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.