Leitrim Gaels turn on the jets late on to burn off Ballinamore challenge

Leitrim Gaels joined the ranks of the great of Leitrim club football on Sunday when they produced a power-packed final quarter to burn off the challenge of a stubborn and resilient Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins, earning the Gaels their first ever Connacht Gold Leitrim SFC crown in Heartland Credit Union Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada.

In a game where the teams traded blow for blow right up until David Regan’s opportunistic goal finally gave the Gaels a gap, it looked as if we might be headed for a replay, such was the intensity of the exchanges and the willingness of both teams to charge straight at the opposition.

But then the Gaels exploded - Regan’s goal seemed to stoke even hotter the flames of confidence that the first time finalists displayed in remarkable abundance and with Conal Jones and David Regan both firing over two point frees in the closing ten minutes, what had been a tight battle was turned into a rout.

Leitrim Gaels’ eight point winning margin was the highest since Glencar Manorhamilton beat Bornacoola by the same margin in 2008 and Aughavas against Annaduff in 1966. In that time, their margin of victory has only been exceeded once in the last 60 years by another first time finalists who brought home the Fenagh Cup at their first attempt, Kiltubrid, back in 2005.

It was a remarkable sprint to the finishing line, reminiscent of the way they disposed of St Mary’s Kiltoghert in the group stages, and indicative of their dominance around the middle of the park where Ryan Jones led a superb effort to combat what many believed would be a Ballinamore stronghold.

CHECK OUT WILLIE DONNELLAN'S GALLERY OF LEITRIM GAELS CELEBRATIONS FOLLOWING HISTORIC CONNACHT GOLD LEITRIM SFC TRIUMPH

Once the dam broke, the scores came flooding for the Gaels but in fairness to Ballinamore, they had put up stoic and stout resistance in an area where the Gaels had an edge in physical power and numbers, the Jones brothers, Jamie Rynn, the Flynn brothers, Donal Casey, the Chandler brothers and Conor Guckian giving them a huge platform.

Ballinamore’s class and resolve kept them in the battle until that final ten minutes but their reliance on the remarkable place-kicking prowess of Paul Honeyman and a smaller spread of scorers meant that the Gaels always posed a greater challenge, one that O’Heslins couldn’t hold off forever.

It was cruel on Ballinamore to lose back to back finals but perhaps they will take solace from the example of Mohill (losing finalists in 2021 & 2022) and Glencar Manorhamilton (losing finalists 2015 to 201) and bounce back in the future because the raw ingredients are there in abundance.

But for now, the day, the year and the county belongs to Leitrim Gaels, a remarkable rise from their formation in 1997, through a tortuous and often heartbreaking attempt to escape the Junior ranks, up through Intermediate and now Kings of the County in their very first appearance in the decider.

A Connacht campaign awaits next month but that is a matter for another day as Leitrim Gaels celebrate a truly historic breakthrough for Leitrim football.

The Leitrim Gaels team that won the 2025 Connacht Gold Leitrim SFC title Picture: Willie Donnellan

Leitrim Gaels had two early missed chances, Ryan Jones shooting wide while Donal Casey left a shot short before Paul Honeyman produced a great point from the corner, just inside the two point arc, on three minutes. Over-carrying and dissent allowed Stephen Goldrick to tie the scores just a minute later.

Brian Leydon picked up the first caution seven minutes in after a foul on Aidan Flynn, Garvan Jones pointing the free. David Bruen also went into the book but it was a quick free into space that released Donal Casey for the Gaels’ next score on nine minutes, Garvan Jones adding a free after another Casey run was ended by a foul.

The Gaels started to pull clear, Conal Jones shot wide but Paul Honeyman settled his team, a foul on Tom Prior seeing a converted free before a two point free tied the scores midway through the first half.

After a cagey opening, the game began to spring to life - Tom Prior got past but never quite shook off Donal Casey but his stinging shot from a tight angle drew a good save from Brian Cull. 

The Gaels went down the field, Conor Guckian making a soaring catch from a David Bruen effort. Guckian found David Regan but the corner-forward went left instead of right and drove his shot inches wide of the post.

Ballinamore regained the lead, Paul Moran’s crossfield pass leaving his brother Shane with an easy point but when David Regan forced a turnover, Ryan Jones and Regan combined to set Jamie Rynn free for a fisted point. Conal Jones came out, produced a wonderful side-step to evade the defender and fired Leitrim Gaels back in front.

Stephen Goldrick had a bad wide but Ballinamore were back in front after referee Eamonn Dolan brought the ball 50 metres forward for an infringement foul and Honeyman sent the two point free over the bar on the stroke of halftime.

With a bit of niggle creeping into the game, a confused signal from the referee initially gave a free after David Regan was fouled but the Carrigallen official changed his signal and Stephen Goldrick tapped over the free to leave the scores level at 0-7 apiece at the break.

The Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins team who were defeated by Leitrim Gaels Picture: Willie Donnellan

O’Heslins made the first change, Naoise McManus replacing Brian Leydon but the first shot saw Wayne McKeon fire wide. Yellow cards were picked up by Shane Moran and Ryan Jones and dissent saw the ball moved forward, albeit after loud appeals from Ballinamore players, for Paul Honeyman to convert.

A quick break from the kickout released Jack Flynn, his surging run ending with a pass back to Jamie Rynn for his second point. Keelan McHugh saw a shot blocked but the ball came back to Wayne McKeon who thumped a massive two pointed to put Ballinamore two clear seven minutes into the second half.

It could have been more when a high Paul Moran ball broke right in front of goal but Naoise McManus’ effort lacked power, Brian Cull clearing his lines and Leitrim Gaels set about closing the gap, David Bruen executing a simple cut to fire over a fine point after 39 minutes.

From the kickout, the Gaels turned the ball over and Jamie Rynn ran in to score and they were back in front a minute later when Rynn turned provider for Aidan Flynn to fist the ball over. But in keeping with the game, Ballinamore hit back, a Ryan Jones smothering tackle on Tom Prior as he bore down on goal resulting in a free for Honeyman to convert.

The goal did come, unexpectedly when Aidan Flynn’s effort for a point came off the woodwork but not so unexpectedly as David Regan flashed a powerful shot to the Ballinamore net in the first decisive blow of the Final after 42 minutes.

Ballinamore again responded, Donal Feely pointing after good work from Honeyman set up the chance but the O’Heslins’ freetaker then put a two point free, a controversial decision that saw the ball moved up the field, and a foul on Donal Casey allowed Garvan Jones tap over another free with just over 13 minutes left.

Wayne McKeon converted from distance to narrow the gap back to two a minute later but by the time Paul Honeyman got their last score from a free in the first minute of added time, the game was out of sight as Leitrim Gaels hit the after-burners.

First came a Garvan Jones two point free that was initially given and then wiped off the board by the officials as wide but David Regan cut in from the wing to score after 51 minutes. Three minutes later, Garvan Jones made sure there was no debate about his next two point free attempt, a remarkable kick that sailed over after a foul on Regan.

Jones added another free a minute later and suddenly, Ballinamore were looking at a six point deficit and when Stephen Goldrick launched a two point free over the bar, the game was as good as over.

Donal Casey fisted over the Gaels’ last score with Honeyman replying for a shell-shocked Ballinamore but, to their credit, they kept battling away, with Shane Moran’s late fisted effort cleared before the Leitrim Gaels’ celebrations got underway in earnest.

LEITRIM GAELS

Scorers: Garvan Jones 0-6, 6f; Stephen Goldrick 0-4; 4f; David Regan 1-1; Jamie Rynn 0-3, Donal Casey 0-2; Conal Jones, David Bruen & Aidan Flynn 0-1 each

Team: Brian Cull; Stephen McDermott, David Bruen, Connor Guckian; Jamie Rynn, Donal Casey, Liam Chandler; Ryan Jones, Aidan Flynn; Jack Flynn, Garvan Jones, Shaun Chandler; David Regan, Conall Jones, Stephen Goldrick. Subs: Eunan Tracey for Guckian (56), Shane Finn for McDermott (59), Ben Finn for Rynn (61), Ryan Goldrick for Bruen (63)

BALLINAMORE SEAN O’HESLINS

Scorers: Paul Honeyman 0-9, 8f; Wayne McKeon 0-2, tp; Shane Moran, Donal Feely & Michael McKiernan 0-1 each

Team: Darren Maxwell; Conor Moran, Brian Banks, Mathew Murphy; Michael McBrien, Donal Feely, Cathal McHugh: Wayne McKeon, Shane Moran; Brian Leydon, Michael McKiernan, Keelan McHugh; Paul Moran, Tom Prior, Paul Honeyman. Subs: Naoise McManus for Leydon (HT), Patrick Connaughton for C Moran (43), Luke Murphy for P Moran (52)

Referee: Eamon Dolan