Late Murray point seals home semi-final for Leitrim hurlers in phoney war with Longford

A dramatic late point from Joe Murray may have secured home advantage for Leitrim in the Allianz NHL Division 3B semi-finals next week but it was hard to avoid the feeling that Saturday's clash with Longford was something of a phoney war as both teams fielded understrength teams for the encounter in Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada.

With both teams already qualified for the semi-finals, all this match decided was who would finish second in the table and gain home advantage with Murray's late winner ensuring that Olcan Conway's side would host Longford in the splendid Shane McGettigan grounds next Saturday.

Longford, with a panel of just 23 players, left six of their starters off for this game but Olcan Conway went full-out with a completely different 15 from what had started the loss against Cavan, only Joe Murray who was returning after injury considered an automatic starter in quite a startling statement of strength in depth.

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Leitrim did bring on Martin Feeney, Jerome Fitzgibbon, Paul Lenehan, Sean Markham and Gavin O'Hagan in the second half as they sought to secure home comforts for next week's semi-final but it must be especially pleasing for Conway that so many players performed as well as they did with quite a few, especially in defence, putting their hands up for a starting place.

Aaron McLoughlin, Ethan Clancy, Mark McHugh, Brian Goldrick and Kevin Clerkin really stood out while the return of Enda & Liam Moreton, James McNabola and Murray greatly strengthened Leitrim's hand for the remainder of the competition.

Longford will look back on this game as a missed chance - they dominated the first half but hit a huge amount of wides with the strong gale force wind down the centre of the field. Their 0-7 to 0-2 lead was never going to be enough in those conditions as Leitrim's defence put in an enormous shift to hold out under fierce pressure in the first half.

The introduction of O'Hagan, Fitzgibbon and Feeney at halftime swung the game decisively in Leitrim's favour in the second half but Longford rolled their own dice, bringing on Paddy Lynam, Rueben Murray and Cathal Mullane that saw them recover from a two point deficit to draw level with just over two minutes of normal time left.

The Leitrim defence blocks a late goal chance for Longford Picture: Willie Donnellan

But there was plenty of time for drama in the concluding minutes as Leitrim hit three wides, Longford missed a free and Murray finished off a great move to regain the lead. Longford had a late free to force a draw which would have given them home advantage but the effort fell short in the wind and Leitrim managed to clear the danger.

Quite what both teams will take from this game is hard to take - Longford had more wides but Leitrim had the more inexperienced team so make of that what you will! It should make next Saturday's semi-final a truly epic encounter.

Longford had all the early chances but had three wides from placed balls before Evan Tully scored from distance from halfway four minutes in. Joe Murray replied with a Leitrim free before Matthew Hawes converted a Longford free to restore the visitor's advantage.

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Murray was unlucky from play while Ronan Sheahan had a bad wide after making a great catch from a puckout but he made amends when he gathered a long clearance, broke through a challenge and fired over the Leitrim crossbar. 

Leitrim keeper Lorcan Donnellan left a 65 short before Aaron McLoughlin made a good interception but was dispossessed as he tried to clear his lines, Matthew Hawes firing over. Dylan McHugh saw a shot blocked out for a 65 wide that Donnellan put wide but a foul on James McNabola, winning the ball back, saw Murray convert the free on 27 minutes.

Longford responded with a Tully free but they kept hitting wides, two from frees, while they denied James McNabola with a timely block. Hawes converted a free before Longford put a free wide across the face of the Leitrim goal. Eamon Allen converted a free from his own 65 to leave Longford with a formidable 0-7 to 0-2 halftime lead given the conditions.

Leitrim missed a couple of early chances before a fifth minute Murray free opened the second half scoring. Longford's Charles Flynn missed a chance from a free that was moved in and Leitrim took advantage with Murray firing over from play before a long range Leitrim free cannoned off the Longford posts, Martin Feeney reacting best to squeeze the ball over from a tight angle.

Longford were finding it hard to cope with the wind as Tully saw a free go wide while Sheahan had a shot blocked after a long range Allen free fell short. Gavin O'Hagan cut the gap to a point on 51 minutes with a great free from the left sideline after a foul on Joe Murray and four minutes later, Murray tied the scores from a free.

Almost immediately Leitrim went in front when Enda Moreton scored a truly brilliant point from the right hand corner and three minutes later, Jerome Fitzgibbons' free flew straight and true to put Leitrim two points clear.

Dylan McDermott gets a shot away for Leitrim against Longford Picture: Willie Donnellan

Longford, however, dug deep and forced their way back into the game - Rueben Murray pounced after a poor puckout was intercepted but Longford may wonder if they should have had a goal with five minutes left. Two minutes later, good work from Cathal Mullane led to a fine point from Matthew Hawes and the scores were level once more.

Leitrim's need for the winner was greater and it showed in the closing stages as they created more chances that Longford although Gavin O'Brien, Enda Moreton and Murray all wasted chances before good work from Ethan Clancy and James McNabola created the chance and Joe Murray struck for the winner in added time.

Longford had a late free from Cathal Mullane but it fell short and despite a few hair-raising moments with the sliotar in the goalmouth, Leitrim cleared the danger to secure home advantage for the semi-final.

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LEITRIM

Scorers: Joe Murray 0-6, 4f; Gavin O'Hagan (f), Jerome Fitzgibbon (f), Enda Moreton & Martin Feeney 0-1 each

Team: Lorcan Donnellan, Ethan Clancy, Aaron McLoughlin, Mark McHugh, Brian Goldrick, Kevin Clerkin, Paddy Clerkin, Enda Moreton, Joe Murray, Dylan McDermott, Gavin O'Brien, Peter Poinard, Ralph McKeon, Liam Moreton, James McNabola. Subs: Martin Feeney, Gavin O'Hagan & Jerone Fitzgibbon for K Clerkin, Poniard & McKeon (HT); Paul Lenehan for Goldrick (52); Sean Markham for McDermott (61)

LONGFORD

Scorers: Matthew Hawes 0-4, 2f; Evan Tully 0-2, 1f; Eamon Allen (f), Ronan Sheahan & Reuben Murray 0-1 each

Team: Pat Burke, Johnny Casey, Karl Murray, Daire Regan, Adam Quinn, Eamonn Allen, Francis Dolan, Evan Tully, Pearse McNally, Dan Crossan, Ronan Sheahan, Matthew Hawes, Diarmuid O'Donnell, Michael Savage, Liam Browne. Subs: Charles Flynn for Quinn (18); Kealan Cox for McNally (30); Iarlaith Dolan for Regan (34); Paddy Lynam for Dolan (50); Cathal Mullane for Crossan (66)

Referee: James Judge