Connacht Gold Leitrim SFC Final replay

Ballinamore SOH 3-14 Fenagh St Caillins 0-15

By PJ Leddy at Heartland Credit Union Pairc Seán MacDiarmada

Aided by first half goals from Tom Prior, Paul Honeyman (penalty) and a second half goal by Paul Moran, Ballinamore impressively claimed their 21st county title in the Leitrim final replay at a blustery Carrick-on-Shannon when Fenagh forcing to play second fiddle for most of the game.

Fenagh got off to the better start with Fergal McLoughlin and Ruairí O’Rourke splitting the Ballinamore posts in the first three minutes. But a Paul Moran Ballinamore two pointer levelled matters on the 8 minute mark.

Shortly afterwards Ballinamore took the lead for the first time in the game when Michael McKiernan fired over. The Ballinamore men went further ahead by the 10 minute thanks to a Tom Prior two pointer which was preceded by a one pointer from Brian Leyden.

Fenagh kept in touch when Fergal McLoughlin hit over an 18th minute two pointer from a placed ball. Two minutes later Ballinamore hit back with a well worked goal that Tom Prior finished to the net.

Ballinamore finished the half strongly with Paul Honeyman converting a 25th minute penalty and whipped over a two pointer shortly afterwards. Fenagh finished with a Fergal McLoughlin point before the break after which Ballinamore went into their halftime dressing room enjoying a 2-10 to 0-7 lead.

After the restart Ruairí O’Rourke slightly reduced the deficit for Fenagh when he hit over a 36th minute point. However Ballinamore kept up the pressure on Fenagh when Keelan McHugh answered with a similar score seven minutes later.

Fenagh points from Riordan O’Rourke and Oisin McLoughlin by the 47th minute kept them in touch with Ballinamore. However the next three minutes Ballinamore answered with similar scores from Dillon Beirne and Paul Honeyman.

After that the Ballinamore men stayed in the driving seat for the remainder of the game and killed off any chance of a Fenagh comeback when Paul Moran fired home his side’s third goal with seven minutes remaining.

Near the end Donal Wrynn hit over a consolation two pointer for the brave Fenagh men but Ballinamore were home and dry at that stage.

Scorers: Ballinamore SOH: Paul Honeyman 1 – 6 pen, 2p; Paul Moran 2p & Tom Prior 2 p 1 – 2 each; Michael McKiernan, Brian Leyden, Keelan McHugh & Dillon Beirne 0 – 1 each.

Fenagh St Caillins: Fergal McLoughlin 0 – 6 2pf (0 – 4); Ruairí O’Rourke 0 – 3 2pf; Riordan O’Rourke & Donal Wrynn 2p 0 – 2 each; Oisn McLoughlin & Ryan O’Rourke f 0 – 1 each.

Ballinamore SOH: Mark Aherne; Niall McGovern, Brian Banks, Mathew Murphy; Michael McKiernan, Michael McBrien, Cathal McHugh; Shane Moran, Niall McGovern; Dillon Beirne, Tom Prior, Keelan McHugh; Paul Moran, Brian Leyden, Paul Honeyman. Subs: Louis Quinn for Murphy (47), Wayne McKeon for D McGovern (50); Luke Murphy for Leyden (54); Conor Moran for McKiernan (58)

Fenagh St Caillins: Callum Andrews; Daniel Mcloughlin, Gary Butler, Conal McGovern; Eoin McLoughlin, Caillin O’Rourke, Dara Greenan; Donal Wrynn, Colm McLoughlin; Fergal McLoughlin, Oisin McLoughlin, James Gilheaney; Ruairí O’Rourke, Ryan O’Rourke; Riordan O’Rourke. Subs: Caillin Mulvey for D Greenan (56); Shane Greenan for Gilheaney (58).

Referee: Martin Feeney (Dromahair).