Leitrim 0-19

New York 1-15

(after extra-time)

Leitrim needed extra-time to get the better of New York in a dramatic Connacht SFC first round clash at Gaelic Park this evening.

The Exiles were on the cusp of a first Connacht SFC win in 20 attempts when they led by 1-15 to 0-15 midway through the second period of extra-time, but Leitrim scored the last four points - including two in stoppage-time from Shane Quinn and Noel Plunkett - to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and progress to a provincial semi-final meeting with Roscommon on May 26.

For New York, this was another near-miss after they had also come close to taking the scalps of Galway and Roscommon in recent years. With seasoned inter-county campaigners like Jamie Clarke (Armagh), Neil Collins (Roscommon), Tom Cunniffe (Mayo), Dalton McDonagh (Meath) and Kevin O'Grady (Wexford) in their ranks, they really should have closed the deal, but Leitrim found the resolve from somewhere to edge a titanic battle.

After Keith Beirne had slotted an early free, the home-grown Shane Hogan brought the crowd to its feet with a fourth-minute goal before Luke Kelly made it 1-1 to 0-1. The home side had their tails up at this stage and extended their advantage to 1-4 to 0-1 thanks to further points from Jamie Clarke, David Culhane and corner back Collins.

However, the introduction of Dean McGovern midway through the first half proved a game changer as Leitrim scored eight of the last nine points to take a 0-9 to 1-5 lead into the break. Three points from Emlyn Mulligan, two from Beirne and one from Ryan O'Rourke had the sides level by the 26^th minute before McGovern kicked the final score of the half in the 29^th minute.

New York grabbed the first three points of the second half per Luke Kelly and Tony Donnelly (two frees) to move into a 1-8 to 0-9 lead, only for the visitors to reply with three of their own from O'Rourke and Beirne (two).

Back came the Exiles again with two Clarke efforts and one from Kevin O'Grady to lead 1-11 to 0-12 with seven minutes of normal time remaining. Leitrim scored the next three points via Beirne, Mark Plunkett and Shane Quinn but Justin O'Halloran's men weren't done and, amid mounting tension, Daniel McKenna kicked over the equaliser to force extra-time.

The first period of extra-time was a real slow-burner and it wasn't until the eighth and ninth minutes that the scoreboard operator was troubled when O'Grady and Clarke were on target to leave the home side 1-14 to 0-15 in front at the change of ends.

When O'Grady made it a three-point game early in the second period, New York had that elusive first championship victory within their grasp, but Brendan Guckian's men spoiled the party thanks to late points from Aiden Flynn, Darragh Rooney, Quinn and Plunkett.

What a start to the 2018 championship!

Leitrim - D McKiernan; P Maguire, M McWeeney, O Madden; J Rooney, D Wrynn, S Quinn (0-2); M Plunkett (0-1), D Flynn; J Heslin, E Mulligan (0-3), R O'Rourke (0-2); D Rooney (0-1), K Beirne (0-7, 3f, 2'45), B Gallagher. Subs: D McGovern (0-1) for D Flynn, C Gaffney for D Rooney, R Kennedy for J Heslin, N Plunkett (0-1) for D Wrynn, D Rooney for K Beirne, A Flynn (0-1) for D Rooney (BC).

New York - V Cadden; N Collins (0-1), D Ward, M Creegan; E Williams, T Cunniffe, M Queenan; D Culhane (0-1), S Hogan (1-0); T Donnelly (0-3, 2f), J Clarke (0-5, 2f), L Kelly (0-1); K O'Grady (0-3), D McDonagh, D Freeman. Subs: D McKenna (0-1) for D Freeman, J Collins for L Kelly, P Boyle for M Queenan, A Cunningham for T Donnelly, K Scally for J Collins, JJ Matthews for A Cunningham (BC), L Kelly for D Culhane, T Donnelly for JJ Matthews.

Referee - D O'Mahoney.

Tweet

Most Read Stories