McNulty and Gaffey deliver amazing comeback victory for Leitrim against stunned London in Ruislip

London will have sleepless nights over this one as a Barry McNulty inspired Leitrim produced an incredible display to overturn a 12-point deficit in a dramatic Allianz NFL Division 4 clash at McGovern Park on Sunday in Ruislip.  

Barry McNulty was the name on everyone's lips as the Glencar Manorhamilton man hit an incredible six two pointers in the second half after his introduction after the interval while another sub, Killian Gaffey, made a couple of decisive interventions, including clawing away a late London goal chance that might have snatched vcitory.

The home side had looked on course to extend their unbeaten run to five matches as they eased into a 1-14 to 1-2 lead with 33 minutes on the clock. Michael O’Reilly got the goal while Joe McGill dispatched three well-taken orange flags.

London were bright and enterprising in equal measure and thoroughly deserving of their 1-14 to 1-4 half-time advantage. But it was all change in the second half as those present at Ruislip bore witness to the proverbial game of two halves. 

Substitute Barry McNulty was the Leitrim hero; introduced at half-time for his first action of the year with Leitrim, the Glencar Manorhamilton man proceeded to land six booming two-pointers. Five of those came from play including the 56th minute strike which saw the visitors hit the front for the first time in the game.

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Whatever London’s management team tried during the second period, they just couldn’t wrestle the momentum back from Steven Poacher’s men, who were a team transformed. In the end, the visitors won the second half by 1-15 to 0-6.  

It denied London a first-ever National League win over Leitrim at Ruislip. A barren run for the Exiles stretching back to Leitrim’s first visit to West End Road 44 years ago. That doesn’t, of course, count the walkover they handed London in 2018. So, this defeat will smart for the Exiles and understandably so. 

They head to Wicklow’s Echelon Park with three points to their name, when they’ll feel that it could – and perhaps should – be six. They’ll have demons to Exorcise from that second half last Sunday with Wicklow now an intriguing test of just how this London team responds. 

The home side couldn’t have asked for a better start as captain Liam Gallagher burst clear straight from the throw in to despatch the ball between the uprights. Kristian Healy fisted over to double the lead, with Leitrim’s Tom Prior hitting the post at the other end and Keith Keegan having his shot blocked by the diving Sean O’Donoghue. 

While Leitrim were patient, London were incisive. McGill opened his account with a free after Liam Gallagher was fouled with O’Reilly then beating Daire O’Shea to Conal Gallagher’s tempting delivery into the Leitrim goalmouth. The North London Shamrocks man got up well to get the vital touch just ahead of O’Shea.

That made it 1-3 to no score with ten minutes gone, but within a minute the green flag was flying at the other end. A Leitrim move appeared to have broken down in the muddy and rain-sodden conditions, before the ball broke across the edge of the London square and Fergal McLoughlin, who’d tracked the play from deep, finished to the net with aplomb. 

From the home side’s perspective, it was a messy goal to concede. It was quickly wiped out, though, as McGill had the orange and white flags waving in quick succession. The Shamrocks man had clearly found his range. 

Only two last-ditch blocks prevented O’Shea from being tested after Matt Moynihan had gobbled up a kick-out and stormed goalwards. London were on top but they needed to make it tell. Ryan O’Rourke’s free made it 1-6 to 1-1, only for Healy to cancel that out.

The Round Towers player was caught by a robust challenge from Kieran Clancy as he pulled the trigger, and that sparked an angry London response. Healy left the field bloodied and not to return. The upshot from the pushing and shoving was black cards for Clancy and Liam Gallagher. The latter for his reaction. The punishment didn’t quite seem to fit the crime, however, for London. 

A McGill two-pointer made it 1-9 to 1-1 and the Exiles were now beginning to open up some serious daylight. Not waiting till half-time to make changes, Poacher replaced O’Shea with Killian Gaffey. Prior struck the next blow, only for Ciaran Diver, James Davis and O’Reilly to reply. 

When Gaffey’s attempt at a 45 fell short, Josh Obahor started a sweeping London move which ended with McGill despatching his third two-pointer. That made it 1-14 to 1-2 and Leitrim responded by introducing Conor Quinn.

It had been the Exiles’ half and very much in keeping with the excellent football they’ve been playing this year. But late points from Prior and Ryan O’Rourke (free) were enough to hint that the visitors were far from done.

Needing a fast start to the second half Leitrim had to roll the dice and they threw McNulty and Paul Honeyman into the fray. And with some choice words from Poacher no doubt still ringing in their ears they got it, as McNulty needed less than three minutes to send over the first of his six orange flags.

Although London replied through Shay Rafter, Leitrim had grasped the early initiative, and it got even better for them when Keegan set up Prior to beat Walsh. The home side’s lead was now 1-15 to 2-6 and with just four minutes gone in the second period it was game on. 

Riordan O’Rourke’s point was followed by a nonchalant strike from Diver, who seemed coolness personified and immune to the building tension around Ruislip. When Rafter added another free the Exiles seemed to have weathered the early Leitrim storm, although they’d needed a good save from Walsh to deny Honeyman. 

Fergal McLoughlin takes a shot against London on Sunday Picture: Sheila Fernandes

Honeyman fisted over the rebound to be quickly followed by scores from Riordan O’Rourke and McNulty (two-pointer). Suddenly the London lead was down to just a goal (1-17 to 2-11).

By now, memories were being stirred of the sides’ 2013 Connacht senior semi-final at Dr Hyde Park, when the Exiles led by 14 points at the break only to prevail by the bare minimum.

Not this time. McNulty’s 50th minute orange flag made it a one-point game and when he repeated the trick again in the 56th minute the visitors led for the first time (2-15 to 1-17). Before the Exiles could respond, McNulty immediately added another orange flag. 

Maher turned to his bench - including giving a debut to Williamstown’s Nathan Feeney - with the questions now being firmly asked of London. A ‘breach’ allowed Rafter to get the chains moving again for the home side – and it was back to a one-point game when Diver fired over.  

The home side appeared to have some momentum again. Inevitably it was McNulty who delivered the decisive blow in the 67th minute and unsurprisingly it came via another orange flag, albeit this time from a free. 

It left London needing a goal, but they so very nearly got it when Liam Murphy rose to palm the ball vigorously goalwards, only for Gaffey to launch himself to his left and somehow claw the ball away. Everyone inside McGovern Park expected to see the net ripple. 

McGill tapped over a last-minute free to make it a two-point game, but the home side couldn’t fashion a last-ditch two-point attempt, although Leitrim did have to survive one goalmouth scramble before they could celebrate an incredible comeback victory. 

For London, this loss will hurt but they can only now use it to drive them on. 

LEITRIM

Scorers: Barry McNulty 0-12, 5 tp, 2f; Tom Prior 1-2; Fergal McLoughlin 1-0; Riordan O’Rourke & Ryan O’Rourke (2f) 0-2 each; Paul Honeyman 0-1

Team: Daire O’Shea; Eoin McLoughlin, Kieran Clancy, Sean Harkin; James Rooney, Mark Diffley, Conor Reynolds; Killian McGloin, Keith Keegan; Fergal McLoughlin 1-0, Riordan O’Rourke, Tom Prior; Ben Guckian, Ryan O’Rourke, Jack Kelly. Subs: Killian Gaffey for O’Shea (26), Conor Quinn for McGloin (37), Barry McNulty & Paul Honeyman for Rooney & Kelly (HT), Gavin Reynolds for Keegan (72)

LONDON

Scorers:  Joe McGill 0-9, 3tp; 2f; Michael O’Reilly 1-1; Shay Rafter (2f) & Ciaran Diver 0-3 each; Kristian Healy 0-2; Liam Gallagher & Jim Davis 0-1 each

Team: Andy Walsh; Daire Rooney, Matt Moynihan, Sean O’Donoghue; Conor Goggin, Conal Gallagher, Conor O’Donoghue; Liam Gallagher, Josh Obahor; Joe McGill, Daniel Clarke, Kristian Healy; Micheal O’Reilly, Shay Rafter, Jim Davis. Subs: Ciaran Diver for Healy (23), Tighe Barry for Clarke (49), Ciaran McKeon for Davis (53), Nathan Feeney & Liam Murphy for O’Reilly & McKeon (60)

Referee: Andrew Smith (Meath)