Leitrim strike late against Wexford to snatch victory from jaws of defeat

They may have ridden their luck but Leitrim somehow snatched victory from the jaws of defeat on Sunday in Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada with an injury time penalty that left visitors Wexford feeling they had been mugged in a dramatic Allianz NFL Division 4 tie.

Three goals from the boot of Ryan O’Rourke proved vital - in fact, the first and last scores of the game were goals from the Fenagh St Caillins clubman - as Leitrim secured a famous and crucial victory that keeps them very much alive in the promotion race.

It wasn’t quite daylight robbery as Leitrim hung in against an impressive Wexford side but the Model County were incensed with the decision of referee Mark Dorrian to award a penalty in the final minute of added time, spotting an infringement that most Leitrim fans admitted look more than a little harsh.

Not that that will matter one little bit to joyous Leitrim fans and players who celebrated their victory wildly, the very dramatic and late nature of the goal and the fact that Wexford dictated the game’s play for long periods of time fresh in the mind.

Leitrim rode their luck at times with Wexford missing at least three comfortable looking frees during the game but that applied at the other end, Andy Moran’s side missing three glorious goal chances thanks to wonder saves from Wexford keeper Rory Tubritt and an overly eager straying in the square.

CHECK OUT WILLIE DONNELLAN'S GALLERY OF FAN PHOTOS FROM WEXFORD CLASH

Ryan O’Rourke will rightly take the plaudits for his three goal haul and it was crucial but perhaps the most influential presence on the contest was that of Barry McNulty as the Glencar Manorhamilton youngster was at the heart of everything good Leitrim did, driving his team forward to create scores time and time again.

McNulty was there at the heart of the controversial penalty decision at the end, it was his long pass set up O’Rourke for his second goal as his ability to drive through the centre caused Wexford no end of problems.

In fairness, Wexford did the same to Leitrim - the highly impressive Paraic Hughes punched holes in Leitrim defence and the hard running Niall Hughes, Gavin Sheehan and Liam Coleman all caused the home side no end of bother.

With Carlow suffering an 11 point defeat at the hands of Laois on Saturday and Tipperary dropping points in Ruislip, Andy Moran’s side with travel to Netwatch Cullen Park next Sunday with renewed optimism although the Leitrim manager was the first to say that the display against Wexford will not suffice going forward.

For long periods, Leitrim were too lateral and slow and it was noticeable that when they went direct and quick, the scores came. It is a conundrum Moran will need to solve but in pulling a win from the fire, it leaves him in a position of strength for the coming games.

The Leitrim team that defeated Wexford in the Allianz NFL Division 4 Picture: Willie Donnellan

Leitrim got off to the proverbial dream start - a long ball found Ryan O’Rourke running out with Wexford’s Dylan Furlong in pursuit. The Fenagh man turned sharply, lost his man and charged in before unleashing a precise finish to the bottom left hand corner after just 30 seconds.

Wexford really should have drawn level within the first five minutes as Ben Brosnan put a free wide, Sean Nolan also missed the target after a crucial block on Kevin O’Grady as he bore down on goal while Nolan again missed from distance.

Ryan O’Rourke put a mark disappointingly wide from a good position after a wonderful length of the field move and Nolan found his range with two fine points from Sean Nolan, both expertly taken over the next 11 minutes.

Seventeen minutes in, Wexford were level with Richie Waters scoring from the right hand corner but as murmurs were starting among the crowd, Leitrim unbelievably struck for their second goal, going direct as Wexford carelessly turned over the ball. It went long to Barry McNulty who went equally long towards goal.

If you are a member of the defenders’ union, you’d say the Wexford backs should have done better as the ball ran through to Ryan O’Rourke and the Leitrim ace wasn’t going to miss from that range, 2-0 to 0-3 after 20 minutes.

Ryan O'Rourke scores Leitrim's first goal against Wexford Picture: Willie Donnellan

The goals gave Leitrim a somewhat undeserved advantage as Wexford were dominating but a three more wides and shot dropped into Nevin O’Donnell’s hands from the visitors saw Leitrim build momentum when Jack Foley showed calmness under pressure with a fine point on the turn after 24 minutes.

Foley almost grabbed a goal when another barnstorming McNulty run through the middle released the youngster but Wexford keeper Rory Tubritt made a good close range save at the expense of a fifty that O’Donnell put wide.

Corner-back Darragh Lyons pulled back a point for Wexford, matched by a fine Ryan O’Rourke score after good work from Sweeney while Brosnan, who missed three crucial placed balls over the 70 plus minutes, saw a free gathered by the Leitrim keeper. Brosnan did atone with a fine point from play in added time to leave Leitrim 2-2 to 0-5 ahead at the break.

If it worked in the first half, it almost worked again in the second as just 12 seconds from the throw-in, McNulty and Ryan O’Rourke combined only for Rory Tubritt made a spectacular flying save to deny Darragh Rooney a palmed goal, a defender putting the ball out of a fifty which O’Donnell converted.

Glen Malone pointed from what seemed a ridiculously tight angle a minute later and Mark Diffley joined Wexford duo Eoghan Nolan and Brosnan and teammate Darragh Rooney in the book for a high tackle.

Barry McNulty hit a fine point from about 35 yards but Wexford cut into Leitrim’s four point lead when the impressive Paraic Hughes and Liam Coleman combined to cut through the Leitrim defence, setting up Ben Brosnan to goal from an incredibly tight angle and suddenly it was game on once more.

Leitrim’s response was impressive, good work from Sweeney and Riordan O’Rourke set up Jamie McGrail for an excellent point to stretch the lead back to two ten minutes into the second half.

Liam Coleman pulled back a well worked point for the visitors but both teams missed chances - sub Mark Rossiter hit a bad wide for Wexford while Leitrim had a goal disallowed for a pretty clear square ball after Ryan O’Rourke created the opportunity.

Leitrim had a major escape when Mark Diffley was penalised for a foul - Donegal referee Mark Dorrian appeared to call him over as he took out his book but then opted to let him go with a warning with the Green & Gold captain already on a yellow. The value of that escape was magnified when Brosnan put the relatively simple free wide.

Kevin O’Grady tied the scores after a brilliant run from Gavin Sheehan from the Wexford defence midway through the half but four minutes later, another pulsating McNulty run saw him find Riordan O’Rourke for a well taken point.

Wexford's Niall Hughes manages to squeeze the ball into the Leitrim net Picture: Willie Donnellan

All that seemed for nought with just over ten minutes of normal time remaining when Wexford struck for a second goal. Tom Byrne’s shot appeared to be dropping harmlessly short but Niall Hughes appeared out of nowhere to grab the loose ball and miraculously score from an incredible angle to silence a shell-shocked Leitrim support.

Riordan O’Rourke shot wide before Wexford’s Lyons was penalised for barging as he bore down on goal and with less than two minutes remaining, Darragh Rooney converted a free to leave the minimum between the teams. A poor Wexford kickout was intercepted by Mark Plunkett but he shot narrowly wide from distance.

That looked costly as Paraic Hughes charged through the centre of Leitrim’s defence to hit a wonderful wide. Wexford should have gone three clear after a prolonged period of possession football but Niall Hughes shot badly wide.

LEITRIM GAA APPEAL TO CLUBS TO HELP MAKE UP SHORTFALL IN PAIRC SEAN PITCH WORK

Then came the dramatic match winning moment - Ryan O’Rourke boomed a high ball into the Wexford goal and a defender came out with the ball but referee Dorrian, a good bit out the field it has to be said, adjudged that Barry McNulty had been fouled an awarded a penalty to fierce Wexford protests.

It looked a very lucky decision but that didn’t matter as Ryan O’Rourke drilled the ball to the bottom left hand corner for his hat-trick and the winning goal. Wexford tried to find an equaliser but with a massed Leitrim defence holding firm, the Green & Gold had just committed the great escape.

LEITRIM

Scorers: Ryan O’Rourke 3-1; 1 pen; Jack Foley 0-2, Riordan O’Rourke, Darragh Rooney (f); Nevin O’Donnell (50); Jamie McGrail & Barry McNulty 0-1 each

Team: Nevin O'Donnell; Cathal McHugh, Donal Casey, Aidan Flynn; James McGreal, Mark Diffley, Jack Foley; Jack Gilheaney, Donal Wrynn; Shane Quinn, Barry McNulty, Ryan O'Rourke; Riordan O'Rourke, Darragh Rooney (0-2), Evan Sweeney. Subs: Tom Prior for Quinn (51); James Rooney for McGreal (56); Mark Plunkett & Paul Keaney for D Rooney & Sweeney (60); Adam Reynolds for McHugh (67)

WEXFORD

Scorers: Ben Brosnan 1-1; Niall Hughes 1-0; Sean Nolan 0-2; Darragh Lyons, Paraic Hughes, Glen Malone, Liam Coleman, Richie Waters & Kevin O’Grady 0-1 each

Team: Rory Turbitt; Eoin Porter, Gavin Sheehan, Darragh Lyons; Dylan Furlong, Páraic Hughes (0-1), Glen Malone (0-1); Liam Coleman (0-1), Niall Hughes; Richie Waters; Eoghan Nolan, Liam O' Connor; Kevin O'Grady, Sean Nolan, Ben Brosnan. Subs: Mark Rossiter for Waters (33); Tom Byrne for E Nolan (HT); Shane Petit & Conor Kinsella for S Nolan & Furlong (60); Conor Carty for O' Grady (71)

Referee: Mark Dorrian (Donegal)