Beirne sees Mohill past battling Glencar-Manorhamilton

GLENCAR-MANORHAMILTON 1-13

MOHILL 2-13

A sharper and fast moving Mohill notched up a deserved hard fought for Leitrim senior championship win over a hard working 14 man Glencar Manor outfit after Barry McNulty was red carded late on at Boggaun on Saturday when a cracking game of football came to its conclusion in the shadow of the local iconic O'Donnell's Rock Mountain.

Before a crowd of over 300 spectators, both lined out without some of their key players but their replacements on the evening performed very well when they were thrown into the red hot fire of a championship clash at short notice.

Glencar Manor settled quickest from the throw-in and put two points on the board in the opening 90 seconds of action with Aaron Hickey and Evan Sweeney hitting the target from a free and play.

But Mohill rattled right into the action when Keith Beirne pointed after he was fouled and soon after fired over from play to level matters.

Mohill took the lead for the first time in the contest Ronan Kennedy split the posts on the six minute mark but Hickey replied from a Manor free and the home side regained the lead when a Donnacha Devaney pile driver was deflected into the Mohill net by fullback Liam Rowley.

Conor Dolan edged Glencar Manor further ahead three minutes later from a converted mark and the home side went five clear when Evan Sweeney hit over a well taken point from distance.

But Ronan Kennedy put Mohill right back in contention when he flicked home a skilfully executed goal on the 13-minute mark.

Three minutes later Mohill were back in the driving seat when Keith Beirne lobbed a ball to the back of the Manor net.

Mohill keeper Padraig Tighe made a smart save to deny a goal-bound Devaney effort before Aaron Hickey got Manor back on level terms when he hit the target from a 19th minute free. Mohill had a let off a minute later when Hickey blazed a goal chance inches wide.

Beirne and Hickey swapped scores before Glencar Manor goalkeeper Shaun Sheridan did well to tip over a goal bound Keith Keegan effort, which put the visitors back on top.

Almost immediately Barry McNulty levelled matters when he fired over but the home side suffered a blow when James Rooney was black carded on the 29 minute mark which left his side down for the opening minutes of the second half action.

Just before the short whistle Mohill claimed a halftime lead when Beirne pointed after he won a mark to leave his side leading by 2-6 to 1-8 at the break. Mohill came out with all guns blazing after the restart and stretched their advantage to five points.
Beirne spectacularly hit over a 13 metre sideline kick which he followed by pointing a free and adding another point from play.

Aaron Hickey got the scoreboard ticking eventually for the home side when tapped over a free after Devaney was fouled.

Evan Sweeney reduced Mohill's lead to two points by the 48th minutes after he whipped over a pair of Manor points. Mohill surged again in the last ten minutes of the action with Shane Quinn and Keith Beirne pointing in quick succession at the beginning of the spell while Beirne blazed a 56th minute goal chance narrowly wide.

Shortly afterwards Glencar Manor were reduced to 14 men when referee Gareth Foley dismissed Barry McNulty with a straight red after Foley consulted his umpires. Glencar Manor's Evan Sweeney saw yellow soon afterwards.

In the closing minute, Glencar Manor pressed hard to salvage a late draw but Mohill stoutly resisted the home side's best efforts.

Glencar-Manor had to settle for a three point loss with Aaron Hickey reducing Mohill's lead to this margin with a 59th minute free.

MOHILL
Scorers: Keith Beirne 1-10, 5f, 2m; Ronan Kennedy 1-2; Shane Quinn 0-1
Team: Padraig Tighe; Ryan Bohan, Liam Rowley, James Mitchell; David Mitchell, Alan Armstrong, Caillin Canning; Shane Quinn, Domhnaill Flynn; Keith Keegan, Keith Beirne, Evan Harkin; Mathew Murphy, Ronan Kennedy, Sean Harkin. Sub: Tadgh Mulligan for Canning (40)

GLENCAR MANORHAMILTON
Scorers: Aaron Hickey 0-7, 5f; Evan Sweeney 0-4; Donnacha Devaney 1-0; Barry McNulty 0-1
Team: Shaun Sheridan; Mark McHugh, Brian McDonald, Brendan Byrne; Cathal Óg O'Connell, Tom Hughes, James Rooney; Barry McNulty, Stephen Irwin; Jack Faulkner, Evan Sweeney, Darren Gilmartin; Donnacha Devaney, Conor Dolan, Aaron Hickey. Subs: Darren Sweeney for Irwin (35); Killian McGriskin for Faulkner (39); Anthony McDonald for Devaney (59); Peter Poniard for Faulkner (60)

REFEREE: Gareth Foley