead. In the 20^th minute Sean McCormack pointed for Longford to keep them in touch and shortly afterwards Paul McKeon, set up by KavanÓgh, pointed to leave the minimum between the teams. Wrynn and McGowan, with points had Leitrim 0-6 to 0-3 ahead again before an exchange of scores from Wrynn and KavanÓgh maintained the margin heading towards the interval. McCormack had the last say to reduce the margin to two as the teams headed to the changing rooms, Leitrim holding a 0-7 to 0-5 lead.

Early in the second period Aidan Rowan and Kevin Conlan exchanged points. Leitrim made a possible match winning charge and by the end of the tenth minute points from Sean McWeeney, Wrynn and Clancy had their side in a commanding position. However Longford were not to be undone and points from Michael Quinn, McCormack and Francis McGee in as many minutes had Longford breathing down the Green and Gold necks yet again. KavanÓgh with two pointed frees had the sides on level terms and it was anybodys game at this stage. With 12 minutes remaining Ciaran Gilheaney settled Leitrim nerves with point but that man KavanÓgh equalised. Fergal Clancy and Kevin Conlan opened a two point Leitrim lead but this match was far from over. Following a flowing Longford move McCormack was in onÓgoal and duly raised the green flag to give Longford the lead for the first time all afternoon as the match entered its dying minutes. Gilheaney responded with the next attack with what turned out to be the last score of this exciting encounter. There were chances for either side to claim the victory but it wasn’t to be and respective opposition had to settle for a share of the spoils.

Both management teams will probably reflect on what might have been after today’s encounter. From a Leitrim perspective, a young team with eight Allianz League debutants in action today can look forward with confidence to a competitive league campaign in the months ahead. Next week the action moves to Aughrim as the lads face Wicklow in Round 2.   

Leitrim: Cathal McCrann, Barry Prior, RonanÓgallagher, Niall Woods, Conor Farrell, Gary Reynolds, Sean McWeeney (0-1), Paddy McGowan (0-2), James McGrail, Kevin Conlan (0-3), Fergal Clancy (0-3), Danny Beck, Thomas Mulvey, Donal Wrynn (0-4), Ciaran Gilheaney (0-2). Subs used: Micheal McWeeney, Shane Moran, Cian Clinton, Matthew Murphy, Alan McLoughlin.

Longford: Paddy Columb, Dermot Brady, Barry Farrell, Peter Foy, Colm P Smyth, Diarmuid Masterson, Enda Williams, Barry Gilleran, Michael Quinn (0-1), Ronan McEntire, Paul McKeon (0-1), Aidan Rowan (0-1), Ross McNerney, Brian KavanÓgh (0-5), Sean McCormack (1-3). Subs used: Cian Farrelly, Francis McGee (0-1), Padraig Gill, Shane Doyle, Mark Hughes.

Referee: Liam Devenney (Mayo)  

01-Feb-15 by Declan Bohan – PRO

29-Jan-15 by GAA.ie

2015 Under 21 Hastings Cup Semi Final

Galway 0-15 Leitrim 1-11 (After extra time)

Leitrim bowed out of this year’s Hastings Cup Competition after an absorbing contest with provincial rivals Galway in Oliver Lynch GAA Park, Abbeylara, yesterday afternoon. It was a game which had everything, heart, skill, endeavour and as close at all changeovers as you could wish for. Unfortunately, from Leitrim a perspective it was the men in maroon who took the spoils with a point from ace full forward Gary Kelly two minutes into extra time added time and they will progress to a meeting with Roscommon in this year’s final. The sides were level at full time, half time extra time and indeed with ten minutes of the second half extra time played and surely nobody would have begrudged the players who contributed handsomely to this match another day out to separate them.

Galway were quick into their stride from the off and two points from Eamonn BrannÓgan and Paul Mannion had them into an early lead. However two pointed Donal Wrynne frees restored parity. Barry McHugh restored Galway’s advantage with a brace of pointed frees from out on the right and to best illustrate the ultimate end to end nature of this match throughout, Leitrim responded with pointed frees from Wrynne and Conor Gaffney. Gary Plunkett had the final say of the half with Leitrim’s first point from play to give his team the slenderest of interval leads.

The second half commenced with a Galway onslaught. Three points from full forward Gary Kelly and one from wingback Kieran Molloy had the Tribesmen three to the good before Conor Gaffney got Leitrim’s second half account moving with a point. Kelly with a fisted point restored Galway’s three point lead before Felim McHugh with a huge score reduced the deficit and set up a purple patch for his team. With momentum having swung his teams way Donal Wrynn finished to the net and Gaffney pointed again to open up a two point lead with five minutes remaining. However Galway were not be outdone and points from Joe Donnellan and BrannÓgan sent the tie to extra time.

Gaffney, from play, and Wrynne with a 45 set Leitrim up early in the first period of extra time. Donnellan and Ger Gibbons responded similarly as two earnest and energetic teams tried to grab a stranglehold on the contest. Level again after the first period of extra time!

It was anybody’s game at this stage and as respective managements introduced new energy into the contest in order to try claim the ultimate advantage and the match swung from end to end. Kelly from play stuck Galway’s nose ahead with three to play but Wrynne with a pointed levelled again with a free and time was up. There was however another play and that man Kelly proved the hero for Galway and there was time for no more.

So the Hastings Cup campaign for Leitrim is over and as Shane Ward and his management team reflect, they will know that they have a squad of competitive, energetic and skilful players to work over the next six weeks as we look forward to the Connacht Under 21 Championship match with Mayo in Castlebar on Wednesday March 11^th.

Leitrim: Diarmuid McKiernan, Enda Fowley, Gary Butler, Keelan McHugh, Michael Clancy, Jack De Lacy, Oisin Madden, Felim McHugh (0-1), Mark Plunkett, James Rooney, Conor Gaffney (0-3), Nicholas Moore, Niall Brady, Donal Wrynne (1-6), Gary Plunkett (0-1). Subs used: Dean McGovern, Aaron McLoughlin, Luke Murphy, StephenÓgilheaney, Gary Fowley.

Galway: Tadhg O Malley, Darren Moran Jack Wyndam, Luke Burke, Adrian Nolan, Brian Shaughnessy, Kieran Molloy (0-1), Michael Daly, Eoghan Stenson, Joe Donnellan (0-2), Eamonn BrannÓgan (0-1), Colin Brady, Barry McHugh (0-3), Gary Kelly (0-6), Paul Mannion (0-1). Subs used: Enda Walshe, Eoghan Kerin, Paddy Kitt, Ger Gibbons (0-1),  Niall Lee, James Kennedy, Noel McDonagh.   

Referee: Patrick Maguire (Longford)      

25-Jan-15 by Declan Bohan – PRO