Longford let victory slip as Leitrim triumph after extra-time
There was no Championship boost for the Longford U-21 footballers as they let victory slip from their grasp in the Hastings Cup Tournament Shield Final at Leo Casey Park, Ballymahon on Saturday last with Leitrim producing a strong finish in coming from four points down in the closing stages to snatch a draw and they went on to triumph after extra-time.
Both counties lost against Roscommon and Cavan in the competition proper and Longford were looking for a lift in the build up to the Leinster first round clash against Wicklow in Aughrim on Sunday February 21st with manager Mickey Harkin and his fellow mentors Dessie Barry and Padraic Davis fielding a near full strength side.
A well struck goal from JJ Matthews in the 25th minute of the first half gave Longford the edge but with time running out the same player somehow failed to convert a free in front of the posts when Leitrim were trailing by a point, 1-10 to 0-12. That proved to be a very costly miss as the visitors engineered the equaliser with Mark Beirne shooting over the bar in the second minute of stoppage time.
Direct from the throw-in at the start of the extra-time period, corner-forward Kevin Conlon fired home a decisive goal for Leitrim with just 20 seconds gone on the clock and they extended the lead when substitute Brian Farrell landed a point.
That was really putting it up to Longford and while they hit back to close the gap with a point apiece from Fergal Battrim and Martin Brady (free), no less than six chances in succession were squandered as they completely dominated the second half of extra-time.
With virtually the last kick of this tight contest, Leitrim broke to register the final score as the accurate Adrian Croal converted a free and the Glencar/Manorhamilton sharpshooter was very much the matchwinner with the impressive total of nine points to his credit – three from play.
Minus the services of senior panellists Tomas Beirne, Wayne McKeon and Paddy Maguire, Leitrim got off to a flying start to lead by 0-4 to 0-0 after 12 minutes with three of the points (two frees) coming from Croal with Conlon also on target and this dangerous duo provided a constant threat for the Longford full-back-line.
The most notable absentee on the Longford U-21 team was senior newcomer Ronan McGoldrick (Killoe) and it was a very poor effort indeed by the home county for most of the first half with 23 minutes gone before Padraig Gill registered their opening score – a great point from near the sideline.
Moments later midfielder Martin Brady landed a long range point and immediately a goal materialised as JJ Matthews shot to the back of the net.So in the space of a couple of minutes Longford had hit the front and scores were then exchanged between Adrian Croal and Matthews to leave Leitrim trailing by the minimum of margins at the break, 1-3 to 0-5.
Longford improved considerably on the changeover and extended their advantage with two more points through Padraig Gill and Brian Farrell in the opening minutes of the second half but Kevin Conlon and Leitrim's Brian Farrell replied to make it very interesting indeed.
Longford's Brian Farrell then landed a long range free and while Shane Flanagan was on target for Leitrim, a significant gap developed as another two points were scored by the Mostrim clubman Farrell with centre-half-back David Faughnan joining the attack to slot the ball over the bar in the 47th minute.
Adrian Croal (play) and JJ Matthews (free) then exchanged points, the latter on the mark in the 52nd minute to leave Longford 1-10 to 0-9 ahead and apparently well on the way to winning the Hastings Shield.
But Leitrim showed a lot of character in refusing to accept defeat and their perseverance was rewarded with four points on the trot, three from Adrian Croal (two frees) with a Mark Beirne strike earning the draw, and the visitors got the better of Longford in extra-time to capture the consolation title in the Hastings Cup U-21 Tournament.
LONGFORD: Mikie McGuinness (Clonguish); Kevin Farrell (Cashel), Kevin Diffley (Ballymahon), Anthony Watters (Clonguish); Colm P Smyth (Abbeylara), David Faughnan (Clonguish, 0-1), Fergal Battrim (Abbeylara, 0-1); Shane Powell (Ardagh St. Patrick's), Martin Brady (Sean Connolly's, 0-2, one free); Padraig Gill (Fr. Manning Gaels, 0-2), John Sheridan (Dromard), Paul McKeon (Colmcille); Brian Farrell (Mostrim, 0-4, one free), JJ Matthews (Mullinalaghta St. Columba's, 1-2, one point from free), Ronan McEntire (Dromard).
Subs:- Denis McGoldrick (Killoe Young Emmets) for R McEntire (38 mins); Bernard Sheridan (Dromard) for P McKeon (38 mins); Paul Devine (Longford Slashers) for A Watters (43 mins).
Extra-Time: Fiachra Beirne (Rathcline) for C P Smyth; P McKeon for JJ Matthews (injured).
LEITRIM: Philip Farrelly; James O'Brien, David Tiernan, Sean McWeeney; Morgan Quinn, Conor McCawley, Jason Byrne; Keith Moran, Niall O'Connor; Eoin Ward, Mark Beirne (0-1), Emmet Mahon; Kevin Conlon (1-2), Shane Flanagan (0-1), Adrian Croal (0-9, six frees).
Subs:- Brian Farrell (0-2) for E Mahon (36 mins); Aaron Hickey for S McWeeney (49 mins); Eamon Reynolds for M Quinn (52 mins).
Referee: Declan Hunt (Roscommon).
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Sunday 05 February 2012
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