Leitrim U20s stunned as Sligo snatch draw in added time

When a draw away from home in the championship feels like a defeat, you know that something is happening but that is exactly how Leitrim felt as Sligo landed 1-2 in injury time to steal a draw last Wednesday in Markievicz Park in the Eirgrid Connacht U20 Championship.

Having led by six points at one stage of last Wednesday’s thrilling contest and by five as the game began added time, Leitrim have got to feel that this is one that got away, a result that leaves them needing a win next Wednesday against Roscommon to progress to the knockout stages.

With Galway qualified on five points and Leitrim fourth in the table on scoring difference but level with Roscommon and Mayo, anything less than a win in Ballinamore against Roscommon would see them drop into the Philly McGuinness Final and possibly the new All-Ireland B Championship if Leitrim were to win.

That looked a remote possibility as Leitrim turned in a superb second half performance, forcing turnovers and hitting Sligo effectively on the break. However, the failure to kill off the contest and a tendency to sit back over the final ten minutes gave a committed Sligo the chance to force a draw that kept their hopes alive.

Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo and Roscommon can all qualify for the A Championship knockout stages if results go their way so it means an anxious evening in Ballinamore on Wednesday.

PRIDE MINGLES WITH DISAPPOINTMENT FOR LEITRIM'S JACK FLYNN AFTER SLIGO DEFEAT

If Leitrim can take some solace from the draw, it was that it was achieved without a huge scoring return from Paul Honeyman. The Ballinamore man has been on fire so far in this competition but Sligo closed him down from open play, restricting him to just two points over the hour.

Normally, you’d expect Leitrim to lose in those circumstances but the load was amply picked up by Darren Cox who had 1-2 on the night, four points from Barry McNulty and three excellent scores from Jack Casey, illustrating the depth of scoring talent available to Andy Moran.

What will please their manager is that so many of Leitrim’s scores came from turnovers - the Green & Gold tackled as if their lives depended on it, striping the ball time and time again from Sligo players in wet and slippery conditions and then breaking quickly for McNulty, Cox and Casey to profit.

Leitrim will rightly have concern over how they let victory be snatched from their grasp as Sligo also kicked what looked like four kickable frees wide in the second half. Yet there was no disputing that Sligo were the more relieved team at the final whistle as Leitrim were just the superior team on the day.

Sligo got off to a blistering start as they hit three points in the first five minutes, Eli Rooney collecting a long ball into the corner but cutting in to fire over. Conor Flynn quickly added a second after a low ball in before wing-back Rossa Sloyan finished off a patient move.

Paul Honeyman, who had earlier put a 50 yard free wide, converted on seven minutes to get Leitrim up and running but was then called for over-carrying as he went through to point. However, Leitrim appeared to get a big boost when Sligo’s Ronan Niland was black carded for blocking a Leitrim player off the ball.

That appeared to rattle Sligo as Darren Cox, curling a lovely shot over, and Barry McNulty, after a Sligo turnover, fired over points to tie the score by the 12th minute. Jack Foley saw a shot blocked while Conor Flynn also hit wide for Sligo. 

Leitrim had a goal chance 15 minutes in when a long ball into McNulty released Jack Casey but the St Mary’s man saw his shot stopped, Honeyman putting the resulting 50 wide.

A goal did come, unfortunately at the other end - Rossa Sloyan intercepted a wayward Leitrim pass, Rian O’Callaghan and Eli Rooney combined, the son of Leitrim 1994 legend Aidan lobbing the ball to an unmarked Conor Flynn who drilled low to the bottom right hand corner.

Sligo quickly won the kickout and good work from Flynn set up Sloyan for a fisted point a minute later. Leitrim were reeling a bit as Eli Rooney scored from a very tight angle as the visitors now trailed by five points.

But Andy Moran’s side managed to steady themselves and four unanswered points before halftime got them right back into contention. Barry McNulty’s run set up Casey for a fine point, Honeyman and McNulty both added points before Paddy Keane popped up in attack with a fine shot that went over via a touch off the far post.

That left Leitrim trailing 1-5 to 0-7 at the break but after a Rooney wide, Leitrim quickly took control as Darren Cox cut through three players to fire over a superb first minute point. Barry McNulty converted a mark before Jack Casey benefitted from yet another Sligo turnover with an excellent score from the left.

Sligo’s Ross Doherty shot wide and from that kickout, Barry McNulty took off on a run to score as Letirim now led by three points seven minutes into the second half. Conor Sheridan fired back a point before Flynn missed a mark for Sligo while keeper Brian Cull did well to save a Doherty goal chance at close range.

Leitrim's Jack Casey tries to tackle a Sligo player in Markievicz Park Picture: Daniel Hackett

Sligo brought on Luke Marren and his first act was to put a scoreable free wide but he made amends on 14 minutes. Leitrim were matching the home side and Jack Casey fired over a wonder score from the corner, the score signalling his substitution, but his replacement Tom Plunkett scored an excellent effort with his first point.

Leitrim looked well on the way to victory when they struck for a goal on 27 minutes - Sligo again turned over possession, they got the ball quickly to Barry McNulty who fed Darren Cox in behind the Yeatsmen cover. His first shot was brilliantly saved by Ethan Carden but the Annaduff man kept his composure to blast the rebound to the net.

That left Leitrim six points up but Leitrim’s tackling saw Jake Tobin, Darren Cox and Paul Moran all booked with Marren converting two frees to cut the gap back to four within three minutes of the Leitrim goal.

Freetakers Honeyman and Moran both missed chances but Leitrim sub Joe McGloin of Melvin Gaels scored a fine point in the last minute of normal time, seemingly leaving Leitrim out of reach of the home side.

But Sligo refused to back down in the three minutes of added time - Marren scored a good point while Conor Sheridan got a fist to a dangerous ball into the Leitrim goalmouth to cut the gap back to a goal. Leitrim were unable to keep the ball with Sheridan winning the ball in the middle of the park before setting off Dylan McLoughlin.

UNDERSTRENGTH LEITRIM BRUSHED ASIDE BY POWERFUL SLIGO

The Sligo centre-back took off on a strong run down the middle before off-loading to Sligo sub Dillon Walsh who was bearing down on goal until he was taken down by a combination of Jake Tobin and Ryan Cunningham. Referee Ian Monaghan signalled the penalty and confirmed it after consulting with his umpires.

That left Luke Marren with the spot kick and he converted to give Sligo a share of the spoils. From the kickout, Sligo won the ball and tried to engineer a scoring opportunity but Leitrim’s defence stood firm to at least earn a point.

LEITRIM

Scorers: Darren Cox 1-2; Barry McNulty 0-4, 1f, 1M; Jack Casey 0-3; Paul Honeyman 0-2, 2f; Tom Plunkett & Joe McGloin 0-1 each

Team: Brian Cull, Arek Oberwan, Eanna McNamara, Ryan Cunningham, Paddy Keane, Jack Foley, Michael McBrien, Barry McNulty, Ben Guckian, Darren Cox, Paul Moran, Jack Casey, Jack Tobin, Paul Honeyman, Naoise McManus. Subs: Tom Plunkett for Casey (45); Joe McGloin for Moran (51)

SLIGO

Scorers: Luke Marren 1-4, 1-2f; Conor Flynn 1-1; Rossa Sloyan, Conor Sheridan & Eli Rooney 0-2 each

Team: Ethan Carden, Ross Chambers, Conor Johnston, Tommy Ross, Rian O’callaghan, Dylan McLoughlin, Rossa Sloyan, Conor Sheridan, Ross Doherty, Conor Walsh, Ronan Niland, James Donlon, Eli Rooney, Mark McDaniel, Conor Flynn. Subs: Dillon Walsh for Donlon (HT); Robert O’Kelly Lynch for C Walsh (37); Luke Marren for Rooney (41); Ronan O’Hehir for Chambers (54); Stephen Rogan for McDaniel (58)

Referee: Ian Monaghan (Roscommon)