NHL – Rd 1 – South Down v Leitrim

A point from a free by South Down full-forward John OKane a minute into added time gave his side a most fortunate draw with a battling Leitrim in this Allianz NHL Division 4 game in Ballymartin yesterday.

Leitrim dominated midfield throughout, with Clement Cunniffe giving an exhibition of high fielding and finishing power, Scóring a goal and seven points with a brilliant display.

South Down opened with a Brian MorganÓgoal but Leitrim settled and with Cunniffe goaling from a long-range free and also adding four points including one from a 65 they forged ahead to lead by 1-9 to 1-4 at half-time.

A South DownÓgoal two minutes into the second half by Dan Morgan revived their hopes but Leitrim, despite only adding three second half points, and being denied goals by three great saves by South Down keeper Damien Kearns, held out for a share of the spoils.

ScórERS — South Down: J OKane 0-6 (4f), B Morgan 1-1, D Morgan 1-0, P ONeill 0-2. Leitrim: C Cunniffe 1-7 (1-2f), N Daly 0-4, C Hayes 0-1.

South Down — D Kearns; N Conway, B McAleenan, P McCusker; C ONeill, P Kelly, J Brown; D Doran, J Murphy; A McGuinness, D Morgan, P ONeill; B Morgan, J OKane, N Burns. Subs: P Matthews for Doran (YC, 28); L Morgan for Burns (ht); P McCartan for P ONeill (45).

Leitrim — F McKiernan; K McGrath, V McDermott, D Tiernan; J McGrail, D McGovern, S Feeney; K Connolly, C Cunniffe; C Hayes, N Daly, G Hickey; M Burns, F Carroll, P McKiernan. Subs: B Carroll for McKiernan (25); C Burns for Carroll (55); P McWeeney for Hickey (68 ).

Ref — E Elliott (Antrim).

 

 

09-Feb-09 by Irish Independant.ie