NFL Leitrim 1-12 Clare 1-11: Leitrim continued their recent good form with a deserved victory against Clare who nearly stole it with an extra-time goal from Michael O'Shea at Páirc Seán Mhic Diarmada, Carrick-on-Shannon, yesterday.
Dermot Reynolds opened the Leitrim account with a point after two minutes with Denis Russell getting Clare off the mark in the ninth minute. Clare held the advantage in the final minutes of the half but another point by Reynolds steadied Leitrim and James Glancy scored a goal one minute later to leave Leitrim ahead 1-5 to 0-4 at the interval.
The home side were put on the back foot on the resumption when substitute Timmy Ryan pointed for Clare. The visitors scored three further points without reply to put them within a point of Leitrim.
A Ger Quinlan point levelled matters in the 61st minute but Reynolds again pointed from play. Four further points from Leitrim gave them a cushion as O'Shea netted for Clare in extra time.
LEITRIM: C McCrann; M McGuinness, J McKeon, D Reynolds (0-3); N Gilbane (0-2), B McWeeney, B Butler; C Carroll (0-2), G McCloskey; J Goldrick (0-1), B Prior (0-1); M Foley (0-1, free); R Cox, D Duignan, J Glancy (1-1). Subs: D Bnrennan for D Duignan; D McHugh for D Butler; D Maxwell (0-1) for M Foley; D McKiernan for R Cox.
CLARE: D McInerney; P Gallagher, C Whelan, D Blake; G Tubridy, B Considine, M O'Connell;David Russell (0-1), G Quinlan (0-2); E Coughlan, Denis Russell (0-5, 2 frees), M O'Shea (1-0); A Clohessy, S O'Meara, R Donnelly. Subs: T Ryan (0-2) for A Clohessy; K Dilleen for C Whelan; B Crowley (0-1) for E Coughlan; E Glynn for R Donnelly; D Russell for D Blake; B Maloney for B Considine.
YELLOW CARDS: Leitrim: R Cox (63rd). Clare: C Whelan (39th), R Donnelly (51st), D Blake (63rd), B Considine (67th).
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