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