Gary Plunkett’s late winner leaves Leitrim in pole position for promotion

Following on from their heroics against Antrim a fortnight earlier, Leitrim recorded their fourth successive win of their Allianz NFL division four campaign on Saturday last when they defeated Limerick by the narrowest of margins in Kilmallock.

Leitrim have been fighting to escape the clutches of division 4 since a one point defeat in the same venue 11 years ago consigned them to the bottom tier. There have been plenty of hard luck stories in the intervening years but now promotion is very much in Leitrim's hands and a win on Sunday next against London will almost certainly secure their place in the division 4 final at the end of March.

Gary Plunkett was the match-winning hero for Terry Hyland's side as he struck for a crucial winner in the third minute of injury time to leave promotion very much in their own hands. The sides were level for the fourth time and looked set to finish level when substitute Plunkett popped up with the Leitrim winner in the third minute of injury time.

While the plaudits went to the Aughawillan forward for his crucial late strike there were key contributions all over the pitch from the Leitrim players. No fewer than 10 of Leitrim's players scored meaning the reliance on Ryan O'Rourke was not as evident as had been the case in earlier games.

Goalkeeper Diarmuid McKiernan was hugely influential over the course of the 70 minutes, making no fewer than three excellent saves in the opening half as Leitrim survived periods of sustained pressure from the home side.

Aidan Flynn and Ray Mulvey both impressed, arguably enjoying their best games of the year to date while Sean McWeeney's contribution was crucial to the Leitrim cause. The Aughnasheelin man has shown his calibre for many years and that was the case once more on Saturday. Operating as a sweeper, his reading of the game was outstanding throughout while he also came to Leitrim's rescue when making a wonderful goal line clearance.

Limerick enjoyed their share of dominance in the middle of the pitch, particularly approaching the interval but as has been the case throughout this extraordinary sequence of league games, Terry Hyland's men regrouped well after the break and finished strongly.

Limerick were aided by the breeze in the opening half and led 0-7 to 0-5 at half time with all seven points coming from play from six different players.

But there were at least four goal chances for Limerick in the half which were to prove costly misses for the home side.

Leitrim made the early running and led by two points courtesy of scores from Shane Moran and A Domhnaill Flynn free before Jamie Lee opened the Limerick account in the 16th minute.

A super save from Diarmuid McKiernan denied Adrian Enright a Limerick goal in the 21st minute but the game was level, 0-3 each by the 27th minute with Lee and Enright points for the home side.

This was Limerick's best period and a run of four scores had them 0-5 to 0-3 ahead with half time approaching with a superb Cillian Fahy point the highlight.

Colm McSweeney and Peter Nash had the Limerick tally up to seven points by the 34th minute before Leitrim replied with points from Dean McGovern and an excellent strike from Domhnaill Flynn meaning there was just two points separating the sides when the half time whistle sounded.

Just like the first half, Leitrim were first to settle on the resumption with unanswered points from Mark Plunkett, Paddy Maguire, Ray Mulvey and Domhnaill Flynn (free) opening up a 0-9 to 0-7 lead.

The game was developing in to a real nip and tuck affair. Jamie Lee opened Limerick's second half account and Sean McSweeney then levelled matters once more before Damien Moran struck to edge Leitrim back ahead.

Leitrim regained the initiative and moved 0-11 to 0-9 ahead thanks to a Ryan O'Rourke free with 21-minutes of the second half played.

However, Leitrim were to score just once more in the dramatic closing stages but it proved to be an incredibly important score.

Limerick made a number of substitutions, including a debut for Ronan Lynch, and a Sean McSweeney free and a fisted point from wing back Colm McSweeney had the game level, 0-11 each, with six minutes to play.

The spectators, the vast majority of whom were roaring for Leitrim were treated to a tense and dramatic finale. In years gone by this game may have slipped away from Leitrim but there is an impressive toughness and resilience to this crop of players and once more they showed an abundance of character when it mattered most.

The opening day win over Wexford saw the team recover from a slow first half. The victory in Aughrim saw a late Ryan O'Rourke goal set up victory when it looked unlikely and the victory over Antrim saw Domhnaill strike deep in injury time to secure a third victory.

Both sides had chances to win it before Gary Plunkett's winner for the visitors ensured the long journey home for the legion of Leitrim fans was an enjoyable one.

Promotion and a place in the division four final will likely be secured, with two games to spare, if Leitrim defeat London on Sunday next in Avantcard Pairc Sean MacDiarmada.