Willie Mulhall’s late free earns relieved Offaly a draw with Leitrim

Offaly 2-13 Leitrim 1-16

Seemingly coasting towards victory at one stage, Offaly were highly relieved to claim a share of the spoils when they were held to a draw by a battling Leitrim in Tullamore yesterday.

Ahead by 2-7 to 0-5 at half time thanks to goals from Nigel Dunne and Willie Mulhall, Offaly were not convincing but were still a vastly superior side.

Early in the third quarter however, Leitrim were handed a lifeline when Kevin Conlan converted a penalty and they led on two occasions in the closing five minutes before an injury-time free from Willie Mulhall gave Offaly a draw.

OFFALY: A Mulhall; B Darby, E Rigney, J O'Connor; C Donohue, J Maloney, N Darby (0-2, 1f); G Guilfoyle, N Smith; P Sullivan, N McNamee (0-2), N Bracken; B Allen (0-1, f), N Dunne (1-2), W Mulhall (1-6, 5f). Subs: A Sullivan for Allen (BC, 35 mins), K Mullally for Bracken, E Carroll for P Sullivan (both 50 mins), D Hogan for Donohue (55 mins), J Evans for Dunne (68 mins).

LEITRIM: C McCrann; B Prior, R Gallagher, M McWeeney; N Woods, G Reynolds, S McWeeney; D Sweeney (0-1), S Moran (0-1); R Kennedy (0-5, 1f), K Conlan (1-5, 1-0 pen, 0-5 fs), P McGowan; A McLoughlin (0-2), J McGrail, F Clancy (0-2). Subs: D Beck for Prior (23 mins), J Connolly for McGowan (45 mins), M Murphy for M McWeeney (53 mins), D Moran for S Moran (58 mINS), C McGowan for Clancy (63 m ins).

Referee: N Cullen (Fermanagh).