Our Under 21 team advanced to the semi-final of the B championship with a comfortable win over Annaduff on Saturday afternoon last.

The lads won on a scoreline of 4-12 to 1-5.

Team: Francis Keaney, Shane Ferguson, Ronan McGowan, Paul Gilligan, Sean McManus, John Sheerin, Diarmuid Clancy, Fergal Clancy, James Murray, Shane McLoughlin, Dermot Harkin, Niall Clancy, Padraig Sweeney. Subs: Stephen McManus, John McLoughlin, Daire Clancy

LEITRIM GAELS 2-4 GLENFARNE/KILTYCLOGHER 0-9

A flicked 51st minute Bryan Whitney goal proved to be the match winner for Leitrim Gaels at the end of Saturday’s hard fought minimum margin Leitrim Junior ‘C’ final win over Glenfarne/Kiltyclogher at a sun-drenched St. Hugh’s Park, Ballinaglera.

Glenfarne/Kiltyclogher out-played Leitrim Gaels for long periods in this encounter but the north Leitrim side could never get more than four points ahead of their south Leitrim rivals at any stage and got piped at the post at the end.

The more physical but less mobile Leitrim Gaels always kept the north Leitrim men in their sights and were able to apply just enough pressure to turn the tables in the crucial closing quarter. Glenfarne/Kilty did not help their cause when registering 15 wides over the hour while the Leitrim Gaels men were much more clinical in this regard when they only accounted for six wides during the sixty minutes.

Leitrim Gaels drew first blood when Brian Wynne whipped over a 5th minute point against the run of play as Glenfarne/Kilty had already shot two wides at the other end. County Minor player Dermot Harkin levelled the proceedings in the following minute when fired over from play for Glenfarne/Kilty.

It continued to be a tit for tat encounter over the next eight minutes as the impressive Shane McLoughlin edged Glenfarne ahead with a point but in response Peter Duignan make it level pegging with a converted free.

After that, Glenfarne/ Kiltyclogher nearly controlled all of the second quarter as they stretched their lead to four points with Dermot O’Rourke tapping over a free while Shane McLoughlin shot over twice from play and James Murray also added a point from play.

But Leitrim Gaels got right back into contention just before halftime when John Barry was on hand to finish a ball, sent in by Alan Wynne, to the Glenfarne/Kilty net.

As a result of this score Glenfarne/Kiltyclogher just led by the minimum at the break on a 0-6 to 1-2 interval score line after being well on top for most of the previous fifteen minutes.

But the north Leitrim side stretched their advantage after the restart when halftime sub Francis Dillon whipped over a 35th minute point after Dermot O’Rourke found Dillon with a long range foot pass.

Glenfarne/Kilty enjoyed a three point lead when Sean Dillon put over a free six minutes later that was awarded for a foul on Justin McMorrow.

Leitrim Gaels who had been out of the hunt for most of the third quarter began to show some signs of a revival three minutes later when a goal chance fell to Andy McDermott. His point blank close range shot was stopped by Shane Ferguson on the goal line but McDermott’s effort seemed to reignite belief in the Gaels ranks.

Peter Duignan cut Glenfarne/Kilty’s lead back to two points within the space of another minute when he slotted over a free, ending a 16 minute spell without a Gaels score. Leitrim Gaels kept up the momentum and were rewarded in the 51st minute when Brian Wynne sent a ‘Garryowen’ type shot into the Glenfarne/Kiltyclogher goalmouth that Bryan Whitney finished to the net and put his side back in front.

Shane McManus increased Leitrim Gaels lead to two points two minutes later when he shot their last score, a point from play. But Francis Dillon narrowed the gap to the minimum after he tapped over a 58th minute Glenfarne/Kiltyclogher free.

Glenfarne/Kilty had plenty of opportunities for force a draw in the remaining minutes, which included almost six minutes of stoppage time. Francis Dillon failed to find the target from a free while two Dermot O’Rourke frees also tailed off wide.

The victory was the second championship crown won by Leitrim Gaels but a disappointed Glenfarne/ Kiltyclogher had hoped to bridge an 18 year gap to their last adult triumph when they won the 1991 Leitrim Junior (A) championship.

Leitrim Gaels

Michael Malone, Liam Moreton, Kevin Geoghegan, Alan Wynne, Virgil Lynch, Martin Murtagh, Ciarán Corcoran, Conor Guckian, Brian Wynne (0-1), Peter Duignan (0-2), Andy McDermott, Shane McManus (0-1), Bryan Whitney (1-0), John Barry (1-0). Subs Damien Whitney for Barry (47 mins).

Glenfarne/Kiltyclogher

Frances Keaney, Shane Ferguson, Ciarán Clancy, Ronan McGowan, Donnacha Keaney, John McManus, Paul Gilligan, Dermot Harkin (0-1), Dermot O’Rourke (0-1), Paul Clarke, Shane McLoughlin (0-3), James Murray (0-1), Sean Dillon (0-1), David McDermott, Justin McMorrow. Subs Francis Dillon (0-2) for McDermott (HT), Stephen McManus for Murray (57 mins).

Referee: Michael Flanagan

(c) Leitrim Observer 2009

All roads lead to Pairc Sean MacDiarmuida, Carrick-on-Shannon on Saturday 17th October for the Junior C Championship Final.

Following a naill biting win over Mohill in the semi-final last weekend we now play Leitrim Gaels in the Final on Saturday at 3.15pm.

The panel of players who got us to the final are as follows: Francis Keaney, Ronan McGowan, Ciaran Clancy, Shane Ferguson, Donnacha Keaney, John McManus, Paul Gilligan, Dermot Harkin, Paul Clarke, Sean Dillon, Shane McLoughlin, David McDermott, James Murray, Dermot O’Rourke, Justin McMorrow, Sean Dolan, Diarmuid Ferguson, Hugo Rooney, Stephen McManus, Paddy Clancy, Francis Dillon, Daire Clancy, Michael Mitchell, Sean. A McDermott

All roads lead to Ballinagleara this Sunday afternoon as our Juniors contest the Junior C Championship semi-final. So far in this competition we have defeated Drumrielly and Ballinamore/Sean O’Heslins to progress to the semi-final stage.

The team face Mohill who defeated Eslin last week in quarter final.

Throw-in is at 2pm.

The clubs annual draw takes place on this Saturday night in McGriskin’s, Kiltyclogher.

The Prizes are as follows:

1st Prize: €500
2nd Prize: €250
3rd Prize: €100

Tickets are available from all club officials and players and cost €5 each or three for €10.

Leitrim Gaels 3-12 Glenfarne/Kiltyclogher 1-8

Leitrim Gaels claimed the 9-a-side Minor Championship title with a comfortable victory over Glenfarne/Kiltyclogher in Cloone on Friday night last. Two goals in quick succession towards the end of the first half put Leitrim Gaels in control of this game, a control they would not relinquish for the rest of the game.

The game opened brightly with both sides exchanging scores. County minor Dermot Harkin opened the scoring for Glenfarne/Kilty with a point from play after he won possession from the throw in. Leitrim Gaels responded immediately with Aidan Flynn pointing from play. A minute later and Harkin had Glenfarne/Kilty back in front after he pointed following a strong run through the Leitrim Gaels defence. David Regan had Leitrim Gaels level with their next attack when he scored a point from play. Stephen McManus put Glenfarne/Kilty back into the lead when he pointed after a good move involving Dermot Harkin and James Murray. Murray then increased that lead with a point from a free after he was fouled. At this stage the North Leitrim side looked like they were taking control of the game and missed a number of chances to build on their lead. All this changed three minutes later when a long range Aidan Flynn free was allowed hop over the Glenfarne/Kilty crossbar to reduce the gap to the minimum. Flynn then levelled the game a minute later with a point from play after a run which started inside his own half. Five minutes later and the Gaels hit the front when David Regan was fouled in the square and referee Gerry Gallogly awarded a penalty. Regan himself stepped up and duly despatched the kick to the net and put his team three in front. A minute later the same player got behind the Glenfarne/Kilty defence and shot to the net to give Leitrim Gaels a six point lead with seventeen minutes gone. James Murray replied for Glenfarne/Kilty a minute later when he pointed from a free. Leitrim Gaels restored their six point lead on nineteen minutes when Michael McManus pointed from play. James Murray again replied for Glenfarne/Kilty with a point from a free to leave the half time score 2-5 to 0-6 in favour of the Leitrim village team.

Glenfarne/Kilty got the second half off to a strong start with a superb point from play by Rory McLoughlin to cut the gap to four points as a comeback looked about to materialise. However Leitrim Gaels had other ideas and a point from Aidan Flynn from play put Leitrim Gaels five up again. This was followed a minute later by a goal by the superb David Regan which put the Gaels in complete control. Three further points, one from play and two from frees from the very impressive Aidan Flynn increased this lead as the midpoint of the second half approached. A Luke Donnellan point from play and a further point from a free by Flynn on 14 and 15 minutes respectively put the Gaels thirteen points in front with time running out for Glenfarne/Kilty to mount a comeback. Credit goes to the North Leitrim side who never gave up despite the game going away from them from early in the half. James Murray pointed a free to cut the Leitrim Gaels lead on 17 minutes. A point from David Regan a minute later restored the Leitrim Gaels advantage. The last score of the game saw James Murray score a consolation goal for the North Leitrim side. A minute later referee Gerry Gallogly blew the final whistle and sparked celebrations by the many Leitrim Gaels supporters in attendance.

For Glenfarne/Kilty county minor Dermot Harkin battled valiantly to bring his side into the game while forwards Micheal Ferguson and Rory McLoughlin worked hard throughout. On the champions side Aidan Flynn was particularly impressive while hat-trick hero David Regan and Luke Donnellan were a constant thorn in the Glenfarne/Kilty defence and were the reason the 9-a-side championship title went to the Leitrim Village side.

Leitrim Gaels: Emmet Daly, Liam Moreton, Danny Foley, Colm Moreton, Aidan Flynn (0-8), Conor Guckian, David Regan (3-2), Michael McManus (0-1), Luke Donnellan (0-1). Subs: Conor McNally for David Regan (37 mins.), Peter Keaveney for Colm Moreton (37 mins), Aaron Reynolds, Paul Moreton.
Glenfarne/Kiltyclogher: Daire Clancy, John McLoughlin, Ronan McGowan, Shane, Ferguson, Dermot Harkin (0-2), James Murray (1-4), Stephen McManus (0-1), Micheal Ferguson, Rory McLoughlin (0-1). Subs: Robert Broughton for Stephen McManus (35 mins.), Ronan McGovern for Rory McLoughlin (37 mins.), Kevin Leonard.