Lisbellaw come to draw against Leitrim Fontenoy's
April 08, 2015
Ulster G.A.A. An Tain Club Hurling League-2015
Round "2"
Division "1"
Leitrim Fontenoy's, 1 gl. 14 pts.; Lisbellaw St Patrick's, 1 gl. 14pts
Whilst visitors Lisbellaw St Patrick's did have it rather easy in the games 'opening half against host and opponents Leitrim Fontenoy's, when the mid-Fermanagh side lead at the matches' interval with a telling score of 9 points to a modest 5 points for the apparent lack lustre south Down side. All was to dramatically change immediately on this matches resumption, when they Fontentoys fired home the games' first goal and eventually went in front to lead their Lisbellaw visitors until the last puck of the match, when their ace right full forward Sean Corrigan slotted home the last score of the game to draw the tie 1 goal 14 points apiece.
The Game-first half.
Lisbellaw En Somme
To the average Lisbellaw supporter or indeed hurler this game's opening quarter was not unlike their previous Ulster G.A.A. An Tain Club Hurling League-2015, round "1" fixture, when the entire match was like a stroll in the park. It seemed that visitors St Patrick's were doing the all right moves slotting over all the gifted frees from an in disciplined hosts Leitrim. Beginning with ace right full forward Sean Corrigan who slotted home his, his sides and the game's first three points, all from play, and without reply. Finally as the matches opening quarter began to ebb, Fonteny's Michael O'Rourke ended host's side's scoring drought, when clipped over for they hosts Leitrim. Quickly St Patrick's Lisbellaw's right half forward Tommy Cleary put his side further in front, with their fourth point, from play. Now into the games' second quarter St Patrick's right full forward Sean Corrigan added his fourth, fifth sixth and seventh points mostly frees and only one from play. A disinterested spectator would have now wondered why hosts' Leitrim were rather easily gifting their visitors, with rather handy score taking opportunities. Again Leitrim came back from the scoring dead, when their ace scoring left half forward Oisin McManus pucked his first and his sides' second point from a free. With just over ten minutes to half time and the park's score board declaring 2 points for the Leitrim hosts to 8 points for Lisbellaw. However Fonetenoy began to reduce their visitor's substantial lead, when firstly Oisin McManus clipped his second point from a free. Moments they latter's team mates Martin Dougan pucked over his sides' fourth point from play. In the dying moments of the opening half Leitrim continued their mini scoring blitz with their fifth point clipped over by Paul McAleenan from a free. The interval whistle was blown shortly afterwards in a half where we witnessed the previously under-the-cosh Leitrim side narrow the game's scoring to5 points for the Fontenoys to 9 points for visitors Lisbellaw. The final half will see if Leitrim can main their second quarter scoring blitz or will St Patrick's resurrect their opening quarter scoring dominance. We will see who has the durability.
Half time scores
Leitrim Fontenoy's, 0 gl. 5 pts.; Lisbellaw St Patrick's, 0 gl. 9 pts.
A Real Match Ensues
If anyone was late for the restart they would missed Leitrim's dramatic and major scoring game back, when previous scoring ace Oisin McManus latched onto an incoming slithor, which then effortlessly slipped passed they Fermanagh defence for the games' first goal from play. With only literally just minutes played, the score board now declared Leitrim, with 1 goal 5 points to 9 points for visitors Lisbellaw. Moments they latter scorer, began a personal scoring blitz, when he fired over his sides sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth points, all from frees. Sean Corrigan modestly replied for St Patrick's, when he pucked over Lisbellaw's tenth point from play. They Fontenoys had learned from the once dominant visitors and now lead 1 goal 10 points to 10 points for Lisbellaw. With a mere goal between the now fiercely contesting teams, the rivalry boiled over, with the referee flashing the red card twice, and a hurler from each team walking to the side line. Despite both teams now reduced to fourteen players apiece, the was no loss of tempo or indeed skill, with St Patrick's centre half back Mark Slevin decisively moving up the park's to his opponent's forward line to registered his side's eleventh point from a free. However Leitrim decisively went further front with blitz of four points three from Oisin McManus from frees and solitary point from play by Dan Morgan and, the mid fourth quarter scoring now registered as 1 goal 14 points to 11 points for Lisbellaw. Whilst Leitrim had exhausted their scoring complement, their Lisbellaw visitors were now digging deep to overcome their sides four point disadvantage, with Fontentoys. All was needed was 1 goal and 1 point. And Lisbellaw now set about this task in a skillful but orderly fashion. First duty was to reduced their scoring opponent's lead to goal a difference, when their young right full forward Joe Gavin darted into the heart of the Leitrim defence and banged home Lisbellaw's only goal. Now with literally seconds to the final whistle, up steps the man of the hour their ace right full forward Sean Corrigan, when after his side was awarded a long range free, which calmly and collect fully clipped over his side fourteenth point of the match. But more importantly he "tied" the game and they St Patrick's side have now 3 points from 2 games.
Final scores
Leitrim Fontenoy's, 1 gl. 14 pts.; Lisbellaw St Patrick's, 1 gl. 14pts.
Referee, Gerard Devlin, (Armagh).
Teams, Lisbellaw St Patrick's, Mark Curry, Odhran Russell, Andrew Breslin, Davy Teague, , Barri Duffy, Mark Slevin, Danny Goodwin, John Duffy, , Danny Teague, J.P. McGarry, Eoin Cleary, Tommy, Cleary, Brian Jones, Joe Gavin (1 gl.), ( 9 pts.), Sean Corrigan.
Subs. Ciaran Teague, , Aaron Magee, Mathew Martin.
Joint-Managers, Brian Johnston & Adie McPhillip's. Mentor, Kevin Corrigan.
Leitrim Fontenoy's, Peter Owens, Barry McCartan, Brian Aleenan, Sean Duggan, Cialian McAleenan, Nial McCartan, Dillon Duggan, Liam Morgan, Paul McAleenan, Stephen Browne, Dan Morgan, Oisin McManus, Francis McDine & Martin Duggan.
