Leitrim back to winning ways against rivals

Dessie Dolan’s side now focus on National League

Leitrim………….0-12

Sligo……………. 0-7

By Seamus Morris

sport@leitrimpost.com

Leitrim senior footballers claimed their second win of the Connacht FBD League when they had five points to spare over Sligo in Pairc Sean MacDiarmada on Sunday last.

Dessie Dolan’s side bounced back from their one point defeat to Galway the previous week to get one over on their neighbours and Connacht champions.

However, Galway’s win over GMIT ensured that the Tribesmen will go through to the final of this competition, with Leitrim settling for second spot in Section B.

It has been a positive campaign for Leitrim and attention will now focus on the first round of the National League Division Three, with Fermanagh the visitors to Pairc Sean on Sunday February 3rd.

There were a number of changes from the defeat to Galway. Stephen Feeney replaced Barry Prior in defence, while in the attack, Darren Duignan, Ciaran Duignan and Philip McGuinness all came into the side. Colin Regan, Michael Foley and Declan Maxwell, who all started against Galway, did not feature, although Foley came on as a substitute and contributed a point.

Making his first competitive start, Stephen Feeney acquitted himself well with a hard working display, while Darren Duignan and Ciaran Duignan contributed three points between them.

There is healthy competition for the places in the half-forward line, with the entire line being changed from the Galway game.

Emlyn Mulligan started at full-forward  and his pointed frees proved to be the difference between the sides.

Sligo were missing a number of regulars and they experimented in a number of areas, including a new look midfield partnership of Kevin Byrne and Peter Wilson. New Sligo manager Thomas Gordan will have plenty to ponder after his side’s defeat. Their persistence on short passing ran them into trouble on several occasions with the home side looking more coherent.

Overall, it was a typical enough game for this time of year, with lots of scrappy play on a heavy enough surface, although there were some fine points kicked by both sides.

Daniel Davey opened the scoring for Sligo with a point from play near the ten minute mark. Eamon Cawley doubled their advantage with 12 minutes gone with another point from play.

Approaching the midway stage of the first half, Darren Duignan opened Leitrim’s account with an inspirational long range kick.

Ciaran Duignan brought Leitrim on level terms with another high quality point a few minutes later. Sligo corner-forward Gerry McGowan edged his side ahead with a point in the 25th minute.

Points from James Glancy and Emlyn Mulligan (free) gave Leitrim a one point lead at half-time, 0-4 to 0-3.

The Leitrim management introduced two substitutes for the start of the second half, with David O’Connor replacing Donal Brennan and Michael Foley coming on for Philip McGuinness.

Sligo levelled the match when Mark Breheny sent over a free in the early stages of the half. A rare goal opportunity was created by Leitrim seven minutes into the half, but Stephen Feeney’s shot was cleared by Sligo defender Patrick Naughton.

An Emlyn Mulligan shot came off the uprights a minute later but a Michael Foley point gave Leitrim a 0-5 to 0-4 lead. One of Leitrim’s best moves of the game resulted in a point for Ciaran Duignan with ten minutes gone on the clock.

Points from Mark Breheny (free) and Eamon Cawley (play), an excellent long range kick from near the sideline, brought the game level at 0-6 apiece. Leitrim dominated the next ten minutes of the game, scoring a total of six points.

Four of those scores came from the boot of Emlyn Mulligan (all frees), with Shane Foley and Michael Duignan kicking the other two points.

A shot by Sligo substitute Brian Curran trailed wide of the post with five minutes remaining. A’50 by Eamon Cawley was to be Sligo’s last score of the game. Roscommon referee Oliver Kelly dished out three yellow cards to Leitrim players in the closing stages and the standard of refereeing on display in some of the games in this competition has left something to be desired.

The new year preliminaries have now been got out of the way and the real business will start in under two weeks time with the commencement of the National Football League. Leitrim will renew acquaintances with Sligo again in the competition and they will also play other local derbies against Fermanagh and Longford.

With Down, Limerick, Louth and Wexford also waiting in the wings it promises to be a competitive division.

Leitrim: Noel Gill; Dermot Reynolds, John McKeon, Adrian O’Flynn; Stephen Feeney, Barry McWeeney, Shane Foley (0-1); Gary Closkey (captain), Michael Duignan (0-1); Darren Duignan (0-1), Ciaran Duignan (0-2), Philip McGuinness; James Glancy (0-1), Emlyn Mulligan (0-5, 5f), Donal Brennan.

Subs: David O’Connor for Brennan, Michael Foley (0-1) for McGuinness (both half-time), Ciaran Kennedy for O’Flynn (55 mins), Philip Howard for Glancy, Niall Murray for Ciaran Duignan (both 65 mins).

Sligo: Philip Greene; Barry Kivlehan, Noel McGuire (captain), Patrick Naughton; Paul McGovern, Michael McNamara, Jonathan Davey; Kevin Byrne, Peter Wilson; Daniel Davey (0-1), Mark Breheny (0-2, 2f), Peter Lyons; Eamon Cawley (0-3), Dermot McTernan, Gerry McGowan (0-1).

Subs: Fergus Horan for Lyons (half-time), Brian Curran for Daniel Davey (54 mins), Kieran Quinn for Jonathan Davey (57 mins).

Referee: Oliver Kelly (Roscommon).