Leitrim hurlers League hopes take a heavy hit

Leitrim’s ambitions of going one step further in this year's Allianz NHL Division 3B suffered a serious set-back last Saturday when a powerful Fermanagh completely overwhelmed the hurlers in Pairc Sheain Ui Eslin.

The pitch and weather conditions were perfect for hurling but for Leitrim, who ended the game with 14 men, it was a day that nothing went to plan as the Erne men hammered a struggling home side by a whopping 21 points.

On the day, Fermanagh was much sharper than Leitrim and fully deserved their convincing victory and going on Saturday's performance, it would seem that the Erne men are very determined to regain their Division 3A status during the current year's league campaign.

Fermanagh’s dominance was built in the first half when they led by 16 points at the interval against a somewhat shell-shocked Leitrim where Luca McCusker and John Duffy were the stand out performers, McCusker still getting the man of the match dispute being withdrawn at halftime.

Leitrim was dealt a serious setback 13 minutes into the action when hard working midfielder Martin Feeney was forced to retire due to injury, this coming after the home side opened the scoring with a long range free from goalkeeper Clement Cunniffe after just two minutes.

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Fermanagh levelled a minute later when Danann McKeogh split the Leitrim posts before Luca McCusker put Fermanagh ahead with a well executed strike from a placed ball within a minute.

That was the signal for Fermanagh’s rout  to commence as they stretched their lead to 11 points with a string of points, four from McCusker frees, Tom Keenan and John Duffy (free) while Jimmy Tormey finished to the net after being put through by Thomas Duane.

Leitrim, who hadn't scored for 29 minutes, replied when Conor Hackett slotted an effort over the crossbar but merciless Fermanagh finished out the half strongly with points from Thomas Duane, McCusker (free), Ben Corrigan, Duffy and McKeogh to go in leading at the break with an unassailable 1-15 to 0-2 lead.

Leitrim’s Aaron Clancy and Fermanagh’s Ben Corrigan were issued yellow cards during the first half and while Leitrim managed to lift their performance levels in the second half, they were still unable to match the rampant home side.

A 55th minute goal from  sub Dahni Keane put a slightly better complexion on the scoreboard but Fermanagh was home and dry at that stage with two points fully secured.

The Leitrim team who were defeated by Fermanagh Picture: Stefan Hoare

Leitrim opened the second half scoring in the 37th minute when Conor Hackett fired over a point but no fightback was in the offing as Thomas Duane answered with a point from play for Fermanagh in the space of another minute. 

Leitrim responded with a Clement Cunniffe free  to keep the scoreboard ticking with a badly needed score at that stage but the Erne men, who introduced a number of second half subs, continued to dominate the exchanges up to the 55th minute with John Duffy landing two points from a '65' and a free, while Danann McKeogh, Brian Teehan and Jimmy Tormey chipped in with points.

Leitrim sub Dahni Keane replied with a somewhat fortuitous goal after a goalmouth scramble when his shot took a deflection off Fermanagh goalkeeper Christopher McKiernan's stick. Fermanagh finished out the game strongly with three John Duffy frees and two well struck points by sub Brian Teehan.

Conor Beirne replied with a Leitrim point when he surged forward from his centre back berth to split the Fermanagh posts. Leitrim was reduced to 14 players for the last eight minutes when Gavin O'Hagan was dismissed for a second yellow card offence. 

LEITRIM

Scorers: Dahni Keane 1-0; Clement Cunniffe (2f) & Conor Hackett 0-2; Conor Beirne 0-1

Team: Clement Cunniffe; Kevin Clerkin, Stephen Goldrick, Brian Goldrick; Senan Keane, Conor Beirne, Sean Markham; Conor Hackett, Martin Feeney; Sean O'Riordan, Gavin O'Hagan, Michael O'Brien; Dean Early, Evan Cox, Conor McLoughlin. Subs: Dave McGovern for Feeney (13); Gavin O'Brien, Pearse Kenny & Paul Lenehan for Michael O'Brien, Glancy & Keane (HT); Dhani Keane for Markham (55)

FERMANAGH

Scorers: J. Duffy 0 -7, 5f, 1 '65;  L. McCusker 0-6, 6f; J. Tormey 1-1; D. McKeogh 0-4; T. Duane & B. Teehan 0-3 each; B. Corrigan & T. Keenan 0-1 each

Team: C. McKiernan; D. Bannon, R. Porteous, C. Duffy; R. McGurn, Ry. Bogue, L. McCusker; C. Duffy, O. Johnston; J. Tormey, B. Corrigan, J. Duffy; D. McKeogh, T. Duane, T. Keenan. Subs: B. Teehan for McCusker & J P McGarry for Corrigan (42); D. Teague for Duane (55); T. Burns for McGurn (57); U. Reilly for Tormey (63)

REFEREE: James Judge (Mayo)