Leitrim 0-12 London 1-8:LEITRIM'S SUPERIOR fitness was a decisive factor in yesterday's win in Ruislip, according to joint-manager George Dugdale.
Despite trailing by four points at one stage in the second half, the visitors finished well and out-scored London by five points to one in the final quarter to snatch the victory by the narrowest of margins and set up a Connacht semi-final date with Mayo on June 24th.
“I had a good feeling that we’d pull ahead if we got level, because they looked to be out on their feet towards the end,” said Dugdale.
“Our extra fitness seemed to count there. Some of their players looked very tired and we probably took advantage of that when it mattered, which was vital in the end.”
London played with the aid of a strong wind in the first half and drew first blood thanks to a fine Pádraig McGoldrick point with just over a minute on the clock.
Emlyn Mulligan, who was superb for Leitrim at centre forward, finally opened their account in the 13th minute, but Lloyd Colfer immediately restored London’s one-point advantage from a free.
Leitrim then moved into the ascendancy during an impressive 10-minute spell, hitting four unanswered points. Two Mulligan frees, added to points from Colm Clarke and Adrian Croal, saw them move into a 0-5 to 0-2 lead by the half-hour mark. Colfer ended London’s 16-minute wait for a score, before the game’s only goal arrived in the 33rd minute.
Mark Gottsche sent a free high into his full-forward line, McGoldrick pounced on the breaking ball and finished brilliantly with his left foot to put London back in front.
Two further frees from Colfer before the half-time whistle gave London a three-point interval lead they were certainly flattered by.
Paul Coggins’s side started the second half well and Seán Kelly increased the gap a minute after the restart.
Mulligan and substitute Enda Williams pointed for Leitrim before Colfer struck with another free 14 minutes into the second half, but London wouldn’t score again for 22 minutes.
Points from James Glancy and Darren Sweeney left the minimum between the sides with 15 minutes left to play, and all of a sudden London appeared to be running out of steam.
With three minutes remaining, substitute Shane Moran hit an exquisite point to bring Leitrim level (1-7 to 0-10). Mulligan kicked his fifth of the afternoon, Glancy added another straight from the kick-out and Leitrim were now two in front.
Eoin O’Neill converted a free for London in injury time to set up a nervy finish, but Leitrim held on to deny the hosts a first Connacht SFC win in 35 years.
LEITRIM: C McCrann; J Glancy, C Egan, P Maguire; C Clarke (0-1), F McMorrow, W McKeon; D Sweeney (0-1), D Lowe; P McGowan, E Mulligan (0-5, 3 frees), P Brennan; R Cox, J Glancy (0-2), A Croal (0-1). Subs: R Lowe for McGowan (h/t), E Williams (0-1) for Glancy (41 mins), S Moran (0-1) for D Lowe (46 mins), K Conlon for Croal (62 mins), C Ryan for Brennan (66 mins).
LONDON: E Byrne; P Sherry, S McVeigh, D McGreevy; T Gaughan, S Mulligan, S Hannon; L Mulvey, M Gottsche; S Kelly (0-1), K OLeary, M Mullins; P McGoldrick (1-1), E ONeill (0-1 free), L Colfer (0-5, 4 frees). Subs: C Bonner for McGoldrick (33 mins), J Scanlon for Mulligan (45 mins), P McDermott for Mullins (51 mins), C McCallion for Colfer (57 mins), P Finn for OLeary (68mins).
Referee: R Hickey (Clare).
