Minors defeat Leitrim by three points in Connacht League

02.04.10 | Longford 1-12 Leitrim 1-9 | By Tommy McLoughlin

Longford got their first win in this year’s Connacht Minor Football League following a hard fought 1-12 to 1-9 victory at the impressive Sean O Heslins club grounds in Ballinamore.

On a perfect surface Longford opened the scoring with a Mark Hughes point. Leitrim replied with two points before Diarmuid Cooney equalised with a fine point after 12 minutes.

Both sides traded points with James Noonan on the mark with two for Longford, Diarmuid Cooney adding two to his tally and another Mark Hughes point left the half time score reading; Longford 0-7 Leitrim 0-5.

On the restart Mark Hughes was again on target with a free followed by a magnificent effort from the sideline to score the point of the game to put Longford three points clear, 0-9 to 0-6.

Following three substitutions the large home crowd came to life after local player Shane Moran found the net waltzing through the Longford defence.

Another quick point followed to leave Leitrim ahead 1-7 to 0-9 with fifteen minutes remaining. Both sides exchanged a point each before the final turning point of the game.

A Longford free near the sideline was knocked down into the path of Mark Hughes who found the net from close range to leave the 1-10 to 1-8 with ten minutes left on the clock.

Leitrim replied with a point but, a point a piece from Kyle Fitzmaurice and James McGivney left Longford to close out the win and give the panel a boost before their upcoming Leinster League Final against Louth on Sunday at 2pm in the Gaelic Grounds, Drogheda.

LONGFORD: P Collum, Ronan Keogh, Oisin Farrell, Shane Donaghoe, Conor Clarke, Dylan Quinn, Damien Bennett, James McGivney (0-1), Darren Gallagher, Darren Farrelly (0-1), Padraig McCormack, Diarmuid Cooney (0-3) Robbie Smyth, James Noonan (0-2), Mark Hughes (1-4).

SUBS USED:- Darren O’Reilly, Kyle Fitzmaurice (0-1) Peadro Byrne, Tom Madden.