Leitrim SFC Final: Prior snatches draw for Ballinamore
Leitrim star Tom Prior snatched a draw for Ballinamore against Fenagh in the Leitrim SFC Final when he scored a fine goal late in the game.
Connacht Gold Leitrim SFC Final
Fenagh St Caillins 2 – 11
Ballinamore SOH 1 – 15
By PJ Leddy at Pairc Seán MacDiarmada
Tom Prior denied his neighbours their first Leitrim title in 94 years when snatching a dramatic draw for Ballinamore when he fired to the Fenagh net almost at the end of a entertaining Leitrim decider in Carrick-on-Shannon.
Ballinamore got off to a flying start with Paul Moran, Paul Honeyman and Keelan McHugh firing over a point each in the opening two minutes. Fenagh reduced the deficit to the minimum over the next five minutes after Oisin McLoughlin converted a free and Riordan O'Rourke fisted over.
The Fenagh men took the lead for the first time in the game when Ryan O'Rourke converted a penalty on the 13 minute mark. But Ballinamore got back on level terms over the next seven minutes to Dillon Beirne and Paul Moran who both split the Fenagh uprights.
Fenagh grabbed a two point lead by the 24th minute after Fergal McLoughlin and Oisin McLoughlin slotted over a point each. Ballinamore edged ahead by the minimum as the interval approached thanks to points from Dillon Beirne, Keelan McHugh and Paul Moran (free).
However, a Riordan O'Rourke Fenagh point before the half-time whistle sent the sides in level at half-time on a Ballinamore 0–8 Fenagh 1–5 scoreline.
After the restart Ballinamore grabbed a four point advantage by the 36th minute with Paul Moran putting over a two pointer free while Dillon Beirne, Brian Leyden and Niall McGovern chipped in with a point each.
With Ballinamore holding the upper hand and winning most of their opponents kickouts Fenagh struggled in the third quarter while they also hit four bad wides in this period.
But then a 53rd minute Colm McLoughlin goal got Fenagh back on level terms and after that they edged into a three point advantage over the next seven minutes with Riordan O'Rourke firing over a two pointer and Oisin McLoughlin getting a point.
The Fenagh men seemed destined to claim their first Leitrim senior championship title since 1932 as the clock ticked into added time. But Ballinamore denied them at the end of the three additional minutes played when Tom Prior hammered to the Fenagh net to send the final to a replay.
Scorers: Fenagh St Caillins: Riordan O'Rourke 0 – 6 2p; Ryan O'Rourke pen & Colm Mcloughlin 1 – 0 each; Fergal Mcloughlin 0 – 3; Oisin McLoughlin 0 – 2 f.
Ballinamore SOH: Paul Moran 0 – 5 2pf f; Tom Prior 1 – 0; Dillon Beirne 0 – 3; Keelan McHugh 0 – 2; Paul Honeyman, Brian Leyden, Niall McGovern & Conor Moran 0 – 1 each.
Fenagh St Caillins: Callum Andrews; Daniel Mcloughlin, Gary Butler, Conal McGovern; Eoin McLoughlin, Caillin O'Rourke, Dara Greenan; Donal Wrynn, Colm McLoughlin; Fergal McLoughlin, Oisin McLoughlin, James Gilheaney; Ruairí O'Rourke, Ryan O'Rourke; Riordan O'Rourke.
Ballinamore SOH: Darren Maxwell; Niall McGovern, Brian Banks, Mathew Murphy; Donal Feely, Michael McBrien, Cathal McHugh; Shane Moran, Niall McGovern; Dillon Beirne, Tom Prior, Keelan McHugh; Paul Moran, Brian Leyden, Paul Honeyman.
Subs: Harry Prior for Maxwell (43 inj); Naoise McManus for Leyden (46); Conor Moran for P Moran (54); Louis Quinn for Murphy (59).
Referee: Kevin Mallon (Bornacoola).
