Mohill send out a message in game of two halves in Leitrim SFC

Mohill sealed top spot in the Connacht Gold Leitrim SFC after they prevailed over Glencar Manorhamilton in a high-scoring encounter last Saturday in Philly McGuinness Park, despite seeing a 15-point lead reduced to just five by the final whistle in what was certainly a game of two halves!

Mohill's first-half performance, in which they built a 13-point lead at the break, was the foundation stone for their fairly comfortable victory at the end, a win that consigns Glencar Manor to the relegation final against Aughawillan after just one win in four outings.

Mohill were razor sharp in a whirlwind first quarter and grabbed a six-point lead after just four minutes. Keith Keegan opened the Mohill men's account 17 seconds after the throw-in when he split the posts.

Some 28 seconds later, Keith Beirne fired over the game's first two-pointer and added a two-point free two and half minutes later before hitting another point from play. A shell-shocked Manor opened their account when Barry McNulty tapped over a fifth-minute free.

Mohill continued their bombardment of the Glencar Manor posts for the next five minutes. Keith Beirne tapped over his second two-point free, and Sean Harkin got the game's first goal when he finished to the net from close range after a clinically orchestrated and lightning-quick attacking move.

Mathew Murphy put Mohill 11 points ahead after another good attacking move. Glencar Manor managed to reduce the deficit slightly by the 13-minute mark thanks to Ronan Fox, Evan Sweeney and Barry McNulty who fired over a point each.

Mohill quickly restored their advantage over the next three minutes with Keith Beirne tapping over a free and Shane Quinn hitting a great two-pointer from well outside the 40 metre arc. Declan Byrne hit back with a 17th-minute point, answered by a Keith Beirne two-pointer. When Jack Kelly converted a 20th-minute free, he only reduced Mohill's advantage back to 11 points.

Two minutes later, Keith Keegan blazed a goal chance about a centimetre over the crossbar. Glencar Manor responded with a point apiece from Jack Kelly (free) and Bailey McBride. Domhnaill Flynn and Kelly (free) exchanged points at opposite ends between the 27th and 29th minutes.

Mohill finished the first half scoring with another clinically executed attacking move that caught the Manor defence flat-footed, with Sean Harkin again finishing to the net from close range, to leave them 2-16 to 0-9 ahead at the break.

Beirne extended Mohill's advantage to 15 points with a two-pointer but, after that, Glencar Manor surged and held Mohill scoreless for a 16-minute spell -Jack Kelly tapped over a two-point free and three more single frees while Donnacha Devaney pointed and Barry McNulty hit a two-pointer.

Mohill raised a white flag on the 48 minute mark when Sean Harkin fisted over from close range before being reduced to 14 players after Conor Quinn received a black card.

Barry McNulty hit over a 50th-minute two-pointer, but Mohill hit three on the trot, Keith Keegan and two Beirne frees. Mohill's lead was reduced to six points on the 57th minute mark when Barry McNulty hit a spectacular long-range two-pointer.

In the closing action, Manor had a let-off when a Sean Harkin effort rebounded of the left-hand upright. Matthew Murphy added a fisted point, Glencar Manor replying with a two-pointer from Evan Sweeney.

MOHILL

Scorers: Keith Beirne 0-13, 5 tp; 4 tpf; 4f; Sean Harkin 2-1; Keith Keegan 0-3; Shane Quinn (tp) & Mathew Murphy 0-2 each; Domhnaill Flynn 0-1

Team: Padraig Tighe; Ryan Bohan, Shane Quinn, Alan Armstrong; Sean Harkin, Keith Keegan, James Mitchell; Domhnaill Flynn; Conor Quinn; Evan Harkin, Keith Beirne, Jack Rowley; Mathew Murphy, Jordan Reynolds, Fiachra McGuinness. Subs: Frankie McManus for Rowley (41); David Mitchell for Armstrong (43); John Macklin for McGuinness (59); Donal Duignan for E Harkin (59); Ryan Gordon for Murphy (61)

GLENCAR MANORHAMILTON

Scorers: Barry McNulty (2 tp, tpf, f) & Jack Kelly (tpf, 6f) 0-8 each; Evan Sweeney 0-3, tp; Ronan Fox, Declan Byrne, Bailey McBride & Donnacha Devaney 0-1 each

Team: Shaun Sheridan; James Hughes, Ryan Gilligan, Tom Hughes; Evan Gilligan, James Rooney, Luke Farrell; Barry McNulty, Bailey McBride; Declan Byrne, Evan Sweeney, Ronan Fox; Donnacha Devaney, Jack Kelly, Aaron Hickey. Subs: Cathal Curneen for Hickey (20); Killian McGriskin & Patrick Montgomery for Farrell & E Gilligan (HT); Jack Attard for Devaney (46); Cathal O'Connell for Byrne (48)

Referee: Eamonn O'Grady