Hurlers show resilience and guts to hold off stubborn Monaghan challenge in Lory Meagher Cup

Leitrim got their Lory Meagher Cup campaign off to a winning start in Heartland Credit Union Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada on Saturday afternoon but not before showing real resilience under pressure after enduring a real test from a stubborn Monaghan in the opening game of the competition.

With weather conditions proving difficult, Mike Wall’s charges looked in bother at halftime as a Monaghan goal right on the stroke of halftime saw the home side lead by just five points at the break, 1-7 to 1-2, a lead that looked nowhere near enough given the strength of the wind Leitrim would face in the second half.

But putting the loss of the influential Daniel Miller and their own wastefulness in front of the posts, Leitrim dug deep and dug out a thoroughly deserved victory, even if it came with late scare when Monaghan struck for a second goal in the final seconds of normal time, a five point lead reduced to two points.

But as they had all day, Leitrim dug deep, Kevin Clerkin blocking a shot and Clement Cunnife saving a shot before the Green & Gold broke directly upfield for Gavin O’Hagan to land two insurance points, the second set up by a great catch from sub Dhani Keane.

This was a much different Monaghan team from the one Leitrim beat by eight points on the road in February but Mike Wall will be delighted by the resilience his troops displayed as they dug deep under pressure and held their cool to see out a deserved victory.

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The early action was tentative from both sides, Monaghan’s Ethan Flynn denied a goal chance by a flying block from Kevin Clerkin with the follow-up saved by Clement Cunniffe in the Leitrim goal. Philip Burgess had a sideline effort hit the post and Colm Canning saw a free batted clear by the Monaghan keeper.

Canning opened the scoring after five minutes, good work from Stephen Goldrick setting up the chance and Leitrim took early control two minutes later when Daniel Miller broke free in the corner, a wonderful pass across saw Gavin O’Hagan stretch out his hurl to control the sliothar before finishing to the corner corner.

Niall Arthur hit the first of his points on 11 minutes under fierce Leitrim pressure and the Monaghan full-forward swapped frees with Miller as Leitrim struggled to exploit the strong wind. Frees from Burgess and Miller extended the gap five points midway through the half.

Leitrim still needed to be alert as Joe Murray made a good driving clearance from an Arther free before Stephen Goldrick’s interception and run clear of defence set up Miller for a great point after 23 minutes.

Leitrim, however, were missing good chances with Canning and O’Hagan registering wides before Martin Feeney hit a long range effort. Monaghan keeper Hugh Byrne did well to prevent a goal chance for Miller before Burgess landed a monster free from the halfway line despite Monaghan protests.

The half, however, did not end well for Leitrim - two wides were compounded by the loss of Daniel Miller through injury, Sean O’Riordan entering the fray but it got worse in added time as Monaghan’s strong running saw them charge through the Leitrim defence. Clement Cunniffe saved the first shot but Ethan Flynn was on hand to drive the rebound to the net.

That left Leitrim 1-7 to 1-2 ahead at the break, a lead that looked nowhere near enough given the strength of the wind they had enjoyed in the first half. Crucially, the wind died down a bit in the second half, a factor that allowed a defiant Leitrim to hold Monaghan at arm’s length.

Leitrim almost started with a goal, Niall Crowe’s shot saved by the Monaghan keeper inside the first minute while Niall Arthur had an uncharacteristic bad finish after a wayward pass from Conor Hackett. Arthur did land a free after three minutes but another effort from the Farney forward dropped short, Cunniffe alert to clear the danger.

Monaghan’s hard running was causing Leitrim problems but a brilliant Hackett flick dispossessed Pauric Malone as he threatened to break through and Leitrim broke, winning a free that Philip Burgess sent unerringly between the posts from 65 metres seven minutes into the second half.

The Leitrim team that defeated Monaghan in the Lory Meagher Cup Picture: Willie Donnellan

Burgess then saw yellow for a careless challenge with Arthur converting the free. Burgess and Arthur swapped points, the Leitrim man from a free and the Monaghan man a brilliant effort from play but right on the midway point of the second half, Leitrim struck for a crucial score.

James McNabola broke through the Monaghan defence and fed the ball to the unmarked Michael O’Brien who made no mistake with a clinical finish to the net, putting Leitrim seven points to the good.

With Leitrim continuing to miss chances, the home side held the visitors at arms’ length with Arthur and Burgess swapping points, the Leitrim scoring coming after Joe Murray brilliantly controlled a clearance on his stick and then fed his teammate for a long range score.

But Monaghan were now building up a head of steam and two back to back Arthur points, one from a free and the other a 65, cut the gap back to five points. A great break from Paul Lenehan saw him find Stephen Goldrick for a great point.

Then came one moment of controversy in the final minute of normal time that almost cost Leitrim dearly - Conor Hackett was breaking clear with the sliothar and was clearly tripped by a Monaghan player, the ball falling to Arthur who scored a wonder point from out near the sideline.

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From that puckout, Monaghan won the sliothar back, sent it into Arthur who made a fantastic catch, twisted and turned to create space before sending a rocket to the Leitrim net and suddenly, Leitrim’s lead was now just two points and Monaghan had all the momentum.

But Leitrim reacted superbly despite Burgess sending a sideline wide but a Kevin Clerkin block on Monaghan’s Conal McHugh saw Leitrim break, Gavin O’Hagan scoring a huge point in space two minutes into added time.

Monaghan came looking for an equalising goal with Cunniffe making a good save from an Arthur shot, Leitrim breaking once more with sub Dhani Keane making a superb catch under enormous pressure before feeding O’Hagan to score the insurance point to the great delight of the Leitrim fans.

LEITRIM

Scorers: Philip Burgess 0-5, 4f; Gavin O’Hagan 1-2; Daniel Miller 0-3, 2f; Michael O’Brien 1-0; Stephen Goldrick, Martin Feeney & Colm Canning 0-1 each

Team: Clement Cunniffe, Paul Lenehan, Kevin Clerkin, Niall Crowe, Conor Hackett, Philip Burgess, Stephen Goldrick, Colm Canning, Martin Feeney, Daniel Miller, Joe Murray, Gavin O’Hagan, Paul Mulligan, Michael O’Brien, James McNabola. Subs: Sean O’Riordan for Miller (35+2); Dhani Keane for O’Riordan (68)

MONAGHAN

Scorers: Niall Arthur 1-9, 1  65, 5f; Ethan Flynn 1-0

Team: Hugh Byrne, Aaron McGee, Emmett Walsh, Cillian Hanratty, Pauric Malone, Conor Flynn, Aaron Kenny, Jack Guinan, Declan Hughes, Leo Maloney, Niall Garland, Conal McHugh, Cormac McNally, Niall Arthur, Ethan Flynn. Subs: Brendan McQuaid for McNally (46); Ethan Lawless for E. Flynn (59)

Referee: Aidan McAleer (Donegal)