Donal Wrynn of Leitrim celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Connacht GAA Football Senior Championship Quarter-Final match between London and Leitrim at McGovern Park in Ruislip, London, England.
Connacht SFC Quarter-Final
LEITRIM 3-12 LONDON 2-11
By Conor Martin at Ruislip
A Ryan O’Rourke double was key as Leitrim survived a massive late scare as they beat London 3-12 to 2-11.
Leitrim took charge in this one early doors as Darragh Rooney opened their account before Ryan O’Rourke added a second point to the visitors' tally before they had a goal when O’Rourke scored from the penalty spot after Shane Moran was brought down.
Points from Henry Walsh and two Chris Farley frees would get London back into the game as the home team grew sharper.
Leitrim continued to keep their side of the scoreboard ticking along to keep them in control of the match. Conor Dolan, Darragh Rooney and Wrynn all kicked scores to keep their noses just in front
But London found some momentum late in the first-half and when the sides went into tunnel Leitrim were only ahead by one.
Leitrim started the second period the brightest and the visitors went five points ahead once more and then it looked like they had the game wrapped up when Jack Heslin played in Donal Wrynn for a goal.
You can't write this London team off though. Sean Hickey finished off a fine move to get London’s opening goal and the home team were then dreaming of a historic comeback when Fearghal McMahon got a second a major.
James Hynes scored a fine point to make it a one point game coming into injury-time but Leitrim had the last say when O'Rourke scored their third goal to wrap up the win.
Scorers for London: Scorers for London: H Walsh (0-2), C Farley (0-2, frees 0-2), T Lenihan (0-1), L Gavaghan (0-4, frees 0-4), S Dornan (0-1), S Hickey (1-0), F McMahon (1-0), J Hynes (0-1)
Scorers for Leitrim: R O’Rourke (2-2) , D Wrynn (1-3, 0-1 45'), P Dolan (0-3), D Rooney (0-2, 0-1 free), C Dolan (0-1), E Sweeney (0-1),
LEITRIM: Darren Maxwell; Mark Diffley, Donal Casey, Paddy Maguire, James Rooney, Shane Quinn, David Bruen (Captain), Pearce Dolan, Donal Wrynn, Domhnaill Flynn, Mark Plunkett, Conor Dolan, Ryan O’Rourke , Shane Moran, Darragh Rooney. Subs: Evan Sweeney for Shane Moran (49), Jack Heslin for Conor Dolan (55), Conor Reynolds for Paddy Maguire (62), Riordan O’Rourke for Darragh Rooney (65), Emlyn Mulligan for Domhnaill Flynn (72)
LONDON: Noel Maher; Eoin Walsh, Matt Moynihan, Nahthan McElwaine, Ronan Sloan, Cahir Healy, Evan Wynne, Stephen Dornan , Thomas Lenihan , Conal Gallagher, Matthew Walsh, Liam Gallagher, Chris Farley, Liam Gavaghan (Captain), Henry Walsh. Subs: E McCormick for C Farley (28), James Gallagher for Henry Walsh (44), James Hynes for Thomas Lenihan (47), Fearghal McMahon for Enda McCormick (53), Sean Hickey for Cahir Healy (57)
Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan)
