Nightmare goals haunt Leitrim
It is hard to believe that you can score 17 points away from home and still lose but two calamitous goals during the second half of last Sunday's Allianz National League Division Four encounter in Cusack Park, Ennis saw Leitrim shattered at the final whistle as they were deprived of a fully deserved win.
ALLIANZ NFL DIVISION 4
LEITRIM 0-17
CLARE 2-12
After a disastrous week that saw Colin Regan and Emlyn Mulligan ruled out for the rest of the year, Leitrim came within a hair-breath of securing a victory that would have lifted the county and breathed new life into League campaign.
Keeper Gareth Phelan will have night-mares for years to come over Clare's two goals that saw the Leitrim net-minder let two speculative long shots from over 40 yards end up in the net and transform a game that was heading in the away side's favour.
That may seem like laying a lot on the shoulders of Gareth Phelan particularly after the Melvin Gaels club-man had made a wonderful first half save but the impact of Clare's two goals were seismic, reigniting a Clare challenge that looked to be dead and buried as Leitrim led by six points after 11 minutes of the second half.
Nobody was keen to apportion any blame to the keeper in Ennis last Sunday but it is the cruel nature of a goal-keeper's life that any mistakes are magnified, incredibly so after the two goals gifted the Banner Men with a victory they scarcely deserved.
Leitrim played some wonderful, open and attacking football, using the pace of David O'Connor, Philip Howard and Michael Foley to deadly effect during the first half as Philly McGuinness gave a master class in visionary play.
Leading by four points at the break was actually a poor return as Leitrim bossed a Clare team who may have believed a little too rashly that Sunday's game would be a cake-walk against a depleted Leitrim.
In all fairness, Clare had their chances in the first half but too often went for over-elaboration, taking the extra pass but Leitrim were good value for their lead.
But Barry Toner's 47th minute goal changed everything – Phelan was visibly distraught after he let the harmless high ball slip through his grasp and bounce into the net.
That goal infused Clare with a confidence they had previously lacked, forcing Leitrim onto the back-foot and relying on the boot of the excellent Michael Foley for scores. The Drumkeerin man scored eight points and was key in punishing an undisciplined Clare defence.
But each time Foley converted a free, Clare managed an instant response, none more deadly than with seven minutes to go when sub Barry Prior lost the ball. Emboldened by their first goal, Clare sub Chris Dunning lobbed another high ball in towards the goal.
With full-forward David Russell moving to stand in front of Phelan, the ball might have got a slight touch from the Clare man but whether it did or not, it appeared to catch everyone off guard when it landed in the net for a killer blow.
Seconds later, Gary Brennan intercepted a quickly taken free and Clare took the lead for the first time and suddenly, it was Leitrim who were chasing a draw!
Darren Sweeney’s point raised hopes of a draw but when David Tubridy swept over his seventh point of the day in injury time, the day belonged to Clare.
Leitrim fought to at least gain what would have been scant consolation and a share of the spoils but to the ire of Leitrim supporters, referee Pat Sheehy failed to award a free when Declan Gilhooley was challenged some 30 yards from goal after the two minutes of added time had elapsed.
Clare fans were equally unhappy with the referee’s display but with Gilhooley surrounded and the referee in close attendance, the Kerry official waved play on and Clare secured a win that few believed possible early in the second half.
As proud as the Leitrim management were of the effort of the players, it is nevertheless a devastating loss as a match winning position was surrendered to a side that flattered greatly to decieve.
If scoring 17 points is a welcome sign and the form of McGuinness, O’Connor and Howard give an added dimension to the attack, the concession of 2-12 is equally worrisome for a team that has now conceded an average of 13.5 points a game and that includes the cake-walk against Kilkenny.
Leitrim haven’t appeared as solid in defence as they have in the past and although the two goals last Sunday were of the flukey variety, it is a concern for future games.
Promotion may not be mathematically gone quite yet but with four teams on six points, it leaves Leitrim with a mountain to climb, so much so that attention is probably already being turned to the championship.
With Roscommon struggling badly in the League, a victory there would certainly put the struggles in Division Four into the shade and the display in Ennis, albeit against a poor Clare side, would suggest that there is something to work with.
Leitrim opened the scoring in the third minute when a long ball to Declan Gilhooley resulted in Michael Foley pointing. But Leitrim also kicked some costly wides with Manor’s James Glancy, Gilhooley, Philip Howard and Gary Reynolds all missing the target in the first ten minutes.
Clare were not without blemish as Michael O’Shea had a wide, David Tubridy had a shot held on the line and Gareth Phelan made a fabulous save from Gary Brennan as he bore down on goal, Annaduff’s Dermot Reynolds clearing the ball.
The let-off sparked a Leitrim scoring spree with Michael Foley popping over a 35 yard free and quickly followed by two excellent Philip Howard points, one a result of a one-two with club colleague David O’Connor.
Despite Clare being held scoreless, there was still danger and John McKeon cut out a dangerous ball heading towards the goal after Gareth Phelan was beaten to a high ball. The home side opened their account on 17 minutes when Barry Toner pointed.
Inaccuracy, which had caused problems before, saw O’Connor drop an effort into the keeper as Carrick’s James Glancy missed a chance. Clare’s David Tubridy converted a free which was initially waved wide by the umpire but over-ruled by the referee.
Despite a poor wide from Michael Foley, Leitrim continued to pile on the scores when David O’Connor fisted over the bar following a high free into James Glancy. Glancy himself got on the score-sheet when his club-mate Darren Sweeney sent a high ball into him.
Clare’s next score had a bit of hard luck for Leitrim when a ball was handled on the ground by a defender, Tubridy firing the free over.
However, sub Dermot Reynolds, who replaced his club-mate Glancy, scorched forward to thump over a wonderful point, a score illuminated when Foley tapped over a free awarded for over-carrying on 31 minutes.
Clare made a late surge with points from Tubridy, awarded after Annaduff’s Dermot Reynolds unfortunately threw the ball while under pressure, and Barry Toner after two defenders collided with each other and lost the ball. But Leitrim finished with another Foley free that gave the visitors a commanding 0-9 to 0-5 halftime lead.
Clearly worried, Clare made two changes at the break while Annaduff’s Dermot Reynolds was replaced by Barry Prior due to injury at the break. And it was Clare who made a bright start with Michael O’Shea pointing after Shane Foley lost the ball when he appeared to be trod on.
But it was Leitrim who set the tone for the game and a great run saw David O’Connor fist over the bar. A Foley free and a fine point from play from James Glancy saw Leitrim stretch their lead to double scores, 0-12 to 0-6, after seven minutes of the second half.
Despite a Tubridy free, Leitrim should have goaled when a O’Connor run sliced open the Clare defence. He drew the cover before passing to James Glancy but the Manor man, blasted high and badly wide from close range on nine minutes.
It didn’t seem to matter after Shane Foley’s powerful run ended with Howard scoring a wonderful point on ten minutes to again open up a six point gap.
But the game took an atrocious turn for Leitrim on 12 minutes when Barry Toner’s high ball was completely mis-judged by Gareth Phelan, the ball bouncing into the net as it went through his hands!
It was a killer blow that reignited Clare’s confidence and sub Shane Kinnevan went close to a second goal before David Tubridy’s massive 50-yard effort was tipped over the bar by Phelan on 16 minutes.
A clumsy hit on Philip Howard saw Michael Foley steady the ship with a successful free but after making a great save from David Tubridy, Phelan lost the ball when attempting a clearance and Tubridy got the ball back to score on 20 minutes.
Foley and Michael O’Shea swapped points before the Leitrim man experienced both the good and bad, missing a free on 25 minutes but edging Leitrim three in front after a late hit by a Clare player.
But the contest took a dreadful turn with less than seven minutes to go – Chris Dunning’s high ball saw David Russell making a nuisance of himself by standing in front of Phelan and the ball incredibly went straight to the net for a killer goal.
To rub salt into the wounds, Gary Brennan nipped in front of a Leitrim player to rob the ball and ran on to put his team in front.
Credit to Leitrim, they fought back and as Clare tried to play the ball out of defence, the ball was intercepted and Darren Sweeney swept over a fine equaliser, his last action as he was then replaced by Shane Canning.
But momentum was with Clare and after two bad wides, they went in front when Declan Gilhooley lost the ball under pressure. The ball was worked down the right wing and David Tubridy scored a great point that turned out to be the winner in over a minute of the added two minutes of time.
Leitrim tried to work one more chance but when Gilhooley was crowded out, many in the Leitrim camp believing unfairly, Clare kicked the ball dead to send Leitrim to a crushing defeat.
Leitrim
Gareth Phelan, Dermot Reynolds, John McKeon, Daniel Beck, James Glancy (St. Mary’s), Gary Reynolds, Shane Foley, Tomas Beirne, Darren Sweeney (0-1), Philly McGuinness, David O’Connor (0-2), Michael Foley (0-8), Philip Howard (0-3), James Glancy (Glencar/Manor) (0-2), Declan Gilhooley. Subs: Dermot Reynolds (St. Mary’s) (0-1) for J. Glancy (St. Mary’s) (25 mins), Barry Prior for Reynolds (Annaduff) (HT), Colm Clarke for S. Foley (55 mins), Shane Canning & Damien O’Donnell for Sweeney & Howard (67 mins).
Clare
Joe Hayes, Dean Ryan, Barry Duggan, Brian Cummins, Graham Kelly, Gordon Kelly, Mark Tubridy, Ger Quinlan, Lawrence Healy, Gary Brennan (0-1), David Tubridy (0-7), Michael O’Shea (0-2), Barry Toner (1-2), David Russell, Alan Clohessy. Subs: Chris Dunning (1-0) & Shane McNeillis for Cummins & M. Tubridy (HT), Shane Kinnevan for Healy (41 mins), Gearoid Lynch for Toner (62 mins), Paul Hehir for Russell (67 mins).
Referee: Pat Sheehy (Clare).
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Weather for Carrick-on-Shannon, Ireland
Sunday 05 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 6 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 6 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: West
