Longford hurlers lose out to Leitrim in close encounter

Leitrim . . . 0-10   Longford . . . 0-9 

With Leitrim and Longford already qualified for the semi-final, all this match decided on Saturday was who would finish second in the table and gain home advantage with Murray's stoppage time point clinching the win for the home side.

Longford left six of their regulars off for this game but Leitrim went full-out with a completely different 15 from what had started in the defeat against Cavan, only Joe Murray who was returning after injury considered an automatic starter.

Leitrim did bring on Martin Feeney, Jerome Fitzgibbon, Paul Lenehan, Sean Markham and Gavin O'Hagan in the second half as they sought to secure home comfort for the semi-final with Cavan awaiting the winners in the Division 3B title decider. 

Longford will look back on this game as a missed chance - they dominated the first half but hit a huge amount of wides with the strong gale force wind. Their 0-7 to 0-2 lead at the break was never going to be enough in those conditions as Leitrim's defence put in an enormous shift to hold out under fierce pressure in the first half.

The introduction of O'Hagan, Fitzgibbon and Feeney at half-time swung the game in Leitrim's favour in the second half but Longford battled back after bringing on key players Paddy Lynam, Reuben Murray and Cathal Mullane that saw them recover from a two point deficit to draw level with just over two minutes of normal time left.

But there was plenty of time for drama in the concluding minutes as Leitrim hit three wides, Longford missed a free and Murray finished off a great move to regain the lead. Longford had a late free to force a draw which would have given them home advantage in the semi-final but the effort fell short in the wind and Leitrim managed to clear the danger.

LEITRIM: Lorcan Donnellan, Ethan Clancy, Aaron McLoughlin, Mark McHugh, Brian Goldrick, Kevin Clerkin, Paddy Clerkin, Enda Moreton (0-1), Joe Murray (0-6, 4 frees), Dylan McDermott, Gavin O'Brien, Peter Poinard, Ralph McKeon, Liam Moreton, James McNabola.

 Subs used:- Martin Feeney (0-1), Gavin O'Hagan (0-1, free), Jerome Fitzgibbon (0-1, free), Paul Lenehan and Sean Markham. 

LONGFORD: Pat Burke; Johnny Casey, Karl Murray, Daire Regan; Adam Quinn, Eamonn Allen (0-1, free), Francis Dolan; Evan Tully (0-2, 1 free), Pearse McNally; Dan Crossan, Ronan Sheahan (0-1), Matthew Hawes (0-4, 2 frees); Diarmuid O'Donnell, Michael Savage, Liam Browne. 

Subs used:- Charles Flynn, Iarlaith Dolan, Reuben Murray (0-1), Paddy Lynam and Cathal Mullane. 

Referee: James Judge.

Picture credit: Willie Donnellan