NFL – Rd 1 – London v Leitrim

A goal from debutant DeclanÓgilhooly in the 50th minute proved decisive for Leitrim in their five-point victory over London at Ruislip yesterday.

The Exiles had taken a deserved three-point lead to the dressing room at half-time after playing with a considerable breeze.

After Leitrim took the lead through a fortuitous Declan Maxwell goal in the fifth minute, London battled well to overcome the conditions and reply with two goals through Peadar Friel three minutes later and a fine solo effort from Michael McGill in the 13th minute to take a four-point lead.

Despite adding two pointed frees through Chris Eastwood within 10 minutes of the resumption, Gilhoolys goal put the visitors back into a lead they never relinquished as they went on to dominate the last quarter with five unanswered frees and run out worthy winners.

ScórERS — Leitrim: E Mulligan 0-7(4f), D Maxwell, D Gilhooly 1-0 each, D ODonnell 0-2, R Cox, D OConnor, S Foley 0-1 each. London: C Eastwood 0-4(2f), P Friel 1-1, M McGill 1-0, A Casey, E OCuiv 0-1 each.

Leitrim — E Lyons; M McGuinness, J McKeon, B McWeeney; B Price, M Duignan, A OFlynn; G McCloskey, N Doonan; E Mulligan, D Maxwell, D ODonnell; R Cox, T Beirne, D Gilhooly. Subs: D OConnor for D ODonnell (47), J Holohan for D Gilhooly (65), S Foley for A OFlynn (65).

London — B McBrearty; D Conlon, P Malone, B Comer; C Beirne, E O Cuiv, J Callery; P Geraghty, B McGuigan; O Coffey, M McGill, C Eastwood; P Friel, A Casey, J Cott. Subs: G OHare for B McGuigan (ht), B Quinn for J Cott (53), P Duffy for C Eastwood (53), M Hughes for A Casey (y/c 26), A Murray for P Friel (y/c 32).

REF — Thomas Quigley (Dublin).

 

 

02-Feb-09 by Irish Independant.ie