Leitrim's promotion hopes suffer heavy blow as Wicklow hit five late points to claim victory

Leitrim’s Allianz NFL Division 4 promotion hopes hang by the thinnest of threads after Wicklow staged a remarkable late surge that landed five unanswered points to claim the scalp of the Green & Gold in Echelon Aughrim Park on Sunday.

For the second away game in a row, Andy Moran’s side were unable to hold out down the stretch as Wicklow followed their Wexford neighbours by overwhelming Leitrim in the final ten minutes to claim a vital victory that keeps the Garden County’s League hopes alive.

For Leitrim, even with two home games against Laois and Sligo to come, their promotion hopes are hanging by the proverbial thread as they now lie fourth in the table behind the midlanders, the Yeatsmen and Wicklow.

Check out the Leitrim fans cheering on the Green & Gold in Aughrim - GALLERY

It was a mixed day for Leitrim fans in Echelon Aughrim Park on Sunday as the Ladies team booked their place in the Lidl LGFA NFL Division 4 Semi-Finals while the Men's team saw their Allianz NFL Division 4 promotion hopes suffer a massive blow in a 0-15 to 1-9 loss. Observer photographer Willie Donnellan was a busy man with his camera at both games, snapping shots of fans enjoying a rare Leitrim double header ..... see who you can spot!

The manner of the defeat is a bitter pill to swallow as Leitrim absorbed everything thrown at them in the first half when playing against the wind and opened up a four point gap just seven minutes into the second half when Keith Beirne drilled home from close range, seemingly setting the visitors on the road to victory.

But the goal seemed to actually inspire Wicklow who started to drive through the Leitrim defence, the impressive Dean Healy well supported by Patrick O’Kane and Padraig O’Toole with the dam finally bursting in the final ten minutes as Wicklow reeled off five unanswered points to claim a huge victory.

While Wicklow were probably, just about, the better team over the 70 minutes, Leitrim will have huge regrets over this game, particularly with two second half incidents that could have turned the game decisively Leitrim’s way.

First up was a goal chance, created by Jack Heslin, that evaded the grasp of Keith Beirne was mere inches before Wicklow’s Mark Kenny was extremely fortunate to escape a second booking that would have reduced his side to 14 men for the final 25 minutes.

Darragh Rooney on the attack with Conor Farrell in support Picture: Willie Donnellan

Having said that, Wicklow can justifiably point to a couple of golden goal chances they butchered, including one great save from Darren Maxwell, and a lot more wides over the game as reason why they deserved to win this contest.

Wicklow were first on the scoreboard with a Mark Kenny point after just two minutes but Leitrim were soon in front with Beirne punishing a foul on himself from the free and Mark Plunkett making a superb low catch to claim a mark which he converted.

Both teams missed chances, Beirne leaving a free against the wind short while Paul Keaney saw an effort claimed by keeper Mark Jackson and the home side levelled when Kenny converted a second free after 15 minutes of a contest where the tension seemed to be getting the best of both teams.

Kenny put a free wide on the near side and Beirne again extracted punishment for a foul on himself when he turned into a heavy collision, the Mohill man converting. However, he did drop a shot into the keeper before Wicklow suffered a heavy blow when Patrick O’Keane received what looked like a harsh enough black card for an off the ball block.

Wicklow almost hit back in perfect fashion when a long ball evaded the Leitrim last line of defence, leaving Mark Kenny one-on-one with Darren Maxwell but the Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins clubman managed to get his foot out to divert the close range, goal bound shot to safety.

Check out Willie Donnellan's gallery of fans photos from Leitrim v Cavan Philly McGuinness Cup

Observer photographer Willie Donnellan was a busy man with his camera at the Philly McGuinness U20 Cup game between Leitrim and Cavan in Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada on Saturday .... see who you can spot at the game!

Kenny, in his eagerness to make up for his miss, tackled heavily and went into the book but Wicklow drew level when an Aidan Flynn foul allowed Jackson to fire a 50 yard free high over the Leitrim crossbar.

Jack Heslin then burst into action, scoring two points in a five minute spell - the first was set up by a one-two with Aidan Flynn while the second saw him break through a tackle to score.

However, with O’Keane back on the field after his ten minutes in the sin-bin, Wicklow drew level again when Eoin Darcy finished off a well worked move and Jackson hit his second free of the first half.

From that kickout, Leitrim claimed a mark and a long ball to Darragh Rooney saw the former Melvin Gaels clubman play a one-two with Beirne to fire the ball over the bar, leaving Leitrim 0-6 to 0-5 in front at the break.

With the strong wind to come in the second half, Leitrim would have been confident of pushing on to victory but it was Wicklow who came close to claiming a goal when JP Hurley’s shot was stopped on the line.

The effect of the wind was illustrated when Paul Keaney boomed a monster 60 yard effort from the right wing over the Wicklow crossbar with Jackson scoring his third free to cut the gap back to a point five minutes in.

But then it seemed as if Leitrim were taking control - a long delivery from Mark Plunkett finally caught the excellent Malachy Stone out of position, Keith Beirne making a superb catch over his shoulder and then rounding Mark Jackson to slam the ball to the net.

Leitrim sub Evan Sweeney charges at the Wicklow defence Picture: Willie Donnellan

But it seemed as if the goal simply stirred Wicklow to greater feats as Eoin Darcy quickly replied with two frees to cut the gap back to two.

Then came two huge moments that might have turned this game decisively in Leitrim’s favour - Jack Heslin broke through the centre of the Wicklow defence and sped through on goal. Instead of going for goal himself, he offloaded the ball to Keith Beirne on the edge of the square but the ball evaded the grasp of the Mohill man and a great goal chance was lost.

Then came another big turning point a minute later when Mark Kenny, booked in the first half, collided heavily with Paul Keaney. Referee Sean Laverty warned the Wicklow man but no second yellow was forthcoming and Wicklow escaped the sanction of losing a man.

It proved costly as Wicklow regained possession from the free kick and worked the ball to the inspirational Dean Healy who fired the ball over the bar, wiping out all the gains of Leitrim’s goal.

Wicklow were missing chances and it seemed as if Leitrim would ride the storm as Keith Beirne hit two in quick succession on 54 and 55 minutes, the first a free after a foul on Heslin and the second after holding off three Wicklow defenders to hook the ball high over the bar.

Tom Quinn and Evan Sweeney were brought on for Plunkett and Shane Quinn but when Padraig O’Toole burst through to fire over a point with just over ten minutes left to play, it seemed to wake up the Wicklow beast and boy did it finish strongly.

Eoin Darcy cut the gap to a point after a very soft free given for a foul on Healy before a wayward kickout was intercepted by Padraig O’Toole who set up Healy for a spectacular outside of the boot equaliser with just over five minutes to go.

Now that they had momentum, Wicklow didn’t let up - Healy and Kenny combined to set up Darcy in a great move for the lead and from that kickout, the combative Healy broke through two tackles to fire Wicklow two in front.

Leitrim brought on Domhnaill Flynn and Emlyn Mulligan but the momentum of the game was all with Wicklow and when Darcy converted a free over two minutes into four minutes of added time, that gave the home side a three point lead.

The Green & Gold needed a goal but with O’Toole and Mark Jackson batting away long balls into the goalmouth, Wicklow held firm to deal Leitrim’s promotion hopes a deadly blow.

The dilemma of the scoring forward

THE LAST POINT

WICKLOW

Scorers: Eoin Darcy 0-6, 5f; Dean Healy & Mark Jackson (3f) 0-3 each; Mark Kenny 0-2, 1f; Padraig O’Toole 0-1

Team: Mark Jackson ; Malachy Stone, Eoin Murtagh, Jacques McCall; Karl Furlong, Paddy O’Keane, Zach Cullen; Dean Healy, Podge O’Toole; Jack Kirwan, JP Hurley, Cathal Baker; Mark Kenny, Kevin Quinn, Eoin D’Arcy. Subs: Cian O’Sullivan for J McCall (60), Aaron Murphy for M Kenny (71), Sean Murphy for J Kirwan (73)

LEITRIM

Scorers: Keith Beirne 1-4, 3f; Jack Heslin 0-2; Mark Plunkett (M), Paul Keaney & Darragh Rooney 0-1 each

Team: Darren Maxwell; Paddy Maguire, Mark Diffley, Conor Reynolds; Conor Farrell, Shane Quinn, James Rooney; Paul Keaney, Donal Wrynn, Mark Plunkett, Aidan Flynn, Donal Casey, Darragh Rooney, Keith Beirne, Jack Heslin. Subs: Pearce Dolan for D Rooney (51), Evan Sweeney & Tom Quinn for S Quinn & Plunkett (57), Domhnaill Flynn for C Farrell (65), Emlyn Mulligan for J Rooney (68)

Referee: Sean Laverty (Antrim)