Connacht League SF/Galway 0-13 Leitrim 1-9:Leitrim midfielder Michael Duignan has formally requested Leitrim County Board to investigate the circumstances surrounding his dismissal by referee Declan Corcoran in the eighth minute of the second half of this controversial Connacht FBD League game which Galway won at Páirc Seán Mhic Diarmada Carrick-on-Shannon.
The player is adamant he did not receive an initial yellow card prior to receiving a second yellow. The media covering the game did not witness an initial yellow being shown to the player. A source close to the referee informed this correspondent a first yellow had in fact been awarded "early in the second half". Corcoran awarded a total of 14 cards, six to Galway and five to Leitrim. He subsequently gave red cards to Galway defenders Kieran Fitzgerald and Darren Mullahy, and to Leitrim's Duignan.
The dismissal of Duignan was the catalyst for an astonishing Leitrim fight back against a stronger, fitter Galway side who had been dominant, especially midfield where Joe Bergin and Mark Lydon controlled the flow of the game.
Although Leitrim's James Glancy opened the scoring with a point after 40 seconds, Galway took command and with Micheál Meehan in excellent shooting form, coupled with the impressive Fiachra Breathnach and David Ward, the Tribesmen led 0-7 to 0-2 midway through the half. Leitrim forwards received spare rations but top scorer Emlyn Mulligan and Declan Meehan combined to keep their side in the game with late points as Galway led 0-9 to 0-5 at the break.
Micheál Meehan extended the Galway lead with another pointed free two minutes into the resumption and then came the controversial Duignan dismissal. Leitrim switched Declan Meehan to midfield and his impact was immediate. The home side took the game to Galway and as the game entered the final 10 minutes, Leitrim had reduced the arrears to three points and were scenting victory.
A Fiachra Breathnach insurance point from play in the 31st minute lifted the siege but Leitrim maintained the pressure on a wilting Galway defence who conceded a penalty in extra time which was coolly dispatched by Mulligan to reduce the arrears to a single point.However, time ran out for Leitrim.
GALWAY: A Flaherty; K Fitzgerald (capt),F Hanley, D Burke; N Coyne, D Blake, D Mullahy; J Bergin, M Lydon (0-1); N Coleman, F Breathnach (0-3), D Meehan; D Duneavy, M Meehan (0-7, five frees), D Ward (0-2). Subs: B Cullinane for D Meehan
LEITRIM: N Gill; D Reynolds, J McKeon, A O'Flynn; B Prior, B McWeeney, S Foley; G McCloskey (capt), M Duignan; C Regan, E Mulligan (1-6, goal pen, six frees), M Foley; J Glancy (0-2), D Brennan, D Maxwell (0-1). Subs: C Duignan for D Brennan and D Duignan for B Prior.
Referee: D Corcoran (Mayo).
