Leitrim V Roscommon Report
Leitrim and Roscommon Supporters arrived in large numbers to support their respective teams in the Connacht Football Championship Semi Final yesterday in sunny Hyde Park.
We all travelled to Hyde Park with confidence that our Leitrim Senior Team could pull off a much needed victory to lift spirits within the County. After suffering a devastating blow with the death of our County Stalwart Philly McGuinness in April, private emotions remained just that within the Leitrim camp.
On the day there were a number of fitting tributes to the memory of Philly:-
• The players wore a specially designed simplistic warm-up top in his memory with his retired Number 10 on the back
• A wonderful article in the programme penned by our own Fergal McGill who paid tribute to the man who " died , as he lived, doing precisely what he loved"
• The minutes silence observed to honour Philly was beautifully calm
• The attendance of almost 12,000 were treated to a full-blooded and tight affair in a wonderful atmosphere
The game itself was an all too familiar story as Leitrim put up a typically brave and fiery performance from start to finish but just couldnt seal that all important win. Credit must be paid to both "Division 4" teams for the manner in which they approached the game and the standard of football produced.
Leitrim dominated the first half and led at half time yesterday and were well worth that lead 0-8 to 0-7. They mixed the long and short ball game to great effect. Unfortunately their periods of dominance did not reflect so on the scoreboard. Roscommon started the second half impressively and a Donal Shine goal in the 44th minute was the match-turning moment. They never looked back after the goal and Leitrim were always playing catch up. Final score Roscommon 1-13 to Leitrims 0-11. Well done to our own Michael Foley who was 100% accurate from frees yesterday.
We wish Roscommon all the best in the Connacht final. Leitrim head to the qualifiers but they should be proud and optimistic.
Team and scorers
Enda Lyons, Daniel Beck, John McKeon, Dermot Reynolds (St Marys), James Glancy (St Marys) 0-1, Shane Foley, Wayne McKeon, Tomas Beirne, Shane Canning, Colm Clarke, David OConnor 0-1, Michael Foley 0-8 (7 frees), Ray Cox, James Glancy 0-1, Ray Mulvey. Subs Dermot Reynolds (Annaduff) for Daniel Beck, Kevin Conlon for Ray Cox, Gary Reynolds for James Glancy (St Marys), Barry Prior for Shane Foley, Declan Maxwell for Kevin Conlon.
21-Jun-10 by Colette Fox – PRO
