First Outing for Leitrim Under 21 Team 2015

First Outing for Leitrim Under 21 Team 2015

Leitrim Under 21 Football team made its competitive 2015 debut inÓgracefield this afternoon and after an exciting encounter with the home team, eventually came out on the wrong side of a 1-10 to 0-12 scoreline with Offaly kicking the winning score with virtually the last kick of the game, a free converted by ace corner forward Shane Moriarity.

Leitrim, playing with great resolve and purpose had the better of the early exchanges of this, at all times, competitive encounter and with greater economy in front of the posts held a five point advantage heading into the interval. However, two Offaly points on the stroke of the half time whistle brought the home side back into contention.

It was very much end to end in the second period, but the crucial score arrived early in the third quarter as Moriarity goaled for the Faithful County and a point almost immediately turned the game in their favour. scores were exchanged as the game ebbed and flowed from there to the finish. The Leitrim lads recovered from a two point deficit to level matters as the game entered added time. Chances were available to both sides as the respective sets of energetic and enthusiastic players searched for a winner, however the converted free decided matters and there was no remaining time for a Leitrim response.

Nonetheless it was an encouraging opening start to the Under 21 season and we look forward to the meeting with Laois on the other side of Portarlington next Saturday.

Leitrim: Diarmuid McKiernan, Tommy Rogan, Gary Butler, Keelan McHugh, Michael Clancy (0-1), Niall McLoughlin, Jack De Lacy, Declan Daly, Felim McHugh (0-1), Mark Plunkett (0-1), Nicholas Moore (0-3), James Rooney, Luke Murphy, Gary Plunkett(0-2), Conor Gaffney(0-3). Subs used: Aaron McLoughlin, Niall Brady, Darragh Farrell, Dean McGovern, Gary Fowley (0-1).

Offaly: Dylan Buckley, Ken Hogan, James Lawlor, Jim Hendy, James Malley, Garth Corbett, Alan Heffernan, Conor McNamee, Declan Byrne (0-1), Niall Dempsey, Darragh KeenÓghan, Ciaran Maloney, Ruairi McNamee, Joe Maher (0-3), Sean Moriarity (1-5). Subs used: Eoin Lowry (0-1), Mickey Keogh, Kevin Beirne, Jamie Evans, Aaron Whelan.    

 

 

10-Jan-15 by Declan Bohan – PRO