Connacht SFC Quarter-Final

LEITRIM 3-10 LONDON 0-16

By Darran Hannon at Ruislip for gaa.ie

Leitrim proved to be the party poopers in Ruislip as they advanced into the Connacht football semi final at the expense of London.

With a capacity crowd packing the newly revamped McGovern Park, it was Brendan Guckian’s men who progressed from this keenly fought contest.

An even first half saw Leitrim in at half time two points up thanks to a goal from Darragh Rooney, the Gael na Meilge man dispatching a fine drive past London’s Gavin McEvoy. Added to three fine points from Damian Moran, Leitrim would have been confident going into the second half.

It wasn’t all to go the way of Leitrim however as the stubborn Londoners refused to go away. A fine performance from captain Liam Gavaghan always kept the home side in the tie.

The pivotal moment arguably proved to be the introduction of Ronan Kennedy on forty minutes. With strength and movement which immediately troubled the London back line, the Maothail man’s impressive cameo yielded a personal tally of 2-2 and got his side over the line.

Despite the setback of conceding two quick fire goals, London stuck to their task and picked off a number of scores to keep themselves in the tie. Ultimately their late pressure was in vain however and it is Leitrim who will go on to contest the Connacht Semi Final with Roscommon on June 18th.

Scorers for Leitrim: Ronan Kennedy 2-2, Darragh Rooney 1-2, Damian Moran 0-3, Keith Beirne 0-2 (1f), Dean McGovern 0-1.

Scorers for London: Liam Gavaghan 0-8 (3fs), Rory Mason 0-4 (1fs), Conor Doran 0-2, Mark Gottsche 0-1, Owen Mulligan 0-1.

LEITRIM: Brendan Flynn; Michael McWeeney, Ronan Gallagher, Paddy Maguire; James Rooney, Donal Wrynn, Oisin Madden; Shane Moran, Damian Moran; Dean McGovern, Brendan Gallagher, Ryan O’Rourke; Keith Beirne, Conor Gaffney, Darragh Rooney. Subs: Ronan Kennedy for Conor Gaffney (40), Wayne McKeon for Ronan Gallagher (45), Gary Plunkett for Damian Moran (53), Noel Plunkett for Oisin Madden (55), Conor Cullen for Shane Moran (60).

LONDON: Gavin McEvoy; Philip Butler, Martin Carroll, Anthony McDermott; Marc Jordan, Ryan Jones, Ciaran Dunne; Cathal Og Greene, Liam Gavaghan; Owen Mulligan, Mark Gottsche, Jarlath Branagan; Rory Mason, Conor Doran, Cormac Coyne. Subs for London: Kieran Hughes for Conor Doran (50), Greg Crowley for Martin Carroll (50), David Carrabine for Ciaran Dunne (57), Colin Dunne for Marc Jordan (60).

Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan).