Via irishcentral.com

Leitrim 1-12 Cork 2-08

Leitrim are the New York Champions for the first time in 12 years after a nail biting encounter against a gallant Cork side. The Rebels pushed the winners into extra time and had an effort at a tying score go narrowly wide at the final buzzer. The game was level on a host of occasions with both sides having four point leads at different times only to see them get pulled back. Cork started the game with a 1-01 salvo with a defensive mix-up allowing Ger McCullough too grab the goal but they then came back into the contest with three of the next four points. Dan Doona was prominent with two of the scores from frees. After a Ger McCullough free left Cork with a three point lead, a long ball from Gary O’Driscoll was pulled down by Ken O’Connor and deposited in the net at the second attempt.

After points on the board for each side the break arrived with 1-04 a piece showing. Cork had two of the first three points to open the second half but it could have been much more bi8t for a brilliant save by Pa Ryan on Conor Doherty when the forward soloed hard in on goal in the second minute. A defensive struggle ensued before Cian Tobin from a free had the sides level again, Leitrim were guilty of a serious miss however when Dan Doona set John Goldrick free in front of goal and the defender shot wide. So the game headed for the final five minutes but the sides couldn’t be split as both had further points and the game headed for extra time. The first ten minute period was scoreless. Cork had two wides from scorable positions while Leitrim also had a wide and a ball that dropped into the keeper’s hands. The winners roared out the gate in the final session. They had four consecutive scores from Mike Creegan, Gary O’Driscoll, Donal Kelleher and a fisted Dan Doona effort to put the m into what looked like an unassailable lead. With time ticking away, Cork created a thrusting attack.
Jason Kelly finished a seven player move by turning to set up for a shot on goal in the penalty area. He was fouled in the act of shooting. He received treatment and then stood up and drove the kick to the net off Pa Ryan’s outstretched leg. On the kickout Cork won possession but with the final buzzer sounding Conor Doherty drove a high kick that tailed wide and Leitrim were champions.

Leitrim 1 Pa Ryan 2 Dermot Keane 3 Stephen Brown 4 Lonan Maguire 5 John Goldrick 6 Ciaran Kelleher 7 Eoin O’Neill 8 Gary Driscoll (0-03) 9 Pat Madden 10 Colm Cronin 11 Ken O’Connor (1-00)12 Mike Creegan (0-01)13 John O’Neill 14 Dan Doona (0-05)15 Donal Kelleher (0-02) Subs Cian Tobin (0-01) Jamie Doolin Kieran Scanlon

Cork 1 Gary Lowney 2 Dennis McCarthy (0-01)3 Alan Raftery 4 Jonathon McDermott 5 Ciaran Kiely 6 Rory Stafford 7 Steve Garvey 8 Brendan Quigley (0-01) 9 Shane Mannion10 Francie Cleary (0-01)11 Gavin McIntire 12 Ger McCullough (1-03) 13 Conor Doherty 14 Jason Kelly (1-01)15 Padraig McMahon (0-01)Subs Ronan Caffrey Sean Purcell, Declan Reilly, Brian Argue

Man of the Match Gary O’Driscoll (Leitrim)

Referee Lawrence McGrath

Via irishcentral.com

Senior Football Semi Final

Leitrim move on

Leitrim 2-09 Down 2-05

Leitrim qualified for the Senior Football final with a dominating second half performance when they outscored Down 1-05 to 1-01. They were certainly helped by the red card to Eddie O’Reilly fifteen minutes into the second half and they then used the extra man to very good effect. Dermot Keane gave Leitrim an early lead with a well worked goal, and the sides then swapped the next six scores. As the first half reached the twenty minute mark, both sides had goal chances. Mike Creegan shot wide for Leitrim, while Pakie Downey crashed the ball to the net at the other end. Both sides had scores to end the half but it was all level at 1-04 a piece. Leitrim broke the game open with 1-03 in the first twelve minutes of the second half with Kenny O’Connor creating the goal for Dan Doona. Reilly received his red and despite 1-01 for Down with the goal a result of a penalty, Leitrim were able to easily withstand any attacks that Down created to get the win.

Leitrim 1 Pa Ryan 2 Dermot Keane (1-00)3 Stephen Brown 4 Lonan Maguire 5 John Goldrick (0-01)6 Ciaran Kelleher 7 Eoin O’Neill 8 Gary Driscoll 9 Pat Madden 10 Colm Cronin (0-01)11 Dan Doona (1-03)12 Mike Creegan 13 John O’Neill (0-02)14 Ken O’Connor (0-01) 15 Donal Kelleher (0-01)Subs Alan Foley Kieran Scanlon

Down 1 Mark Kelly 2 Brian Murray 3 John McCarthy 4 Dermot Hayes 5 Gary Cornyn 6 Brendan McGourty 7 Sean Kelly 8 Robbie Moran 9 Alan O’Hara 10 Mark Dobbin 11 Michael Sloan (0-03)12 Sean Munnelly 13 Eddie Reilly 14 Pakie Downey (1-01)15 Kevin O’Rourke (1-00) Subs Barry Annett, Brian Annett, Liam Farrell.

Man of the Match Gary Driscoll (Leitrim)

Referee John Fitzpatrick