Fast finishing Leitrim come up just short in Tuam

Leitrim’s late flurry of 1-7 without reply from the 44th to 61st minute wasn’t enough as Karl Foley’s side came up short against Galway in their final Electric Ireland Connacht Minor Championship clash of the campaign on Friday in Tuam Stadium.

The away side appeared to be on the verge of a heavy defeat when they trailed 3-8 to 0-6 after 44 minutes. However, Leitrim produced a storming final quarter as they slashed Galway’s lead to just a solitary point.

Alan Glynn’s side had shown their quality for three quarters of this contest and they displayed it again as Galway buried to the net through Mikey Mulryan to edge past a gutsy Leitrim outfit.

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Paul Honeyman kicked 1-6 for Leitrim in the game, 1-5 came in the final half as he took his goal with aplomb in injury time. This finish appeared unlikely, but Leitrim should take belief from the fightback although their campaign sees them end with a solitary point after an opening round draw to Sligo before defeats to Roscommon, Mayo and Galway.

Although Leitrim brought no shortage of endeavour, it was the home side who raced into an early 1-2 to no score lead. Ross Coen grabbed the goal as he buried to the bottom left corner of the net after latching on to a Charlie Cox handpass. Mikey Mulryan and Olan Kelly also troubled the scoreboard for a Galway side that looked sharp up front.

Adam Gethins looked lively at wing forward as he instigated a move that culminated in him bearing down on the Galway goal. Gethins’ low drive was well blocked by Galway shot stopper Cillian Walsh with Leitrim keeper Seán Carolan-Morris slotting the resulting ’45.

A free from Carolan Morris gave Leitrim belief but with Galway winning all seven of their opening half kickouts while the away side only claimed two of their first seven. Alan Glynn’s side were able to dictate the terms of engagement. Seán Walsh won a Galway restart as he combined with Ciarán McDonagh to set Cox through on goal as the Galway captain buried to the net.

Brian O’Malley subsequently struck over a sweet point for the Tribesmen before a Ciarán Mulhern effort ensured Galway led 2-4 to 0-2. Leitrim rallied to kick three of the final four points in the opening half as Paul Honeyman curled over a free. Galway centre back Ross Coen received a black card in the 26th minute as Carolan-Morris kicked his third score of the first period.

Ruairi O’Rourke got on the end of a well worked Leitrim team move to cut the gap to five before a Jack Heneghan point ensured Galway led 2-5 to 0-5 at the change of ends.

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Leitrim sought to go more direct in the final period as they left Honeyman inside on his own and tried to play quick ball to the lively forward. He did curl over a free to open the away side’s account in the final period but Honeyman looked isolated throughout the third quarter.

Galway appeared to put this game to bed when a quickly taken Charlie Cox free caught Leitrim napping. Sean Walsh broke on to possession before he buried to the bottom corner of the net. Scores from Ciaran Mulhern and Charlie Cox moved Galway 3-8 to 0-6 in front as both sides began to empty the bench.

The winners switched off thereafter but Leitrim began to provide powerful runs from deep that caused Galway problems. James Gilheaney set Honeyman up for a score before the latter curled over a fine free.

Honeyman again proved accurate from the dead ball before he turned provider as energetic sub Jack Kelly found the target on the 50th minute. At this stage Leitrim trailed by seven as Galway still appeared to be out of reach. However, Leitrim’s defence was tigerish for the second half as Galway went 18 minutes without a score.

Senan Bohan latched on to a quick Eanna McNamara free to slot over before Kelly’s long range score cut the deficit to four. 

As the game ticked into the first of three minutes of injury time, Leitrim supporters started to believe a comeback was possible. That was only boosted by Honeyman turning inside the Galway defence to rifle home but Mikey Mulryan blasted to the net at the other end with the home side surviving.

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GALWAY

Scorers: Mikey Mulryan and Charlie Cox (1f) 1-1 each; Ross Coen & Seán Walsh 1-0 each; Ciarán Mulhern 0-3 (1f); Brian O’Malley, Olan Kelly and Jack Heneghan 0-1 each

Team: Cillian Walsh; Vincent Gill, Conor McNally, Sean O’Flynn; Brian O’Malley, Ross Coen, Sean Rhattigan; Olan Kelly, Ruairi Walkin; Ciarán Mulhern, Jack Heneghan, Ciarán McDonagh; Charlie Cox, Seán Walsh, Mikey Mulryan. Subs: Daniel Fitzmaurice for Walsh (41); Evan Moran for O’Flynn (47); Adam Moclair for McDonagh (49), Fionán Ó Conghaile for Heneghan (54), James Murphy for Walkin (57)

LEITRIM

Scorers: Paul Honeyman 1-6, 5f; Sean Carolan-Morris 0-3; Jack Kelly 0-2; Ruairi O’Rourke & Senan Bohan 0-1 each

Team: Seán Carolan-Morris; Frankie Cullen, Oran Foley, Eanna McNamara; Dessie Wisley, Darragh Gardiner, Kyle Russell; Colm McLoughlin, Dara Greenan; Bailey McBride, James Gilheaney, Adam Gethins; Brian Keaney, Ruairi O’Rourke, Paul Honeyman. Subs: Aaron Gardiner for Wisley (41); Senan Bohan for Keaney (41); Josh McNamee for Gethins (41); Jack Kelly for O’Rourke (47), Cian Reynolds for McBride (47)

Referee: D Corcoran (Mayo)