Enda Hession, Mayo, and Barry McNulty, Leitrim, in Connacht SFC Semi-Final action. Photo by Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile
Connacht SFC Semi-Final
Mayo 0-20 (0-0-20) Leitrim 0-13 (0-2-9)
By PJ Leddy at Avant Money Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada
Despite a brave Leitrim display, Mayo ground out a slightly hard earned seven point's victory thanks largely to excellent marksmanship of Ryan O'Donoghue.
Mayo drew first blood when Mathew Ruane fired over a well hit second minute point. After this score Leitrim settled down well and got on level terms when Darren Cox split the Mayo posts six minutes later.
Almost immediately, Leitrim were awarded a two pointer free, which Barry McNulty drove over the crossbar to put the home side into an unexpected early lead. But Mayo got back on level terms by the 13 minute mark after Ryan O'Donoghue and Aidan O'Shea converted a free apiece.
Barry McNulty put Leitrim ahead by the minimum when he put over another two pointer from the 20th minute placed ball. Mayo then edged ahead with points from Darren McHale and Jack Carney.
McNulty brought Leitrim back on level terms with a 29th minute free conversion. Mayo goalkeeper Colin Reape with 45 conversion and Ryan O'Donoghue from a placed ball kept the Mayo noses in front while Darren Cox split the posts before the break to leave the Green and Red leading by 0 – 8 to 0 – 7 at the interval.
In the opening 10 minutes after the restart Leitrim continued to keep it a nip and tuck affair with Mayo. In this period Ryan O'Donoghue fired over two Mayo points and Jordan Flynn added a point while Leitrim hit back with points from Barry McNulty, Riordan O'Rourke (free) and Tom Prior.
Mayo then found an extra gear and put the game out of Leitrim reach when knocking five unanswered points on the trot by the 54th minute. In this period Ryan O'Donoghue shot over twice for Mayo while Stephen Coen, Paul Towey and Jack Carney also split the Leitrim uprights.
From then to the finish Leitrim's brave challenge ran out of steam for the remainder of the action and Mayo marched into a Connacht final. Ryan added two points to his Mayo tally while Paul Towey and Jordan Flynn chipped in with one each with Barry McNulty and Tom Prior answering with a point apiece for Leitrim.
Scorers for Mayo: Ryan O'Donoghue 0-9 (5fs) Jack Carney, Jordan Flynn, and Paul Towey 0-2 each, Mathew Ruane, Darren McHale, Aidan O'Shea (f), Stephen Coen, and Colm Reape (45) 0-1 each.
Scorers for Leitrim: Barry McNulty, 0 – 8 (2 2pf), Darren Cox and Tom Prior 0-2 each, Riordan O' Rourke 0-1 (f).
Mayo: Colm Reape; Jack Coyne, Donnacha McHugh, Enda Hession; Sam Callinan, David McBrien, Stephen Coen; Jack Carney, Mathew Ruane; Davit Neary, Darren McHale, Jordan Flynn; Aidan O'Shea, Dylan Thornton, Ryan O'Donoghue.
Subs: Diarmuid O'Connor, Niall Coggins, Eoghan McLoughlin for Callinan, Neary, Ruane (HT); Paul Towey for McHale (52); Shairroze Akram for Coggins (70).
Leitrim: Daire O'Shea, Kieran Clancy, Donal Casey, Éanna McNamara; James Rooney, Mark Diffley, Jack Foley; Barry McNulty, Cillian McGloin; Jack Flynn, Keith Keegan, Ben Guckian; Darren Cox, Riordan O'Rourke, Tom Prior.
Subs: Paul Honeyman for Keegan (60); Tom Hughes for Casey (68).
Referee: Niall Cullen (Fermanagh).
