Battling Leitrim unable to match physical power and know-how of impressive Fermanagh

They may have battled as if their lives depended on it but in the end, an understrength Leitrim couldn’t match the physical power and conditioning of a Fermanagh side who absorbed everything the Green & Gold threw at them and answered it with coldly clinical Tailteann Cup victory in Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada on Saturday.

Two goals in the first four minutes of the second half from Paul Keaney and Mark Plunkett threatened to turn what had been a relatively trouble free procession to victory for the visitors into something potentially epic as Leitrim fans erupted in noise, greeting the goals that cut a nine point deficit was cut to just two points in as many minutes.

But as they had all game, Fermanagh simply bossed the battle for possession and rode out the wave of Leitrim optimism, taking the heat from the game and calmly and methodically adding a succession of points to squeeze the life from Andy Moran’s side, consigning Leitrim to a second nine point defeat in the campaign.

Tailteann dreams on a knife edge

THE LAST POINT

Hope still exists thanks to Antrim’s seven point victory over Wexford on Saturday but with scoring differences potentially coming into play for the three best third placed team, which is all Leitrim can aim for now, the damage of the two nine point losses could come back to haunt the Green & Gold.

As much as Fermanagh’s physical power, conditioning and obvious structured game plan meant they looked in a different class for long periods on Saturday, it was still a performance that Leitrim can take some pride in - they never backed down despite the odds against them, kept battling with ferocious intent and showed plenty of spirit but unfortunately that wasn’t enough.

No team could absorb the losses of key personnel like Keith Beirne, Evan Sweeney, Conor Reynolds and the ill Nevin O’Donnell, not to mention long term absentees Ryan O’Rourke and Jordan Reynolds and still hope to succeed. I’m not suggesting that had those players being available, Leitrim would have won but it would surely have been a much tighter contest.

Cillian McGloin and Oisin McLoughlin made their first starts of the season, the Fenagh man actually making a championship debut as did Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins Paul Moran, Castleknock’s Tom Quinn and Allen Gaels Radek Oberwan off the bench to reflect the lack of options available but Leitrim’s strength in depth was sorely lacking.

Crucially, Leitrim were unable to sustain any periods of sustained attacking threat - two points in the opening four minutes also came with two missed goal chances and then a 16 minute spell without a score, all while Fermanagh tagged on seven unanswered points. Two more points came in a four minute spell but after that and up to halftime, Fermanagh added 1-2 to take complete control of the second half.

The pattern of the game was repeated in the second half - Leitrim landed 2-1 in the first five minutes of the second to a solitary Fermanagh point, seemingly putting the game back in the melting pot but for the next 20 minutes, Fermanagh fired over five unanswered points and still had time to add four more in the closing stages.

Fermanagh keeper Sean McNally saves Paul Keaney's first minute shot Picture: Willie Donnellan

That simply was the winning of the game - Fermanagh's frightening power, ability to turn the ball over in the tackle and dispossess Leitrim players meant they had a steady supply to their dangerous forward unit and this forward unit was obviously well drilled in how to create and exploit opportunities, leaving the Leitrim rearguard under enormous pressure for most of the game.

Antrim’s win in Chadwick’s Wexford Park leaves Leitrim in a winner takes all clash with the Model County at a neutral venue over the June Bank Holiday weekend. Only a win would give Leitrim a chance of making it through to the preliminary quarter-finals but even then, the ghost of New York may scupper things. With the Stateside Exiles guaranteed a place in the preliminary quarter-finals, only the three best third placed teams qualify with New York taking the last spot.

As it is right now, and of course this will change with other results, Leitrim have the second worst scoring difference across the four groups with only Waterford, who faced Tipperary in their final game, with a worst scoring difference.

Andy Moran spoke of having Keith Beirne, Nevin O’Donnell and Conor Reynolds back for the Wexford game but the Leinster men, who defeated Leitrim by five points in the League, will be just as anxious to secure their place in the knockout stages.

Leitrim, without their star marksman Keith Beirne, got off to a start that Beirne would have approved of when Oisin McLoughlin, in his first championship start, claimed a long delivery and fired over a mark. McLoughlin then turned provider as Leitrim almost broke through for a goal but Fermanagh keeper Sean McNally made a good close range save to deny Paul Keaney a goal.

Tailteann dreams on a knife edge

THE LAST POINT

Leitrim’s high energy, almost frantic start created another goal chance after just three minutes, Tom Prior beating his man along the endline but he dragged his shot wide of the near post with only the keeper to beat.

The home side did go two clear when McLoughlin claimed a second mark on four minutes and pointed but Fermanagh were soon in their rhythm, Sean Quigley displaying wondrous skill by cutting, almost slicing, a 48 yard free just a few yards in from the right sideline over the Leitrim crossbar.

A foul on Quigley saw the deadly accurate Ryan Lyons start his account from a free on eight minutes, another free three minutes later after Shane Quinn lost a ball on his way out, a subsequent push on Tommy McCaffrey conceding a free that saw the Ernesiders take the lead for the first time.

Quigley fisted the ball over the bar two minutes later after a strong run from Lee Cullen and Ultan Kelm’s perceptive pass almost put the Fermanagh talisman through on goal. Quigley then thumped another 50 yard free over the bar as Leitrim were struggling, although Darragh Rooney saw a shot punched out for a fifty which Paul Keaney put wide.

Sean Quigley then got the score of the game that drew oohs even from the Leitrim fans, Lee Cullen’s run and pass seeing the Roslea man turn and kick in one smooth motion. From the kickout, Ryan Lyons created a chance for McCaffrey to palm the ball over the bar, even with the possibility of a goal.

After going 16 minutes without a score, Leitrim finally ended their scoring drought when Donal Wrynn was found in space and the Leitrim captain fired over. Four minutes later, a foul on Jack Heslin allowed Paul Keaney to strike over a free.

But whatever hopes that those scores raised, they were ruthlessly killed off two minutes later. Fermanagh played a long ball into the corner for Quigley to chase but he was clearly fouled. The Roslea man reacted quickly to catch the Leitrim defence off guard, finding Ryan Lyons in front of the goal and he made no mistake from close range.

Tom Prior takes on the Fermanagh defence before scoring a second half point Picture: Willie Donnellan

The difference in execution was apparent when Paul Keaney had a shot blocked and Mark Plunkett’s follow-up was gathered by McNally and Fermanagh broke down the field for Ryan Jones to fire over.

It wasn’t all going Fermanagh’s way as Conor McShea put a mark wide but their defence was snuffing out Leitrim chances, Barry McNulty seeing a shot blocked while McNally punched a dropping Rooney out away to safety.

The visitors finished the half with a fine Ryan Lyons score to leave them 1-9 to 0-4 in front and seemingly in complete control of this game. That idea took hold as Jack Heslin kicked a mark wide of the goal after just 45 seconds after the second half.

Fermanagh were then bizarrely penalised for taking too long with the subsequent kickout even though less than 20 seconds had passed with the throw-ball breaking and coming to Darragh Rooney who launched a high, arching shot that fell short only for Paul Keaney to arrive in like a train and bundled the ball to the Fermanagh net.

That got the crowd going and every Fermanagh kickout after that had Leitrim fans roaring “too long” before the ball barely got on the kicking tee. Fermanagh’s initial response was impressive, Ryan Lyons breaking through a tackle to point just a minute later.

But barely three minutes into the second half, Leitrim incredibly had a second goal - Darragh Rooney’s speed saw him burst through suddenly porous Fermanagh defending and with Mark Plunkett unmarked in front of goal, Rooney played the ball across and Plunkett applied a killer finish low beneath McNally for a dramatic goal.

Suddenly Leitrim were just two points in arrears and confidence was up, maybe too up as Mark Diffley, somewhat unluckily, and Cillian McGloin, somewhat wildly, registering wides in the space of 60 seconds - Leitrim needed to be taking every chance as Fermanagh were always going to settle.

Settle they did with Josh Largo Ellis popping up from defence to score on eight minutes. Paul Keaney saw a free held on the Fermanagh goal-line while McNally, in the manner of fly keepers these days, had a shot but it dropped wide.

Crucially, Fermanagh’s defensive solidity returned and after a Leitrim attack broke down, Fermanagh broke for Ryan Jones to get his second of the game on 49 minutes. Two minutes later, Conor McShea broke through a tackle to score a fine point and Fermanagh’s lead was now five points.

It was now death by a thousand cuts as Fermanagh slowly but regularly added a point seemingly every two minutes - sub Garvan Jones fired over two, one after McShea got the ball back following Darren Maxwell’s fisted clearance and the second after Pearce Dolan was forced back up the field before losing possession, Fermanagh breaking with pace and purposed.

Pearce Dolan attempts to knock the ball down to Barry McNulty Picture: Willie Donnellan

Tom Prior ended a 19 minute wait for a Leitrim score after Jack Heslin intercepted a wayward Fermanagh pass to set up the score but with the visitors creating turnovers, corner-back Luke Flanagan somewhat popped up in the opposition corner to claim a mark which he converted with nine minutes to go.

Leitrim kept looking for a third goal but Barry McNulty and Darragh Rooney had shots blocked with Fermanagh putting the result beyond doubt with points from Brandon Horan and Lyons to go nine points clear.

Paul Keaney did convert a late free but an ambitious kick-out was fielded brilliantly by Luke Flanagan on the run and a swift counter-attack led to a fine point for the impressive Ultan Kelm in added time.

LEITRIM

Scorers: Paul Keaney 1-2, 2f; Mark Plunkett 1-0; Oisin McLoughlin 0-2, 2M; Pearce Dolan, Donal Wrynn & Tom Prior 0-1 each

Team: Darren Maxwell, Mark Diffley, Paddy Maguire, Cillian McGloin, Aidan Flynn, Shane Quinn, Jack Heslin, Pearce Dolan, Donal Wrynn; Darragh Rooney, Barry McNulty, Paul Keaney, Tom Prior, Mark Plunkett; Oisin McLoughlin. Subs: Domhnaill Flynn for McLoughlin (54); Conor Farrell for McGloin (55); Radek Oberwan for Prior (60); Paul Moran & Tom Quinn for Plunkett & Heslin (67)

FERMANAGH

Scorers: Ryan Lyons 1-5, 3f; Sean Quigley 0-4, 2f; Ryan Jones & Garvan Jones 0-2 each; Josh Largo Ellis, Luke Flanagan (M); Brandon Horan, Conor McShea, Tommy McCaffrey & Ultan Kelm 0-1 each

Team: Sean McNally, Josh Largo Ellis, Che Cullen, Luke Flanagan, Shane McGullion, Declan McCusker, Ryan Jones, Brandon Horan, Conor McShea, Ryan Lyons, Ronan McCaffrey, Tommy McCaffrey, Sean Quigley, Ultan Kelm. Subs: Garreth Cavanagh for R McCaffrey (HT); Garvan Jones for Largo Ellis (50); Conal Jones for Quigley (55); Aidan Breen for McGullion (65); Oisin Smyth for McCusker (71)

Referee: Paul Faloon (Down)