Leitrim SHC Final: Carrick Hurling triumph

Leitrim SHC Final

Carrick Hurling 1-15 Cluainín Iomáint 0-11

By PJ Leddy at Heartland Credit Union Páirc Seán MacDiarmada

When Dhani Keane rifled home a 42nd minute goal at Carrick-on-Shannon he made certain that Carrick was on the road to victory over a battling Cluainín side, as well as adding a 39th Leitrim senior hurling crown to the county town club's proud record.

Cian McManus drew first blood for Cluainín when fired over the game's opening score. Carrick's James McNabola levelled matters two minutes later when he split the Cluainín's uprights.

After that Carrick took the lead for the first time with Chris Flanagan slotting over a ninth minute placed ball. It remained a tight encounter with Stephen Goldrick and Dean Earley putting over points for Carrick, while Gavin O'Hagan and Kevin Clerkin did lilewise for Cluainín.

After Sean O'Riordan put over two frees and Chris Flanagan also whipped over a placed ball with Conor McLoughlin getting a point from play Carrick enjoyed a 0-7 to 0-6 interval lead over Cluainín for whom Gavin O'Hagan slotted over two frees and Michael O'Brien added a point.

Following the restart when Dhani Keane fired home the game's only goal on the 42 minute mark for the Carrick men he put them into a 1-9 to 0-7 lead with Conor McLoughlin and James McNabola getting a point each in this period for the winners while Gavin O'Hagan replied with two frees for the losers.

Carrick pulled further ahead in the final quarter with Sean O'Riordan put over two frees for them while Paddy Keane, Stephen Goldrick, Conor McLoughlin and Kevin O'Dowd chipped in with a point each.

During this period when Cluainín was forced to play second fiddle Gavin O'Hagan replied with three converted frees as the Carrick men ran out clear cut winners.

Scorers: Carrick Hurling: Sean O'Riordan 0-5 (5fs), Dhani Kane 1-0, James McNabola, Chris Flanagan (2fs), Conor McLoughlin 0-2 each, Stephen Goldrick, Dean Earley, Paddy Keane, and Sean O' Dowd 0–1 each.

Cluainín Iomáint: Gavin O'Hagan 0-5 (5fs), Kevin Clerkin 0-4, Cian McManus and Michael O'Brien 0-1 each.

Carrick Hurling: Lorcan Donnelllan; Thomas McNabola, Conor Beirne, Johny Donegan; Joe Murray, Sean O'Riordan, Paul Lenehan; Niall Crowe, Dhani Keane; Aaron Glancy, Stephen Goldrick, Chris Flanagan; Dean Earley, Jamie Ward, James McNabola.

Subs: C McLoughlin for Glancy (24); P Keane for Ward (HT); A Rynn for J McNabola (36); P Goldrick for D Keane (44); K O' Dowd for Ward (59).

Cluainín Iomáint: Kilean White; Aaron Macken, Niall Mcloughlin, Mark McHugh; Ethan Clancy, James Rooney, Kevin Clerkin; Eoghan McLoughlin, Cian McManus; Michael O' Brien, Sean Markham, Peter Poniard; Gavin O'Hagan, Dylan McDermott, Ronan Fox.

Subs: Declan Byrne for Poniard (29 inj); Niall Kennedy for McManus (37); Paddy Clerkin for Clancy (43); Barry Loughlin for Markham (52).

Referee: Aaron Clougher (Roscommon).