Leitrim win Philly McGuinness Cup for first time ever in Kiltoom shootout

Provincial Shield titles must be like buses because no sooner had the Minor won their B title than the County's U20 footballers landed their own crown, defeating a second string Galway to lift the Philly McGuinness Memorial Cup for the first time ever after a thrilling encounter in St Brigid's Kiltoom on Wednesday evening.

Almost 15 years to the day since the passing of the mercurial Mohill player, Leitrim's U20 players did Philly memory proud as they defeated Galway by four points, an injury time goal from the Tribesmen taking a bit of the gloss of a confident and dominant performance as Barry McWeeney's side were boosted by the return of their senior contingent.

That contingent made all the difference from Ben Guckian landing 2-3, Darren Cox scoring 1-4 and even defender Eanna McNamara getting in on the goal scoring with a great effort from a typically lung bursting run while Brian Cull in goal and Jack Foley in the middle of the park gave Leitrim an assurance and physicality that Galway couldn't match.

That Galway actually only finished four points adrift speaks quite a bit to their resilience and strength in depth, even if the Tribesmen only arrived in Kiltoom with 18 players, five of whom started their first round victory over Leitrim in Cloone. Even at that, with a far from first choice squad, Galway tested Leitrim to the limit and it was only a resilient defensive effort that kept them from pulling off a victory.

But truth be told, it should never have been that close - Leitrim scored five goals but butchered probably two or three more chances and had a goal disallowed as their hunger and ambition to go for the win contrasted sharply with Galway's seeming lack of drive.

POACHER FULL OF PRIDE AS LEITRIM SET SIGHTS ON TAILTEANN CUP

The victory does come with a headache as the All-Ireland B Semi-Final against the Leinster champions is fixed for the weekend of May 10-11, the same weekend as Leitrim Seniors begin their Tailteann Cup campaign, with the final fixed just a week later although there is provision in the fixtures for the semi-finals to be played on Wednesday May 14, and the Final on Wednesday May 21.

Darren Cox opened the scoring after just 12 seconds, a strong Jack Foley run releasing the Annaduff man and it almost got even better but, after a sideline was intercepted, Ben Guckian drove his low goal chance inches wide as Leitrim played with the stiff enough breeze. 

Senan Treacy and Kian Mitchell (free) edged Galway in front by the sixth minute before Jack Kelly turned sharply to float over a wonderful point a minute later. Galway should have had a goal when Treacy broke through but Brian Cull made a good save to deny him and Leitrim were robbed of a goal chance too, the ball prized from the grasp of Ruairi O'Rourke as he bore down on goal.

Ben Guckian and Mitchell traded points before O'Rourke edged Leitrim back in front. However, Leitrim got a jolt when Jack Lonergan's mazy run ended with him square the ball for Dara Cleary to tap in soccer style after 17 minutes. Leitrim were shocked but a quick O'Rourke point settled them as Kelly converted a free to tie the scores six minutes before the break.

Killian Joyce scored a fine point for Galway but Leitrim took over before half, Kelly converted a soft enough free before drilling home a goal. Galway almost responded with a goal but Cleary blasted his effort over the bar while Kelly saw a shot cleared off the line. With so much goal action, it was inevitable another would come - Galway lost possession, a fine Darren Cox pass found Ben Guckian in on goal and his swerve and sidestep came him the room to drill the ball to the net.

The Leitrim team who defeated Galway to win the Philly McGuinness Cup Picture: Leitrim GAA

Galway ended the half with another Mitchell free, moved forward 50 metres, to leave Leitrim 2-7 to 1-6 at the break and again, Leitrim went close to an early goal when Jack Foley's flick from a long free was clawed away by Cillian Walsh. But Leitrim didn't have long to wait long for a goal, Naoise McManus doing incredibly well to keep the ball alive when Darren Cox popped a ball into him, so well that Cox was able to pop up in support and drill the ball to the net after just a minute of the second half.

Eanna McNamara was unlucky with a fisted effort that went inches wide while Ben Guckian saw a goal chalked off for a square infringement and Galway replied with a two point free from sub Sean Dunne to cut the gap back to two. But as they had all game, Leitrim rode out teh Galway storm before Guckian collected a high ball into the danger area, turned and drilled the ball to the net on 45 minutes.

Galway's response was impressive, Ciaran McDonagh drove a daisy-cutter to the Leitrim net almost instantly after a long ball but again, Leitrim had a response, Guckian converting a free for a three man breach and then Cox converting a two point free to wipe out the goal.

Back came Galway again with a Mark Mannion two pointer but Leitrim hit back once more, Eanna McNamara charging through to blast an unstoppable shot to the Galway net after 21 minutes. But if this game taught us one thing is that when one team did something, the opposition immediately replied and Galway incredibly hit back with a third goal from Killian Joyce less than a minute later.

That left four between the team once more but Guckian converted a free before Galway keeper Walsh brilliantly thwarted Guckian's effort for a hat-trick that came after Leitrim turned over the kickout and Darren Cox found the unmarked St Mary's man.

NO CLOUDS LINGERING FOR MCNULTY

Galway's challenge seemed to be imploding when Mannion received a second yellow card in the space of two minutes, it looked harsh to this observer and Leitrim made sure of victory when Jack Kelly converted a fifty and Darren Cox hit a great point from play either side of a black card for Sean Dunne.

That should have been it but despite being down to 13 men and vastly understrength, Galway still managed to conjure up a fourth goal over three minutes in added time to close the gap back to four but that was as close as it got as Leitrim celebrated a famous victory.

LEITRIM

Scorers: Ben Guckian 2-3, 2f; Jack Kelly 1-5, 1 50, 2f; Darren Cox 1-3, 2f; Eanna McNamara 1-0; Ruairi O'Rourke

Team: Brian Cull, Oran Foley, Jack Rowley, Oscar Reynolds, Naoise McManus, Eanna McNamara, Bailey McBride, Jack Foley, Colm McLoughlin, Liam Chandler, Matthew Murphy, Ruairi O'Rourke, Darren Cox, Jack Kelly, Ben Guckian. Subs: Alan Beirne for O. Foley (21); Sean Carolan Morris for Cull (50)

GALWAY

Scorers: Dara Cleary 3-1; Killian Joyce 1-2; Kian Mitchell 0-3, 3f; Mark Mannion (2pt) & Sean Dunne (2pt) 0-2 each; Ciaran McDonagh & Senan Treacy 0-1 each

Team: Cillian Walsh, Dara Conneely, Ryan Joyce, Vinnie Gill, Cian Rafferty, Mark Mannion, Jack Lonergan, Patrick Keaney, Harry Keady, Maitiu O Domhnaill, Ciaran McDonagh, Senan Treacy, Killian Joyce, Kian Mitchell, Dara Cleary. Subs: Ciaran Mulhern for R Joyce (HT); Sean Dunne & Mikey Mulryan for Mitchell & Keady (34)

Referee: Jimmy Donohue (Roscommon)