Leitrim minors fall just short of miraculous comeback against Mayo

For the second week in a row, a horror start for Leitrim left them too much to do as they fell just short of an unlikely comeback against Mayo in the Connacht Championship in Pairc Sean MacDiarmeda.

Despite what was a near capitulation in the first ten minutes, Leitrim looked to be on top for long periods of the game that saw them fall three points short in the second round clash on Friday evening.

Leitrim fielding a young team, starting a number of under-15s against a Mayo side that looked considerably bigger physically and probably more developed mentally and who settled into the game quickly.

The Leitrim boys seemed to be drowning in the first ten minutes. They struggled massively to find their feet and simple skills deserted them, and handing over possession too easy. 

On the other hand, Mayo were playing with a happy swagger early on, opening with a  Conor Hoban two-point free kick from left of the arc.

READ MORE: Leitrim boxer selected to compete for Ireland at World Boxing Cup in Brazil

There was a wicked sun at their backs, and Mayo were in the mood to make hay as they quickly followed up with a goal from centre forward Evan Heneghan who rocketed a shot into the top corner.

 in the next ten minutes, a slew of points followed for Mayo from John Jennings, Darragh Connor, Evan Heneghan; Conor Hoban; Charlie Fallons.

By the time Leitrim began playing, they had dug themselves a 1-8 hole that they needed to find their way out of, and before the break they had made some good strides.

Matthew Speers opened the scoring for Leitrim in fourteen minutes before they added points from Seán Keaney, Senan Kelly, and Joshua Bosquette frees. 

Mayo seemed to drift out of the game in patches when Leitrim matched up physically against them, which led to some success for the green and gold, who had to play into a strong wind and blinding sun in their eyes in the first half.

Leitrim added another point before the break with a lovely point from Seán Keaney, who put in an impressive display for the home side.

READ MORE: Leitrim walking festival returns to 'beautiful Glenade Valley' in April

Leitrim made two great goal opportunities before the break but failed to cobert, if they had the complexion of the game would have been much different going into the break.

They began the second half with some renewed confidence, getting the opening point through a Senan kelly free, before Sean Keaney rocketed the game to life with a goal into the bottom corner after 

Unfortunately for the green and Gold it sprung life into Mayo aswell who looked lathargic and little shell shocked. 

Mayo settled themselves with a good individual point from Evan Henaghan, who found space for a shot after a meandering run into the Leitrim defence. 

They reestablished control with points from Aiden Brogan and a two-pointer from Heneghan.

Mayo had the momentum with substitute Nathan Dooley doing real damage, creating goal chances down the left-hand side, though they failed to get goals in the second, he ended with three points to his name.

READ MORE: RIP: 'Magnificent character' remembered fondly following his sudden passing

Leitrim were wasteful in the open play and struggled to get a foothold in the second half, though they kept themselves just within distance for a comeback with a huge 2-pointer from Seán Keaney.

Darragh Connor hit another point for Mayo as the green and red threatened goal again but some scrambling Leitrim defense kept them to just a point from a close range another Dooley effort.

The half time substitute followed up with another, but for all their dominance, Mayo only had a seven-point lead heading into the last ten minutes. 

The bite seemed to fall out of the game as substitutes rolled on, a couple of Leitrim men went down with injuries, and the game held up as Mayo wing-back Alexander Smyth was shown a yellow card for a challenge on a Leitrim man.

Joshua Bosquette hit a poor wide from a close free kick for Leitrim before redeeming himself a moment later with a point from another.

Conor Hoban knocked one over for Mayo before corner back Tadhg Kearney added an impressive point off his right from 30 metres down the other end for their last score of the game.

Leitrim almost managed to snatch victory in added time in an intense sequence that started with a huge 2-point free kick from Mathew Spears, which he followed up with a goal, keeping his head to evade a swarm of Mayo defenders and smashing a shot almost through Rowan McLoughlin in the Mayo net.

With one more attack to go Leitrim were helter skelter, frantically going thorough the hands to find space for another shot on goal in a now packed Mayo defense.

 Amazingly, they managed to find space for Conor McCabe to sneak a shot from the edge of the square under immense pressure, but it bobbed agonisingly wide of the left post.

Leitrim will have a lot of positives to mull over now as they head into their bye week. They will go again on April 10th against Roscommon in Doctor Hyde Park in two weeks' time.

Leitrim

Elvis Shehai; Dylan Murphy; Tadhg Crowe; Conor Reynolds; Harry Newcombe; Adam McCormack; Michael O’Grady; Hugh McGovern; Jack Guckian; Matthew Speers; Seán Keaney; Ryan Kelly; Colm McLaughlin; Joshua Bosquette; Senan Kelly. Subs: Ryan Kelly off (46); Conor McCabe for Seán Keaney (48); Senan Lee for Harry Newcombe (48).

Scorers

 Matthew Speers 1-3, 1tp; Seán Keaney 1-4, 1f,1tp; Joshua Bosquette 0-2,1f; Senan Kelly 0-2,1.

Mayo

Rowan McLoughlin; Tadhg Kearney; Eanna O'Boyle ; Harry Dooney; Brian Joyce; Adam Jennings; Alexander Smyth; Conor Hoban; Darragh Connor; Adam Burton; Evan Heneghan; John Jennings; Charlie Fallon; Fiachra ó Cinnseala; Fiachra Ó Cinnseala; Aidan Brogan. Subs: Nathan Dooley for Fiachra Ó Cinnseala (30); Aaron O’Dea for Darragh Connor (48); Eoin Golden for John Jennings (52); Noah Donnelly for Adam Burton (60); Donagh Burrows (60).

Scorers

 Rowan McLoughlin 0-1, 45; Tadhg Kearney 0-1; Conor Hoban 0-3, 1tp; Darragh Connor 0-1; Evan Heneghan 1-4;  John Jennings 0-1; Charlie Fallon 0-1; Fiachra Ó Cinnseala 0-2; Nathan Dooley 0-3y.