St Mary’s stay alive as champions Leitrim Gaels slip in Connacht Gold Leitrim SFC

St Mary’s produced their best display of the year to qualify for the Connacht Gold Leitrim SFC quarter finals and inflict a first defeat on county champions Leitrim Gaels after a thrilling clash last Saturday in Pairc Naomh Mhuire.

​St Mary’s needed a win to avoid being pulled into the relegation final for the second successive year and Leitrim Gaels a win to secure passage straight into the semi-finals and while the neighbours achieved their aims, the contrast in emotions at the final whistle between the two camps gave a true hint of what this game meant to both clubs.

For St Mary’s, the win puts them into a quarter-final against Fenagh St Caillins, a game they will attack with renewed energy and belief as they went toe to toe with a team that hadn’t lost in the championship since 2024 and finally came out the right side of a tight game against the Gaels, avenging their defeat in the League final.

Certainly, St Mary’s played with far more intent with their new look full-back line performing well while their depth off the bench offered something they had been lacking in this year’s competition and they approach the quarter-final with renewed optimism.

For the champions, there will be introspection – they weren’t at full strength, certainly, but they were playing second fiddle for long periods of this game, let down by their finishing at times and their concentration at others, seeing the ball moved up for dissent and, crucially, not recognising the danger Paul Keaney posed from a 14 yard free.

The lesson the St Mary’s full-forward administered won’t be lost on the Leitrim Gaels brains trust, Keaney one of the most deadly and accurate goal-scorers in that situation but the champions felt that a lot of their problems were self-inflicted and they will want every bit of the three weeks before the semi-final to find a response to this set-back.

Credit to both teams for producing some great, hard hitting championship football – a few times, tempers threatened to boil over but both teams kept a lid on their emotions.

Leitrim Gaels got off to a blistering start, Conall Jones firing over after a good pass from James Shanley. The Gaels almost got a goal too, Aidan Flynn breaking through the centre but Daire Shannon made a superb save, getting down to divert the Gaels’ shot out for a fifty that Scott Kerr put wide.

Ryan Jones thumped a massive two pointer from out on the wing under no pressure as the Gaels had the better of the early exchanges but St Mary’s were quickly level, a late hit leading to a successful Paul Keaney free before Ben Guckian landed a two point free before the game took a decisive turn.

St Mary’s won a free out on the wing that was moved in for dissent and with the Gaels defence slow to react, a quick thinking Keaney leathered a thunderbolt at the goal, the ball striking the crossbar before bouncing into the net for the game’s only goal.

Keaney immediately got a yellow card as the game became somewhat fractured and Aidan Flynn fisted over a point, a goal perhaps on for the Gaels. But St Mary’s had their tails up and, after a yellow for Shaun Chandler, Jack Barnes, Keaney and Conor Farrell all landed points in as many minutes.

Both sides missed chances before Conall Jones landed a huge two pointer, the half ending with James Shanley and Paul Keaney (free) swapping points as St Mary’s led 1-7 to 0-7 at the break.

Leitrim Gaels got the first of the second half, Conall Jones scoring a fine point under huge pressure but St Mary’s response was the winning of the game as Ben Guckian, dodging a defender, and Paul Keaney landing quick two pointers to open up a six point St Mary’s lead.

Conall Jones halted the Mary’s surge with a successful 50 but despite increasing pressure and hard running, the champions made little headway on the scoreboard, James Shanley firing over from a very tight angle on 13 minutes.

The hard running of the Gaels started to produce chances with Jack Flynn fisting over on the run before finishing off another point with seven minutes left to leave two in it. But despite some bad wides in good positions from Barnes and Oisin Bohan, St Mary’s held their composure with Keaney landing an inspirational two pointer from the wing.

From the kickout, sub Cian Reynolds got a good point to leave St Mary’s five clear with time almost up. Stephen Goldrick landed a huge two point free to leave the game in the balance with Gavin Reynolds twice making huge catches in his own goalmouth as Leitrim Gaels squared the ball for a goal attempt.

ST MARY’S KILTOGHERT

Scorers: Paul Keaney 1-7, 1-2f; 2 tp; Ben Guckian 0-4, tpf & tp; Jack Barnes, Conor Farrell & Cian Reynolds 0-1 each

Team: Daire Shannon, Kyle McCrann, Fintan Earley, Hugh Bracken, Darragh Gardiner, Mark Diffley, Conor Farrell, Aaron Gardiner, Gavin Reynolds, Nicholas McWeeney, Ben Guckian, Jack Barnes, Jack Casey, Paul Keaney, Oisin Bohan. Subs: James McGrail & Senan Bohan for A Gardiner & Casey (43); Adam Reynolds for D Gardiner (47); Cian Reynolds for O Bohan (52); Niall Stenson for Barnes (59)

LEITRIM GAELS

Scorers: Conall Jones 0-7, tp, 50; Ryan Jones (tp), Jack Flynn & James Shanley 0-2 each; Aidan Flynn 0-1

Team: Scott Kerr; Stephen McDermott, Liam Chandler; Robbie Casey; David Bruen; Shaun Chandler, Aaron McLoughlin; Paddy Keane, Conall Jones, Aidan Flynn, Stephen Goldrick; Jamie Rynn; James Shanley; Ryan Jones; Brian Goldrick. Subs: Gearoid Curley & Jack Flynn for Keane & McLoughlin (38); Eunan Treacy for B Goldrick (42); Ryan Goldrick for J Flynn (56); Michael McManus for Bruen (57)

Referee: Mark McCloskey