Unbelievable finish puts Leitrim Minors into All-Ireland quarter-final

What can only be described as a classic game of football ended with Cillian McWeeney rocketing a penalty into the top corner of the Down goal to win a penalty shootout for Leitrim and send the green and gold into the All-Ireland Minor B quarter-final.

Leitrim were on the brink of defeat time and again in this All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final in Páirc Seán, but they refused to give in. Huge two-pointers from Senan McGowan in the final minutes of both normal time and extra time kept them alive.

Conditions in Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada were harsh and unforgiving on the young bodies, with Leitrim players going down with cramp all over the field during extra time against a big, physical, and athletic Down side.

Down appeared to have a physical edge over Leitrim, and at times it showed—especially in extra time. However, Leitrim fought hard and played slicker football up front when it mattered most. A massive defensive display from Jack Donohue, Ronan Connolly, Louis Quinn, and goalkeeper Scott Kerr made life difficult for Down’s forwards and kept them goalless through eighty minutes of football.

Leitrim delivered big performances and showed tremendous resolve to wrestle victory, but the men from the North will be disappointed not to have closed out the game when they had their chances.

Leitrim set out to play an exciting and open brand of football, and from the first minute, that’s exactly what they did. Frankie McManus got on the end of a beautifully threaded kick pass inside the Down defence. The Mohill man went straight for goal and calmly rolled the ball past Down keeper Callum Travers at the left post.

Down looked shell-shocked, and Leitrim capitalised in the next few minutes as Daire McCabe struck a point off his left to finish a classy move, having earlier missed a free.

The Mournemen began to find their feet but not their range. Centre-forward Dylan Kelly and Callum Travers both hit wides before a clever handpass found Oisín Murray in a pocket of space in front of the Leitrim goal. He rocketed a shot at the top corner, only to be denied by the crossbar.

Leitrim struggled to win aerial battles against an impressive Down midfield, with Leitrim's Gearóid Curley, Thomas Gunn, and Senan McGowan forced to make some spectacular catches to stifle Down’s dominance.

Down found gaps in the Leitrim defence when they ran at them in waves and got off the mark with a Dylan Kelly point after seven minutes.

Jack Prior and Daire McCabe responded for Leitrim, but Ryan O’Hare answered for Down, followed by a two-pointer from Callum Travers. Keelan Clerkin and Pierce White then scored to give Down their first lead of the game.

Leitrim were suddenly under pressure as Ryan O’Hare slotted another point for Down. But they were dealt a blow when Ross Austin received a black card for pulling down Leitrim’s Conor Reynolds.

In the second half, Leitrim had a light but important breeze at their backs. Down tried to control possession with slow, lethargic build-up play. The strategy paid off as Joe O’Hogan finished a long period of possession with a point off his right boot.

Leitrim, however, used the wind well—kicking fast out of defence and landing crucial two-pointers, first from Frankie McManus, then Senan McGowan.

Down regained momentum with points from Joe O’Hogan and Jack O’Mahony before Leitrim looked in massive trouble as Down counterattacked in numbers, running through a stretched Leitrim defence.

Only a crucial tackle from Louis Quinn prevented what looked like a certain goal. This moment typified Leitrim’s exceptional defensive effort.

Conor Reynolds put Leitrim ahead after collecting a long ball and charging at the Down defence.

A minute later, Down regained the lead after a free was brought forward 50 metres due to Leitrim failing to return the ball. Callum Travers slotted over the resulting two-point effort.

With five minutes to go, the Down keeper was again called upon to convert a long-range free, which he did—giving them another two points and leaving Leitrim three behind with time running out.

A high ball into the Down box from a desperate Leitrim found substitute Mark Nolan, whose shot for the top corner was just too high.

Leitrim defended a Down attack and won a free, but were judged to be obstructed from taking it quickly. The ball was brought forward 50 metres to the edge of the two-point arc. Senan McGowan stepped up and levelled the game with a colossal kick at the death.

After the restart, Leitrim took the lead again through a Senan McGowan free, but John Joe O’Hare replied in kind. Ryan O’Hare then slipped over another point for Down, giving them the lead heading into the extra-time break.

Extra time was a test of stamina and composure, with multiple players cramping up and both teams battling fatigue.

The second half of extra time was a nervy affair. A tiring Leitrim side chased the game manically as Down’s physicality began to tell, putting the Leitrim defence under serious pressure.

Down continued to find space. Pierce White skipped through the Leitrim backline but couldn’t convert, while Ryan O’Grady jinked inside and slotted a beautiful point off his left.

Jack Attard then converted a free, and once again Leitrim found themselves two points down with time slipping away.

The green and gold tried long-range efforts at every opportunity. At least three went wide before they worked the ball to Senan McGowan, who launched a monster effort from over 50 metres. It sailed between the posts and sent the game to penalties.

Down started the shootout with a neatly placed shot into the bottom corner from Dylan Kelly. Leitrim missed the chance to level when Callum Travers saved a low effort from Jack Attard.

John Joe O’Hare then skewed his shot wide for Down before Daire McCabe sent the keeper the wrong way to equalise for Leitrim.

Ryan O’Hare found the net with his effort, and Jack Moolick missed the mark—giving Down the advantage.

But when it mattered most, Leitrim came up clutch. Scott Kerr produced crucial saves on Down’s final two penalties, while Mark Nolan converted his shot and Cillian McWeeney rocketed his penalty into the top corner to send Leitrim into the All-Ireland quarter-final—securing the county’s first-ever victory in a penalty shootout.

Down 

Team: Callum Travers; Conor Treanor; Bobby McGowan; George Burns; Jack O’Mahony; Tiarnan Foy; Joesph Kerr; Danny Doyle; Keelan Clerkin; Ross Austin; Dylan Kelly; Oisisn Murray; Ryan O’Hare; Pierce White; Joe O’Hogan. Subs: 23 for 6 on 30; 20 for 9 on 40, 18 for 22 45. Subs: Joe O’Hagan for Keelan Clerkin (35);  Danny McFerran for Tiarnan Foy (28).

Scorers: Dylan Kelly 0-1; Joe O’Hogan 0-3; 0-3,3f; Joseph Kerr 0-1; Callum Travers 0-6, 3tpf; Keelan Clerkin 0-2; Pierce White 0-1; Jack O’Mahony 0-1;  Ryan O’Hare 1-2.

Penalties: Dylan Kelly, Ryan O’Hare.

Leitrim 

Team: Scott Kerr; Jack O’Donohue; Ronan Connolly; Louis Quinn; Darragh Boyle; Evan Gilligan; Karl Gethins; Thomas Gunn; Geroid Curley; Conor Reynolds; Senan McGowan; Frankie McManus; Jack Moolick; Daire McCabe; Jack Prior. Subs: Darragh Boyle for Evan Gilligan (74); Lorcan McNeill for Joe O’Hagan (55); Gavin Barry for Ross Austin (60); Jack Moolick for Jack Prior (37); Cillian McWeeney for Daragh Boyle (38); Jack Moolick for Frankie McManus (76). Michael O'Grady for Sean Gaffney (55); Mark Nolan for Daire McCabe (29).

Scorers: Frankie McManus 1-1; Daire McCabe 0-2; Jack Prior 0-1,1f; Senan McGowan 0-4,2tp; Mark Nolan 0-1; Conor Reynolds 0-2.

Penalties: Daire McCabe; Kian McCormack; Cillian McWeeney.