Tadhg Mulligan of Mohill in action against Michael McBrien, left, and Tom Prior of Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins during the Leitrim County Senior Club Football Championship final match between Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins and Mohill at Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins GAA Club in Leitrim. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile.
Connacht Gold Leitrim SFC Final
Mohill 0 – 14 Ballinamore Sean O'Heslin's 1 - 11
By P J Leddy at Sean O'Heslin Park, Ballinamore
Reigning champions Mohill managed to get a draw with Ballinamore at the death when sub Mathew Murphy fisted over a levelling point at the end of an exciting Leitrim final in Sean O' Heslin Park, Ballinamore.
Ballinamore got off to something of a dream start after Paul Honeyman had edged them ahead with a second free and then two minutes later Captain Wayne McKeon sent in a speculative ball than ended in the Mohill net after goalkeeper Padraig Tighe, who had advanced to gather the ball, misjudged its flight.
A shell shocked Mohill got their account opened on the 5 minute mark when Jack Rowley split the Ballinamore posts. Mohill reduced the deficit to the minimum over the four minutes after Keith Beirne converted a free and Keith Keegan fired over from play.
McKeon then put more daylight between the sides when he shot over for Ballinamore. Beirne replied with an 11th minute Mohill free conversion to keep the minimum margin between the sides.
Ballinamore responded with points from Paul Honeyman and a Luke Murphy free conversion to get three clear on the 16 minute mark. Keith Beirne (free) and Keith Keegan in turn pointed for Mohill to close the gap on Ballinamore to a single score some nine minutes later.
In the action leading up to the interval Ballinamore continued to edge the proceedings with Paul Moran and Paul Honeyman chipping in with a point each while Keith Beirne kept Mohill in the hunt when he answered with another free conversion.
Ballinamore led by 1 – 6 to Mohill's 0 – 7 at half-time. Mohill reduced the deficit again to the minimum some six minutes after the restart when Keith Beirne split the Ballinamore posts from a placed ball.
However Ballinamore over the next three minutes responded with points from Paul Honeyman (free) and Naoise McManus. Mohill dug deep in response to get on level terms by 49th minute after Keith Beirne, Tadgh Mulligan and Evan Harkin shot over in turn.
Mohill went on to take the lead for the first time in the game when Jack Rowley split the Ballinamore upright on the 50 minute mark. A Keith Beirne Mohill free conversion edged his side further ahead within the space of 60 seconds.
Ballinamore, who hadn't scored for 18 minutes, hit back points from Paul Honeyman and Wayne McKeon frees to make it an even Stephen situation with just four minutes of normal time left.
After that Ballinamore regained the lead when Paul Honeyman sent a 58th minute free sailing between the Mohill uprights. Mohill was reduced to 14 players when right corner back David Mitchell received a black card in the second minute of added time.
Ballinamore appeared to be heading for victory after that but they conceded a turnover to Mohill which ended with the ball being worked to Mathew Murphy, who fisted over the equaliser, to sent the game to a replay on next Saturday next in Ballinamore.
Scorers for Mohill: Keith Beirne 0 – 7 6f; Jack Rowley & Keith Keegan 0 – 2 each; Evan Harkin, Tadgh Mulligan & Mathew Murphy 0 – 1 each.
Scorers for Ballinamore: Wayne McKeon 1 – 2 f; Paul Honeyman 0 – 5 3f; Paul Moran 0 – 2 f; Luke Murphy & Naoise McManus 0 – 1 each.
Mohill: Padraig Tighe; David Mitchell, James Mitchell, Ryan Bohan; Seán Harkin, Shane Quinn, Jack Rowley; Conor Quinn, Domhnaill Flynn; Tadh Mulligan, Keith Kegan, Evan Harkin; Fiachra McGuinness, Keith Beirne, Jordan Reynolds.
Subs: Mathew Murphy for J Mitchell (53); Ronan Gordon for Mulligan (54); Donal Duignan for Rowley (58).
Ballinamore: Darren Maxwell; Mathew Murphy, Brian Banks, Patrick Connaughton; Michael McBrien, Liam Ferguson, Cathal McHugh; Shane Moran, Naoise McManus; Michael McKiernan, Wayne McKeon, Paul Moran; Luke Murphy, Tom Prior, Paul Honeyman.
Subs: Keelan McHugh for McManus (39); Dessie Wisely & Danny Smith for McKiernan & L Murphy (53); Killian Maguire for C McHugh (60 +1).
Referee: Enda Egan (Fenagh St. Caillins).
