FBD League Final: Two in a row for Leitrim

Connacht FBD League Final: Leitrim 2-5 Roscommon 1-7

Silverware doesn't come around too often for the Leitrim footballers, but for the second year in a row they are celebrating victory in the FBD League final.

Seán Hagan's side won an exciting battle against Roscommon in Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada on Sunday, leading for almost the entire game and surviving a late surge from their opponents to take the title, only their second piece of senior silverware since the famous Connacht final of 1994.

They were in front by 1-3 to 0-3 at half-time despite playing against the breeze for the opening 35 minutes. Aaron Hickey's well-taken goal after six minutes gave them an early lead, and two superb points from outstanding wing back Wayne McKeon before the interval cemented their advantage.

The two sides traded two scores apiece after the restart to leave Leitrim 1-5 to 0-5 in front, but Roscommon were hanging in there and hit the next point of the game to reduce the gap to two.

However, the crucial score came with four minutes remaining. John Mulligan got on the end of a fine team move and finished well past Darren O'Malley to leave Leitrim five ahead with time fast running out for John Evans' Roscommon side.

Leitrim faltered as the finish loomed, and Niall Daly's late goal for Roscommon looked like it could prompt a dramatic comeback. But Leitrim held on, sparking happy scenes with the home fans in Carrick-on-Shannon, where the sun came out at just the right time.

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Scorers for Leitrim: A Hickey 1-0, J Mulligan 1-0, W McKeon 0-2, E Mulligan 0-1 (1f), F Clancy 0-1, R Cox 0-1

Scorers for Roscommon: N Daly 1-1, D Murtagh 0-2, N Carty 0-1, C Daly 0-1, C Cregg 0-1 (1f), C Murtagh 0-1

Leitrim: C McCrann; B Prior, P Maguire, D Wrynn; W McKeon, P Brennan, G Reynolds; A Hickey, D Moran; K Conlan, R Lowe, F Clancy; E Mulligan, T Beirne, R Cox. Subs: J Glancy for R Lowe (37), G Hickey for D Moran (44), J Mulligan for R Cox (51), E Mahon for A Hickey (59)

Black Card: D Beck for P Brennan (23)

Roscommon: D O'Malley; N Collins, N Carty, R Stack; S McDermott, N Daly, C Daly; C Shine, K Higgins; C Devaney, C Burns, M Nally; S Kilbride, C Cregg, C Murtagh. Subs: M Finneran for C Burns (23), D Keane for C Devaney (30), D Murtagh for S Kilbride (30), D O'Gara for M Nally (46), E Smith for K Higgins (57).

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