Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins eventually find the target to see off Glencar Manorhamilton

Hard to know if you should feel disappointed when you score four goals but once Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins started to take the goal chances they created in Sunday's Connacht Gold SFC Quarter Final, Glencar Manorhamilton were left chasing shadows in Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada.

It was a strange game as the north Leitrim men delivered a masterclass of intelligent and effective football as Evan Sweeney caused Ballinamore's rearguard no end of problems in a superb display, the underdogs well worth their one point halftime lead.

But there were signs that Ballinamore could cut loose at any time as O'Heslins butchered four goal chances in the first half. Any improvement at all would see a major shift in the game and that came, although the bad missed also continued.

Faces in the crowd as Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins storm past Glencar Manorhamilton in second half - GALLERY

Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins hit three second half goals to take victory in Sunday's Connacht Gold Leitrim SFC Quarter-Final against Glencar Manorhamilton and Observer photographer Willie Donnellan was in Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada, snapping pictures of excited fans .... see who you can spot!

What transformed Mickey Graham's side is hard to know but Dean McGovern seemed to act as almost a security blanket once he was introduced, inspiring his teammates and giving Ballinamore a bigger platform in the middle of the park.

A spectacular, almost gravity defying catch from a kickout led to Ballinamore's first goal, his brother Niall McGovern firing home and once that hit the net, O'Heslins never looked back.

Aaron Hickey and Shane Moran opened the scoring before a spectacular Evan Sweeney catch led to a successful mark for Manor. Shaun Sheridan also underlined a growing reputation with a superb save to deny Tom Prior a certain goal when he was clean through five minutes in.

Jack Faulkner edged Manor two in front, Paul Moran's free cutting the gap before Sweeney hit a brilliant point from play. Tom Prior responded for Ballinamore before they seemed to take a grip on the game when Michael McKiernan's strong run, a one-two with Shane Moran led to Prior blasting home from close range.

The cheers hadn't died down and Manor had the ball in the Ballinamore net. A quick free to Sweeney seeing him feed James Rooney who burst through at speed, his low shot taking a touch off a defender on its way into the net.

Peter Poinard, who caused Ballinamore huge problems at full-forward, scoring from a mark. The impressive Dillon Beirne could have goaled as he pointed but an excellent Conor Dolan score left two in it. 

Mark McGrory should have goaled but hit his shot off Sheridan but Conor McHugh pointed. Beirne then put a goal chance wide for Ballinamore but a Prior free levelled the scores before Evan Sweeney dodged his man to give Glencar Manor a 1-7 to 1-6 halftime lead.

Glencar Manorhamilton's Barry McNulty is tackled by Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins Wayne McKeon during the second half Picture: Willie Donnellan

Conor Dolan quickly extended the lead to two points and after Sheridan saved another Dillon Beirne shot, conceding a free converted by Tom Prior, Ballinamore hit another Prior free to tie the scores.

Aaron Hickey replied with a free but from that kickout, sub Dean McGovern made an outrageous mark. Quick ball found a charging Shane Moran who found Niall McGovern and the ball was in the net.

Ballinamore took flight - Paul Moran converted a free before Shane Moran tapped in a goal from close range and with that the game was over. Paul Moran would swap frees with Hickey before Shane Moran added a point. Hickey hit another free before Niall McGovern scored.

Glencar Manor kept up the pressure with, after a Cathal McHugh point, Paddy Maguire and Barry McNulty scoring to cut the gap back to two goals but any notion there might be an unlikely ending was banished when Niall McGovern and Senan Harte combined to set up Tom Prior for his second goal over two minutes into added time.

For a game without a booking until added time when Niall McGovern was booked, the game ended with a straight red for Aaron Hickey after a clash with Shane Moran off the ball.

Champions kept apart in intriguing Connacht Gold Leitrim SFC Semi-Final draw

St Mary's Kiltoghert face Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins and Fenagh St Caillins take on Mohill in Senior Semi-Finals next weekend

BALLINAMORE SEAN O'HESLINS

Scorers: Tom Prior 2-4, 3f; Shane Moran 1-2; Niall McGovern 1-1; Paul Moran 0-3, 3f; Cathal McHugh 0-2; Dillon Beirne 0-1

Team: Darren Maxwell, Matthew Murphy, Brian Banks, Eoghan Shanley, Liam Ferguson, Cathal McHugh, Michael McBrien, Shane Moran, Wayne McKeon, Dillon Beirne, Michael McKiernan, Mark McGrory, Tom Prior, Luke Murphy, Paul Moran. Subs: Dean McGovern for McGrory (HT); Niall McGovern for L Murphy (36); Senan Harte for P Moran (50); Naoise McManus for McKiernan (64)

GLENCAR MANORHAMILTON

Scorers: Aaron Hickey 0-4, 4f; Evan Sweeney 0-3, 1M; James Rooney 1-0; Conor Dolan 0-2; Paddy Maguire, Peter Poinard (M), Barry McNulty & Jack Faulkner 0-1 each

Team: Shaun Sheridan, Tom Hughes, Paddy Maguire, Brendan Byrne, Darren Sweeney, Killian McGriskin, Brian McDonald, Barry McNulty, Cian McManus, Jack Faulkner, Aaron Hickey, Cathal O'Connell, Conor Dolan, Peter Poinard, Evan Sweeney. Subs: Donnacha Devaney for D Sweeney (40); Stephen Irwin for Faulkner (49)

Referee: Ray McBrien