Leitrim reach the promised land in Ballinasloe
Having been denied by Wexford in the semi-final last year, there was to be no stopping Leitrim when they met Limerick in Ballinasloe on Saturday last in the All-Ireland Vocational Schools B Football Final.
ALL-IRELAND VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS B FOOTBALL FINAL
LEITRIM 0-15
LIMERICK 1-8
A four point victory for Leitrim doesn't even come close to telling the story of this game. A magnificent Limerick goal, some fine saves, some excellent points, a missed Leitrim penalty and two Limerick red cards in the dying stages were all part of a game which Leitrim controlled for the majority of the 60 minutes.
The four schools that combined to make up the team (Drumshanbo VS, Carrigallen VS, Lough Allen VS and Mohill Community College) brought together players from all parts of the county and beyond and it was evident this was a competition the players and management had taken seriously.
The training they put in meant they all looked very familiar and comfortable with one another.
The addition of the Mohill contingent to the Vocational Schools team has obviously transformed the fortunes of this team, making them by far the strongest at B level in the Province.
After the match one of Leitrim's managers, Jimmy Guckian felt his players had been better in every position and that was an argument that was hard to disagree with. All over the pitch Leitrim had outstanding performers with Shane Beirne and Brian Mulvey among Leitrim's star performers.
Although Limerick opened the scoring through Stephen O'Brien's fourth minute free, Leitrim responded well with two points in as many minutes.
Conor Beirne opened Leitrim's account in the fifth minute before turning provider a minute later to create an opportunity for Shane Quinn which was duly taken.
Just as Leitrim seemed to be beginning to assert their dominance on the game, Limerick replied with a fine goal.
Michael Brosnan was picked out by a long searching ball which deceived the Leitrim defence and his shot, which was either a strike of genius or a mis-hit, flew from the right of the goal about 10 meters out and sailed over goalkeeper Emmet Higgins before dipping under the crossbar.
Understandably that goal took the wind out of the Leitrim sails but they remained toe to toe with their opponents over the next seven minutes while they regained their composure.
Pointed frees from Brian Mulvey and Conor Beirne were cancelled out by Limerick's Mike O'Flynn and Kevin Noonan as the Munster champions maintained their two point lead.
With the game beginning to open up, Leitrim began to play with more freedom and came agonisingly close to taking the lead when Conor Beirne picked out Shane Quinn. Unfortunately for Leitrim, Quinn's shot was expertly saved by Limerick goalkeeper Fergal Cassidy.
For the remaining 10 minutes of the half Leitrim raised the tempo and as they attacked at will, it was evident their self-belief was growing.
A Conor Beirne pointed free was followed by a Brian Mulvey point after a cleverly worked free. After assessing his options Mulvey played a short free to Barry Doyle and having received the return pass, Mulvey slotted the ball between the uprights to level the scores.
Two further Conor Beirne points, one of which was a free, left Leitrim in a commanding position at the interval leading 0-8 to 1-3.
Without playing to their full potential Leitrim had left the field at the interval with a two point lead and the management team of Sean Wynne, Jimmy Guckian, Jimmy Holohan, Brendan Brett and Tomas Nolan were able to reinstill the belief into their charges that they were only 30 minutes away from claiming an All-Ireland title.
Whatever was said during the break seemed to work as the Leitrim players came out and dominated all areas of the pitch and points from Conor Beirne and Shane Quinn inside the opening four minutes of the restart helped open up a four point lead.
Although Limerick’s Kevin Doody converted a free, the game was now being totally dominated by Leitrim. Gabriel Egan and Brian Mulvey were asserting their influence in midfield and helping to launch attack after attack while the defence although not overly busy, looked assured when called upon.
A point from substitute John Mulligan was followed by three Brian Mulvey pointed frees in four minutes as the Limerick players were beginning to look frustrated and despondent while the Leitrim players looked in complete control.
Although he didn’t score in the final, the vision and passing of captain Jason McLoughlin was another significant factor in Leitrim’s victory. He seemed to be always available for a pass and when in possession more often than not seemed to make the best possible use of the ball. In fact such was the confidence of the Leitrim players, they all looked extremely comfortable on the ball.
After Stephen O’Brien reduced Leitrim’s lead to six points, Leitrim were presented with an opportunity to extend their lead to nine points after Barry Doyle was hauled to the ground by Limerick’s Robbie Hannon leaving Gerry Kinneavy with no option but to award a penalty.
Brian Mulvey stepped up to take responsibility and having been so accurate with his frees it seemed inevitable that he would score Leitrim’s opening goal and put the contest beyond Limerick.
Although his effort was well struck, Mulvey’s shot rebounded back off the post.
That penalty miss seemed to give Limerick renewed belief and with 12 minutes still remaining they had enough time to stage an unlikely comeback.
A Kevin Noonan free and a Stephen O’Brien point helped reduce Leitrim’s lead to four points. However, the Limerick rate of scoring was not as high as it needed to be if they were to reel in Leitrim.
With just a minute remaining Limerick’s day went from bad to worse as they had two players sent off for their part in the unsightly ruckus which came about after a Limerick free was overturned close to the touchline and a throw-in awarded.
The free which Limerick were awarded initially angered some sections of the Leitrim crowd and their boos were met with a gesture by Limerick substitute Kevin Moynihan. That gesture was spotted by the linesman and having consulted the referee it was decided to throw the ball in.
With the ball being thrown in, in front of the stand and far too many players in close proximity, there was always the likelihood of trouble but that is not excusing the actions of the Limerick players who to put it bluntly, lost the plot.
When the ball broke free after the throw-in, Brian Mulvey dived on the ball, almost on the touchline. The Limerick players went in physically to regain possession and within seconds the situation had escalated from a shoving match to a case of punches, kicks and headbutts being thrown.
Leitrim manager Jimmy Guckian was quickly on hand to usher his players away, although in fairness to them they seemed to be attempting to look after their team-mates rather than engage in the madness some of the Limerick players were intent on participating in.
After consulting with his linesman who had a perfect view of the whole incident Limerick’s Kevin Moynihan and Michael Brosnan were brandished with red cards.
That proved to be the final blow for Limerick, but in truth that double dismissal had no bearing on the final outcome.
When the game did resume Brian Mulvey’s free completed the scoring two minutes into injury time ensuring Leitrim had claimed an All-Ireland title.
The celebrations in the stand and on the pitch indicated just what it meant to the players and supporters and with Leitrim minor manager Damian Eames an interested observer in Ballinasloe, there is reason for optimism regarding the county’s underage performers, although with some of the players from different counties and others over-age, it might not be as straight-forward as one would like.
Leitrim
Emmet Higgins, Anthony Holohan, Mark Gunning, Shane Beirne, Dylan McGowan, Shane Harton, Martin Clancy, Gabriel Egan, Brian Mulvey (0-6), Jason McLoughlin, Michael Geoghegan, Alan Armstrong, Conor Beirne (0-6), Barry Doyle, Shane Quinn (0-2). Subs: John Mulligan (0-1) for Armstrong (23 mins).
Limerick
Fergal Cassidy, Robbie Hannon, Stephen Foley, John Barrett, Enda Gallagher, James O’Meara, Shane Reynolds, Kevin Brosnan, Brian Noonan, Kevin Noonan (0-2), Mike O’Flynn (0-1), Sean Sheahan, Kevin Doody (0-1), Stephen O’Brien (0-3), Michael Brosnan (1-1). Subs: Stephen Power for O’Flynn (45 mins), Kevin Moynihan for Barrett (45 mins).
Referee: Gerry Kinneavy (Galway).
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Weather for Carrick-on-Shannon, Ireland
Tuesday 22 May 2012
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