Leitrim Win With Late Charge

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Irish Voice Sport

Leitrim Win With Late Charge

July 2, 2008

By Eugene Kyne

Leitrim 1-10 Cavan 0-11

LEITRIM, despite not having their A game, did enough to get the win against a Cavan team that was playing the better football until a storm at the start of the second half stopped the game, and also seemed to stop Cavan’s momentum.

Leitrim played the last five minutes with only 13 men as both Ken and Adrian O’Connor saw the dreaded red cards; Kenny’s was for two previous yellows. But Adrian got a straight red and will miss the next couple of games.

Cavan had the opening point when after Kevin Smith set up the attack at midfield, the ball found its way to Paddy Smyth, who sold a lovely dummy and fired over. Leitrim replied when Donal Hartnett worked his way in from the wing and fired over Leitrim’s opening point.

Cavan were looking the better side in the early going, and a free from Emmett Killeen put them ahead by one.

Leitrim were making the most of any attack they mounted, and Hartnett had his second point at the two minute mark. Smyth for Cavan and Mike Travers for Leitrim had a point for each side before Cavan again got their noses in front with a point from newcomer Shane King.

Leitrim then got the most fortunate of goals when Dan Doona intercepted a careless pass in defense, wrong footed the keeper and fired home a goal. Emmett Killeen had Cavan’s fifth point from a free before Leitrim who were now beginning to control the game. They had two back to back points from Travers.

With five minutes left in the half Cavan cut the deficit out thanks to points from Brian Newman with two and a Killeen free. That was how the half finished, with Leitrim having 1-5 to Cavan’s eight points.

The second half got under way with a wonderful point from Smith after a fine solo run. The game then had to be halted as another storm passed over Gaelic Park. The game was held up for 20 minutes, and when play resumed Cavan padded their lead thanks to another fine point from Smyth.

Leitrim were finding scores difficult to come by, and they let a few scoring chances slip away thanks to errant shooting. They finally got their first score of the half when Doona pointed after a free on sub Martin Slowey. A few minutes later a point from Travers from play tied the game with 15 minutes gone.

Leitrim had two easy chances to go ahead, but their scoring woes continued as both efforts were sent wide.

Travers, who was playing his second game of the day, finally put Leitrim in front with a fine point from 40 yards out. Aiden Power made a great run out of defense, and Cavan fouled him as he prepared to shoot. The resulting free was tapped over by Hartnett to give Leitrim a two point lead with seven minutes left.

A foul by Kenny O’Connor gave Cavan an easy close in free to bring them within one, and Kenny was shown a red card because he was already on a yellow. Brother Adrian followed him a minute later with a straight red as the game took on a nasty edge. Cavan set up one last attack, but a 13 man Leitrim held firm and held on for a one point win.

Travers was man of the match, and his performance was all the more impressive as it was his second game in extremely trying conditions. The O’Connor brothers before their dismissal, John Goldrick and Hartnett were also good.

For Cavan, Paddy Smyth, Kevin Smith Brendan O’Reilly and Shane King were best.

Leitrim: Kieran Keaveney, Mick Mulcahy, Aiden Power, Dan O’Sullivan, Neil Maguire, James Mitchell, Conor Burke, Ken O’Connor, Adrian O’Connor, Mike Cregan, Mike Travers, John Goldrick, Donal Hartnett, Dan Doona, Robbie Moran. Subs: Martin Slowey, Tom Murphy. Cavan: Martin O’Connor, Mike Smith, Ciaran Shields, Justin O’Halloran, Brendan Reilly, Tadgh Lynne, Alan Carolan, Kevin Smith, Derek Smith, Declan Fitzpatrick, Emmett Killeen, Kevin McGeeney, Shane King, Paddy Smyth, Brian Newman. Subs: Owen McPartland, Conor Brady, Sean Collins, Joe Shanaghy, Derek Williams.

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