Leitrim fade as Sligo finish best
Despite being down to 14 men for most of the second half, visitors Sligo defied the odds in Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada last Sunday by scoring an unanswered 1-3 in the final 12 minutes to consign Leitrim to defeat in the last game of the FBD Connacht League.
CONNACHT FBD FOOTBALL LEAGUE
LEITRIM 0-9
SLIGO 1-12
The final score-line may be a little harsh on the home side, with the goal coming deep into injury time at the end of the game, but the storming finish of the Sligo men secured a deserved victory for the Yeats men.
Leitrim had been looking for a victory that would have been a major boost for the start of the Allianz National League Division Four campaign next Sunday in Ballinamore against Waterford.
After a rip-roaring first half that saw both teams enjoys spells of dominance in a game that twisted one way and then the other, the dismissal of Sligo centre-back Mark Quinn saw Leitrim enjoy a renaissance as they over-turned a three point deficit.
That surge was led by the returned Emlyn Mulligan who oozed class and spoke of much promise for the coming months, a welcome sight for Leitrim fans.
But unfortunately that was the high point for Leitrim fans in Pairc Sean last Sunday as, once Leitrim got on level terms, Sligo brought on fresh reserves and started a devastating push for home that saw them claim the honours.
While the FBD League is of small consequence in the larger scheme of things, Sligo's stronger finish, allied with that of Galway the previous week, will not have pleased Mickey Moran or John Morrison as they commence a tough and difficult National League campaign.
Waterford mightn't be everyone idea of world beaters but they do possess a strong midfield and a physical team that will cause Leitrim problems in precisely the area where Leitrim are struggling at the moment, in the middle of the field.
Turn-over ball also cost Leitrim dearly as players tired badly in the last quarter and Sligo were able to take advantage at crucial times but again, it is something that will improve over the coming weeks with more preparation time than Leitrim have enjoyed in previous weeks.
With injuries not allowing Leitrim field their strongest hand in the FBD, it has given fringe players the chance to stake a claim to a starting place but the absence of the experienced Declan Maxwell, Shane Foley and Michael McGuinness has been sorely felt.
The open nature of the game was set in the first five minutes – Damien O'Donnell opened the scoring when he swung over the ball from the right corner after 40 seconds but Leitrim keeper Gareth Phelan was called quickly into action when he saved at close range from Colm McGee who was clean through on goal.
Sligo drew level through Mark Brehony, set up by a great run from Charles Harrison, while Manor's James Glancy was unlucky to see a shot come off the post. However, the ball worked its way back to his namesake from Carrick-on-Shannon who drove the ball firmly over the bar.
Sligo then had their period of dominance, firing over points from McGee, Stephen Gilmartin and Ciaran Finan in a two minute spell but Leitrim were quick in answering, Manor’s James Glancy playing a one-two with Philly McGuinness to score a brilliant point from a tight corner.
Glancy then added two frees as Leitrim were now back in front but after hitting a sideline free wide, Sligo hit back impressively with two Brehony frees to go back in front after 27 minutes.
McGee converted a free, unusually off the ground, with Philip Howard finishing off a wonderful flowing move involving Carrick’s James Glancy and Philly McGuinness with a lovely point. However, the last word fell to Sean Davey, over two minutes into added time, as he belted over a 50-yard point to leave Sligo with a 0-8 to 0-6 halftime lead.
Leitrim made three changes at the break with Gareth Phelan, Declan Gilhooley & Emlyn Mulligan entering the fray, David O’Connor moving to midfield but it was Sligo who continued to dominate with a Brehony free just three minutes into the half.
A minute later, the game took a major turn in Leitrim’s favour when Mark Quinn received a second yellow card for a foul out almost on the sideline. And to rub salt into Sligo’s wounds, Emlyn Mulligan got his first score of the year by thumping the 50-yard free high over the bar.
That change in circumstances lifted Leitrim although there was a significant incident when Colin Regan’s off-the-ball block on a Sligo player coming through in support ended up with the Kinlough man getting a yellow card.
It didn’t seem to matter much when Mulligan tapped over from play but despite Leitrim having the extra man, Sligo were still creating more chances, even if they were missing them.
A clash with Stephen Gilmartin saw Mulligan, which seemed almost accidental, pick himself up and fire over a massive 50-yard free to tie the scores 15 minutes into the half. Sligo immediately brought on Tony Taylor (Noel McGuire had previously come on after the dismissal) to shore things up.
It paid off as McGee again fired over a free while Carrick’s James Glancy fired wildly wide on 19 minutes. The Yeats men started to pull clear when a Barry Prior foul was moved in for dissent, Mark Brehony tapping over an easy free on 22 minutes.
Sligo, despite being a man down, were now dominating and they demonstrated this when keeper Philip Greene caught a dropping shot and set in train a move that went the length of the field and ended with McGee scoring from the right wing on 25 minutes.
That established a three-point gap and Leitrim were unable to get any closer as passing broke down and players legs seemed to go. Colin Regan received a second yellow card for a clumsy trip on a Sligo player breaking free to level up the players on the field.
With time almost up, Sligo secured the win in definite fashion when a poor Clifford Richardson pass was intercepted and sent into an unmarked Adrian Marren whose low drilled shot to the left hand corner of the net gave Gareth Phelan absolutely no chance.
Leitrim
Enda Lyons, Daniel Beck, John McKeon, Dermot Reynolds, Colin Regan, Barry Prior, James Glancy (St. Mary’s) (0-1), Darren Sweeney, Clifford Richardson, Philip McGuinness, David O’Connor, Damien O’Donnell (0-1), Brendan Gallagher, James Glancy (0-3), Philip Howard (0-1). Subs: Gareth Phelan, Declan Gilhooley & Emlyn Mulligan (0-3) for Lyons, Gallagher & Sweeney (HT), Adrian Croal for Howard (39 mins).
Sligo
Philip Greene, Charles Harrison, Conor Davey, Ross Donovan, Johnny Davey, Mark Quinn, Sean Davey (0-1), Stephen Gilmartin (0-1), James Murphy, Eamon O’Hara, Mark Brehony (0-5), Ciaran Finan (0-1), Padraig McGoldrick, Kenneth Sweeney, Colm McGee (0-4). Subs: Francis Quinn for O’Hara (HT), Noel McGuire for McGoldrick (39 mins), Tony Taylor for Murphy (47 mins), Adrian Marren (1-0) for Finan (51 mins), Padraig Clarke for Sweeney (60 mins).
Referee: Declan Corcoran (Mayo).
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Weather for Carrick-on-Shannon, Ireland
Sunday 05 February 2012
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