Provincial Protect titles have to be like buses as a result of no sooner had the Minor received their B title than the County’s U20 footballers landed their very own crown, defeating a second string Galway to raise the Philly McGuinness Memorial Cup for the primary time ever after an exciting encounter in St Brigid’s Kiltoom on Wednesday night.
Nearly 15 years to the day for the reason that passing of the mercurial Mohill participant, Leitrim’s U20 gamers did Philly reminiscence proud as they defeated Galway by 4 factors, an damage time aim from the Tribesmen taking a little bit of the gloss of a assured and dominant efficiency as Barry McWeeney’s aspect had been boosted by the return of their senior contingent.
That contingent made all of the distinction from Ben Guckian touchdown 2-3, Darren Cox scoring 1-4 and even defender Eanna McNamara getting in on the aim scoring with an important effort from a sometimes lung bursting run whereas Brian Cull in aim and Jack Foley in the midst of the park gave Leitrim an assurance and physicality that Galway could not match.
That Galway really solely completed 4 factors adrift speaks fairly a bit to their resilience and power in depth, even when the Tribesmen solely arrived in Kiltoom with 18 gamers, 5 of whom began their first spherical victory over Leitrim in Cloone. Even at that, with a removed from first alternative squad, Galway examined Leitrim to the restrict and it was solely a resilient defensive effort that saved them from pulling off a victory.
However fact be instructed, it ought to by no means have been that shut – Leitrim scored 5 targets however butchered in all probability two or three extra probabilities and had a aim disallowed as their starvation and ambition to go for the win contrasted sharply with Galway’s seeming lack of drive.
POACHER FULL OF PRIDE AS LEITRIM SET SIGHTS ON TAILTEANN CUP
The victory does include a headache because the All-Eire B Semi-Last in opposition to the Leinster champions is mounted for the weekend of Might 10-11, the identical weekend as Leitrim Seniors start their Tailteann Cup marketing campaign, with the ultimate mounted only a week later though there may be provision within the fixtures for the semi-finals to be performed on Wednesday Might 14, and the Last on Wednesday Might 21.
Darren Cox opened the scoring after simply 12 seconds, a robust Jack Foley run releasing the Annaduff man and it nearly obtained even higher however, after a sideline was intercepted, Ben Guckian drove his low aim probability inches large as Leitrim performed with the stiff sufficient breeze.
Senan Treacy and Kian Mitchell (free) edged Galway in entrance by the sixth minute earlier than Jack Kelly turned sharply to drift over a beautiful level a minute later. Galway ought to have had a aim when Treacy broke by however Brian Cull made a superb save to disclaim him and Leitrim had been robbed of a aim probability too, the ball prized from the grasp of Ruairi O’Rourke as he bore down on aim.
Ben Guckian and Mitchell traded factors earlier than O’Rourke edged Leitrim again in entrance. Nevertheless, Leitrim obtained a jolt when Jack Lonergan’s mazy run ended with him sq. the ball for Dara Cleary to faucet in soccer fashion after 17 minutes. Leitrim had been shocked however a fast O’Rourke level settled them as Kelly transformed a free to tie the scores six minutes earlier than the break.
Killian Joyce scored a advantageous level for Galway however Leitrim took over earlier than half, Kelly transformed a gentle sufficient free earlier than drilling dwelling a aim. Galway nearly responded with a aim however Cleary blasted his effort over the bar whereas Kelly noticed a shot cleared off the road. With a lot aim motion, it was inevitable one other would come – Galway misplaced possession, a advantageous Darren Cox move discovered Ben Guckian in on aim and his swerve and sidestep got here him the room to drill the ball to the web.
The Leitrim staff who defeated Galway to win the Philly McGuinness Cup Image: Leitrim GAA
Galway ended the half with one other Mitchell free, moved ahead 50 metres, to go away Leitrim 2-7 to 1-6 on the break and once more, Leitrim went near an early aim when Jack Foley’s flick from a protracted free was clawed away by Cillian Walsh. However Leitrim did not have lengthy to attend lengthy for a aim, Naoise McManus doing extremely properly to maintain the ball alive when Darren Cox popped a ball into him, so properly that Cox was capable of pop up in assist and drill the ball to the web after only a minute of the second half.
Eanna McNamara was unfortunate with a fisted effort that went inches large whereas Ben Guckian noticed a aim chalked off for a sq. infringement and Galway replied with a two level free from sub Sean Dunne to chop the hole again to 2. However as they’d all recreation, Leitrim rode out teh Galway storm earlier than Guckian collected a excessive ball into the hazard space, turned and drilled the ball to the web on 45 minutes.
Galway’s response was spectacular, Ciaran McDonagh drove a daisy-cutter to the Leitrim internet nearly immediately after a protracted ball however once more, Leitrim had a response, Guckian changing a free for a 3 man breach after which Cox changing a two level free to wipe out the aim.
Again got here Galway once more with a Mark Mannion two pointer however Leitrim hit again as soon as extra, Eanna McNamara charging by to blast an unstoppable shot to the Galway internet after 21 minutes. But when this recreation taught us one factor is that when one staff did one thing, the opposition instantly replied and Galway extremely hit again with a 3rd aim from Killian Joyce lower than a minute later.
That left 4 between the staff as soon as extra however Guckian transformed a free earlier than Galway keeper Walsh brilliantly thwarted Guckian’s effort for a hat-trick that got here after Leitrim turned over the kickout and Darren Cox discovered the unmarked St Mary’s man.
NO CLOUDS LINGERING FOR MCNULTY
Galway’s problem appeared to be imploding when Mannion acquired a second yellow card within the house of two minutes, it regarded harsh to this observer and Leitrim made certain of victory when Jack Kelly transformed a fifty and Darren Cox hit an important level from play both aspect of a black card for Sean Dunne.
That ought to have been it however regardless of being right down to 13 males and vastly understrength, Galway nonetheless managed to conjure up a fourth aim over three minutes in added time to shut the hole again to 4 however that was as shut because it obtained as Leitrim celebrated a well-known victory.
LEITRIM
Scorers: Ben Guckian 2-3, 2f; Jack Kelly 1-5, 1 50, 2f; Darren Cox 1-3, 2f; Eanna McNamara 1-0; Ruairi O’Rourke
Crew: Brian Cull, Oran Foley, Jack Rowley, Oscar Reynolds, Naoise McManus, Eanna McNamara, Bailey McBride, Jack Foley, Colm McLoughlin, Liam Chandler, Matthew Murphy, Ruairi O’Rourke, Darren Cox, Jack Kelly, Ben Guckian. Subs: Alan Beirne for O. Foley (21); Sean Carolan Morris for Cull (50)
GALWAY
Scorers: Dara Cleary 3-1; Killian Joyce 1-2; Kian Mitchell 0-3, 3f; Mark Mannion (2pt) & Sean Dunne (2pt) 0-2 every; Ciaran McDonagh & Senan Treacy 0-1 every
Crew: Cillian Walsh, Dara Conneely, Ryan Joyce, Vinnie Gill, Cian Rafferty, Mark Mannion, Jack Lonergan, Patrick Keaney, Harry Keady, Maitiu O Domhnaill, Ciaran McDonagh, Senan Treacy, Killian Joyce, Kian Mitchell, Dara Cleary. Subs: Ciaran Mulhern for R Joyce (HT); Sean Dunne & Mikey Mulryan for Mitchell & Keady (34)
Referee: Jimmy Donohue (Roscommon)
