Laois prove too strong for Leitrim thanks to second half blitz

Leitrim’s dreams of lifting silverware in Croke Park were ruthlessly and clinically squashed by an energised Laois on Saturday as the O’Moore County claimed the Allianz Division 4 title for 2024 thanks to a superb second half display.

Backed by an overwhelming partisan Leitrim following in GAA headquarters, it looked as if history was in the making when Andy Moran’s side reeled off three unanswered points to cut a five point Laois lead back to just two 11 minutes into the second half.

At that point, Leitrim had the momentum, they had the crowd going and, just like their win two weeks ago in Laois Hire O’Moore Park, the Green & Gold looked as if they were about to run down their vaunted opponents to claim a first ever National Senior title.

But in an instant, Laois bludgeoned Leitrim’s dreams to death - first Paul Kingston collected a long ball to fire over a point, restoring a three point gap and from Nevin O’Donnell’s resulting kickout, the ball came off Jack Gilheaney’s hands, right into the arms of Evan O’Carroll.

The Laois captain had caused Leitrim huge problems all game and his powerful run, with three teammates in support, cut open the Leitrim defence, a pass to Eoin Lowry and a powerful finish on the near side virtually winning the game with more than 23 minutes left on the clock.

THE LAST POINT: A THREE YEAR OVERNIGHT SUCCESS!

It was a devastating scoring burst that killed off the Leitrim challenge as the Green & Gold failed to score for the remainder of the contest as Laois would add a further 1-2 to claim the title and avenge two defeats at the hand of Leitrim in the past 12 months.

For a game that followed much the same pattern of the game two weeks ago, there were crucial differences - Leitrim weren’t allowed create the same goal chances as Laois tagged Darragh Rooney and Ryan O’Rourke, tackling with a ferocity and intensity that knocked the Green & Gold off their stride.

That was reflected in the game’s statistics as Laois had 12 wides and dropped another four short compared to six misses from Andy Moran’s side and two more dropped short. Two weeks ago, Leitrim were the more wasteful but here there was no arguing that Laois were the better side.

Yet but for Laois’ 1-1 burst early in the second half, we might never know how the game might have transpired - the midlanders were struggling to reflect their outfield dominance on the scoreboard and Leitrim, stubbornly hanging on for dear life, were starting to believe, the enormous Green & Gold support starting to find their voice.

The Leitrim team who were defeated by Laois in the Allianz NFL Division 4 Final Picture: Sportsfile

The defeat may come with a big price for Leitrim’s Connacht SFC clash next Sunday with Sligo as both Conor Reynolds and Donal Casey were forced from the game with what looked like hamstring injuries, a costly price the Green & Gold had to pay.

Leitrim opened the scoring almost straight from the throw-in when Pearce Dolan took off on a run from the throw-in, as he did in Portlaoise. This time he fed the ball back to Riordan O’Rourke for a fine point, although the Fenagh St Caillins man had a shot blocked a minute later.

Leitrim had a big let off when Laois went long to Evan O’Carroll, the Laois captain fielding before rattling a powerful shot off the crossbar. However, a pull in the build-up led to a free for O’Carroll to tie the scores.

Laois had two more wides before Paul Kingston scored from the left hand corner. An economical Leitrim had just one wide in the first half from Barry McNulty while Shaun Fitzpatrick saw an effort blocked before hitting a wide.

Pearce Dolan did extremely well to fist on an O’Donnell kickout, Mark Plunkett delivering a quick pass to Riordan O’Rourke for his second point after 12 minutes.

It was Laois who had the next close shave after a Tom Prior pass released Donal Wrynn - caught between passing and going for it himself, Wrynn saw his shot saved by keeper Killian Roche as Laois went the length of the field for O’Carroll fielded behind his man and drove his effort just over the crossbar.

Another Laois wide was punished a lovely Mark Plunkett effort from the right wing but Laois took control of the game when Laois managed to break Leitrim’s defensive cover, Fitzpatrick unmarked in the corner and his fisted pass across the face of goal was palmed to the net by cornerback Ben Dempsey on 17 minutes,

The incident also saw Donal Casey yellow carded for a late hit on Mark Timmons with Leitrim reacting by withdrawing Conor Reynolds as Evan Sweeney came on. Ryan O’Rourke took on his man before curling a lovely left-footed shot over the Laois bar on 21 minutes but Laois hit back with a well worked Eoin Lowry point.

O’Carroll hit a wonderful effort from the right corner after Laois went long from the kickout to stretch the Laois advantage to four points and when Kieran Lillis took a clever mark a minute later, the gap was now five points.

As they did in Portlaoise, Leitrim responded well with another Ryan O’Rourke score, chipping up on the run after Darragh Rooney’s pass was half-blocked. Nevin O’Donnell added a long range 55 yard free to cut the gap back to a point but an Evan O’Carroll free in added time gave Laois a 1-7 to 0-6 halftime advantage.

Dejected Leitrim players watch as Laois lift the Allianz NFL Division 4 trophy Picture: Sportsfile

Laois increased their lead with a Mark Barry point after just 40 seconds but Nevin O’Donnell matched it from a fifty after Barry McNulty’s shot was blocked out for a fifty. Laois were missing chances and when Barry McNulty surged down the right wing before curling a lovely shot over the Laois crossbar, a massive roar from the Leitrim faithful greeted the score.

Leitrim’s momentum increased when Nevin O’Donnell converted a huge point from distance as Laois looked rattled but a long delivery over the top found Paul Kingston for a lovely point, From the resulting kickout, the ball came off the hands of Jack Gilheany, falling right into the lap of Evan O’Carroll and with three Laois defenders pouring through, he released the ball to Eoin Lowry who drilled the ball to the Leitrim net from the left hand side.

The impetus went from the game for a while with Mark Barry bursting through on goal, his shot skying over the bar. Leitrim did have a goal chance when Donal Casey popped up at corner-forward and fed Barry McNulty but the Glencar Manorhamilton player saw his shot blocked as the ball hit Casey on the way out.

LAOIS KNOW HOW GOOD LEITRIM ARE - O'CARROLL

Any hope Leitrim had was extinguished over the next ten minutes as O’Carroll landed two points, one from a free as he was bearing down on goal, but the Laois goal did come when Paul Kingston showed a clean pair of heels to the Leitrim defence and fired home from close range with just over eight minutes left.

Laois started to run their bench with Rioghan Murphy fisting over a point but the Leinster side continued to boast the majority of chances and wide. Laois would add another point in added time from Eoin Lowry.

LEITRIM

Scorers: Nevin O’Donnell 0-3, 1 50, 1f; Ryan O’Rourke & Riordan O’Rourke 0-2 each; Mark Plunkett & Barry McNulty 0-1 each

Team: Nevin O'Donnell Shannon Gaels Cavan; Conor Reynolds Annaduff; Donal Casey Leitrim Gaels; Aidan Flynn Leitrim Gaels; Donal Wrynn Fenagh St Caillins; Mark Diffley St Mary’s Kiltoghert; Jack Foley Kiltubrid; Jack Gilheaney Fenagh St Caillins; Pearce Dolan Aughawillan; Mark Plunkett Aughawillan; Ryan O'Rourke Fenagh St Caillins; Barry McNulty Glencar Manorhamilton; Tom Prior Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins; Darragh Rooney St Jude’s Dublin; Riordan O'Rourke Fenagh St Caillins. Subs: Evan Sweeney Glencar Manorhamilton for Reynolds (17); Paul Keaney St Mary’s Kiltoghert for Prior (41); Shane Quinn Mohill for Riordan O’Rourke (50); Adam Reynolds St Mary's Kiltoghert for Casey (60); James Rooney Glencar Manorhamilton for A Flynn (66)

LAOIS

Scorers: Evan O’Carroll 0-6, 3f; Eoin Lowry & Paul KIngston 1-2 each; Ben Dempsey 1-0; Mark Barry 0-2; Kieran Lillis (M) & Rioghan Murphy 0-1 each

Team: Killian Roche; Ben Dempsey, Seamus Lacey, James Kelly; Eoin Buggie, Mark Timmons, Brian Byrne; Damon Larkin, Kieran Lillis; Kevin Swayne, Eoin Lowry, Shaun Fitzpatrick; Mark Barry, Evan O’Carroll, Paul Kingston. Subs: Simon Fingleton for Byrne (52); Conor Heffernan for Lillis (62); Rioghan Murphy for Kingston (62); Niall Dunne for Fitzpatrick (63); Mikie Dempsey for Swayne (65)

Referee: Thomas Murphy (Galway)