Hurlers do their part to keep Leitrim's League Final treble hopes alive

Part one of a treble of Leitrim National League Finals has been done after the county's hurlers delivered a superb performance to hold off the challenge of Longford for the second week in a row in Drumshanbo's Shane McGettigan Park on Saturday to book their place in the Allianz NHL Division 3B Final next weekend against Cavan.

With the mens and ladies footballers in action on Sunday, the attention was all on the Leitrim hurlers as they began the county's attempt to reach three National League Finals this weekend and Olcan Conway's side certainly delivered as they had seven points to spare over their neighbours in a hard fought and at times chippy encounter.

Having pipped Longford for home advantage just a week beforehand, the pressure was on the hurlers to deliver as they were now up to full-strength and they didn't disappoint, leading by eight points at the halftime break having trailed by a point at the end of the first quarter.

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THE LAST POINT

That match winning transformation started with Tadhg Brannigan scoring from distance and over the next five minutes, Leitrim added an unanswered 1-3 to take complete control of the contest and leaving Longford looking rudderless against an increasingly confident Green & Gold.

Leading 1-12 to 0-7 at the break, Leitrim then endured a poor third quarter where they failed to score at all while Longford plundered 1-2 to get back within striking distance. It didn't help that Longford's goal came from a rare Clement Cunniffe mistake as the Leitrim keeper went up unopposed to claim a high free from his opposite number Pat Burke but the sliotar bounced off his hand and into the net.

Despite the blow of conceding a very soft goal, it actually seemed to wake Leitrim up who may have been guilty of playing within themselves as they attempted to hold Longford off. Cunniffe redeemed himself with a good save before points from Martin Feeney and sub James McNabola got Leitrim back on an even keel.

The key moment came with less than nine minutes of ordinary time left - great work from the superb Enda Moreton, who really impressed with a series of high catches as Longford launched ball after ball into the heart of the Leitrim defence, saw James McNabola wiggle free. A quick pass to Sean O'Riordan, another to Joe Murray and the ball was in the net and Leitrim had one foot in the final.

McNabola, not long back after a long term injury, could have had two more goals but Leitrim were comfortable down the final stretch as they set up a meeting with Cavan next weekend in the Final.

Enda Moreton makes a spectacular high catch against Longford Picture: Willie Donnellan

Leitrim had plenty of quality performers on the day - Enda Moreton and Conor Beirne made vital contributions under huge pressure in defence while Joe Murray, Gavin O'Hagan and Martin Feeney were always dangerous. The contributions of Tadhg Brannigan, Sean O'Riordan and Stephen Goldrick may appear slight on the scoreboard but all three delivered excellent performances in winning dirty ball and creating chances for their teammates.

With the wind not a factor as it was the week before, the game got off to swift start with both teams hitting three points in the opening seven minutes - Gavin O’Hagan, from play and a free, and Clement Cunniffe (free) were on target for Leitrim while Paddy Lynam, Evan Tully and Cathal Mullane all fired over from play for Longford.

Leitrim then had three wides before Longford took the lead for the one and only time when Lynam hit a free from his own half over the Leitrim crossbar on 17 minutes. The lead lasted just over a minute when Tadhg Brannigan fired over an excellent long range point from the wing to tie the scores.

Leitrim suddenly seemed to find a rich vein of form with Enda Moreton breaking after a scramble in the middle of the park for the sliotar, the Leitrim Gaels clubman cutting across the field before firing over on the run.

Gavin O’Hagan added a free and suddenly Leitrim were three clear when Joe Murray managed to get a touch onto a long range O’Hagan shot that dropped short, the Round Towers clubman not far off getting a goal for Leitrim.

But the home support didn’t have long to wait for a goal - from that very puck-out, Conor Beirne made a superb catch under pressure and his perceptive pass found Sean O’Riordan in space. O’Riordan delivered long towards the Longford goalmouth with Joe Murray making a brilliant catch before turning and drilling the ball to the net.

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O’Riordan’s long deliveries led to another score with Brendan Delaney pulling overhead on a ball falling short, the ball going over the bar before good work from Joe Murray set up Martin Feeney for a point as Leitrim turned a one point deficit into an eight point lead in as many minutes!

Longford stopped the rot with a Cathal Mullane point on 25 minutes but Leitrim were dictating the pace - David McGovern broke down the left wing and cut a fine shot over the Longford crossbar. Cathal Mullane replied with a Longford free which was matched by Gavin O’Hagan.

The Cluainin clubmate then won a long ball from Enda Moreton to fire over and despite a Mullane free in added time, Leitrim led 1-12 to 0-7 at the break and were well worth their lead.

However, a few positional switches brought Longford more into the game during the third quarter as Leitrim failed to trouble the scoreboard operator for 18 minutes. Mullane put over a free before Reuben Murray capped a fine run with a good score on four minutes.

Leitrim’s eight point lead was cut down to just three eight minutes into the second half when Clement Cunniffe came out to claim a free from his opposite number Pat Burke but the sliotar bounced off his hand and flew straight to the net.

Crucially, Leitrim managed to halt Longford’s surge with no score for another ten minutes although Cunniffe did make amends with a good catch from a Reuben Murray shot and Martin Feeney settled growing Leitrim nerves with a nice point on the run.

Gavin O'Hagan offloads the sliotar to a Leitrim teammate in the second half Picture: Willie Donnellan

James McNabola, introduced for an injury Brendan Delaney at halftime, added a point after a good catch but Murray hit back with a point after good work from Evan Tully. Longford almost levelled the scores with 15 minutes to go when Ronan Sheahan made a spectacular catch from a long range Burke free but he drove his shot wide of the posts with a goal very much on.

Paddy Lynam left the game very much in the mix with a good point but Leitrim virtually booked their passage to the Division 3B Final when Enda Moreton’s long ball to James McNabola saw the Eslin man find Sean O’Riordan down the right wing. A quick pass found an unmarked Joe Murray on the left hand side and he drilled the ball to the Longford net.

Leitrim almost had a third goal less than a minute later when James McNabola broke through after winning a long ball but a fresh air delivery and a collision with the keeper meant a free out for Longford.

McNabola had another goal chance after good work from Stephen Goldrick who was fouled as he won the ball but McNabola’s low shot was well saved by Burke. However, the ball did come back for a free converted by Gavin O’Hagan.

Strong pressure from Martin Feeney created a chance for Goldrick who score with less than two minutes to go with Cathal Mullane firing over a late consolation score for Longford in added time.

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LEITRIM

Scorers: Joe Murray 2-1; Gavin O’Hagan 0-6, 4f; Martin Feeney 0-2; Clement Cunniffe (f); David McGovern, Enda Moreton, Tadhg Brannigan, Brendan Delaney & James McNabola 0-1 each

Team: Clement Cunniffe, Paul Lenehan, Aaron McLoughlin, Kevin Clerkin, Martin Feeney, Jerome Fitzgibbon, David McGovern, Enda Moreton, Gavin O’Hagan, Stephen Goldrick, Joe Murray, Sean O’Riordan, Tadhg Brannigan, Conor Berine, Brendan Delaney. Subs: James McNabola for Delaney (HT); Sean Markham for Brannigan (58); Michael Dervan for O’Riordan (65)

LONGFORD

Scorers: Cathal Mullane 0-6, 4f; Paddy Lynam 0-3, 1f; Pat Burke 1-0; Reuben Murray 0-2; Evan Tully 0-1

Team: Pat Burke, Johnny Casey, Karl Murray, Iarlaith Dolan, Adam Quinn, Charles Flynn, Eamonn Allen, Cathal Mullane, Paddy Lynam, Reuben Murray, David Buckley, Rory Maher, Ronan Sheahan, Evan Tully,Matthew Hawes. Subs: Daire Regan for Buckley (34); Dan Crossan for Maher (HT)

Referee: Matthew Farrell (Roscommon)