Drama as Connacht SFC Relegation Final ends all square while Annaduff lay down a big marker in Smith Monumentals IFC
Leitrim GAA: Melvin Gaels & St Mary's must meet again after draw in relegation decider while Annaduff cruise to 15 point victory over Carrigallen
Melvin Gaels and St Mary's Kiltoghert must meet for a second time to decide who is relegated from the Connacht Gold SFC after the Kinlough men snatched a dramatic draw in injury time in Ballinaglera while Annaduff sent out a message in the Smith Monumentals IFC with a comprehensive and comfortable victory over Carrigallen in Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada.
The clash of the Kinlough and Carrick sides in Ballinaglera had a lot of neutral interests and it was last year's Intermediate Champions who made the early running, leading 0-5 to 0-3 and then 0-7 to 0-5 in the first half. St Mary's, this year's Division 1 League champions, closed the gap to a point before two late scores gave Melvin Gaels a 0-10 to 0-7 halftime lead.
That lead was almost doubled early in the second half as Melvin Gaels had a double early goal chance but they couldn't convert and that proved costly as the first score of the second period was a goal for St Mary's, levelling the scores. The Gaels reacted well, twice regaining the lead before St Mary's took the lead at 1-10 to 0-12.
Melvin Gaels kept battling back but when St Mary's took a one point lead with just over three minutes left, it looked as if they might hang on for a huge victory. But in added time, Melvin Gaels struck for an equalising point, sending the game to a replay that may take place next weekend.
In the Smith Monumentals Intermediate Championship, Annaduff turned on the style after a rocky opening quarter to beat a battling Carrigallen 4-20 to 3-8 in Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada. Fionnan Harte's goal after ten minutes came with a double price for Annaduff as keeper Caolan Quigley was forced from the action with injury but they recovered well with three unanswered points.
Then came a doubly whammy - Kyle Russell and Senan Mooney hit a goal each for Annaduff in the space of 60 seconds and it was Carrigallen who were now struggling. Annaduff led 2-7 to 1-4 at the break but a second Russell goal that came off a defender gave Annaduff a tonic start to the second half and they added ten points to Carrigallen's three before they landed their fourth goal through Eoghan Ridge.
Carrigalen, to their credit, never gave up with two late goals from Colm Kiernan and Aaron Skelly as Annaduff booked their place in the semi-finals.
In the Fresh Today Junior A Championship, Aughavas sealed an automatic semi-final spot with a 0-18 to 0-10 victory on the road against Glenfarne Kiltyclogher, leaving the north Leitrim men in the quarter finals while Mohill's second string secured second place in Group 2 when they drew 2-14 to 0-20 with neighbours Cloone.