Nearly men of Leitrim push champions all the way

Connacht SFC Semi-final/ Mayo 1-10 Leitrim 1-9: Leitrim almost caused a huge upset as they pushed an indecisive and disorganised Mayo right to the wire in an absorbing provincial semi-final at a packed Páirc Seán Mhíc Diarmada yesterday.

The home team belied their National League Division Two status with a performance that will fill them full of hope going into the qualifiers after a game where, at half-time, they looked beaten following a gut wrenching last-minute deflected goal just as they were beginning to get on terms with their more illustrious neighbours.

The reigning Connacht champions got off to a flying start through points from Alan Dillon, Conor Mortimer and Andy Moran, but scores from Shane Foley, Michael Foley and David McHugh had levelled matters by the 16th minute. Mayo dominated the midfield exchanges and points from Ciarán McDonald, Conor Mortimer and Pat Harte put Mayo back in front with 12 minutes of the first half remaining.

Darren Duignan reduced the arrears with a point from play in the 24th minute and the game was finely balanced when, five minutes from the break, Ger Brady broke through the Leitrim defence. His powerful shot looked to be covered by goalkeeper Cathal McCrann until Michael McGuinness, attempting to block, deflected the ball into his own net.

Conor Mortimer compounded Leitrim's woes with a point from play one minute later to put Mayo comfortably ahead, 1-7 to 0-4, at the interval.

Aidan Kilcoyne and McDonald put the visitors eight points ahead within four minutes of the restart and it looked as though they would finish out the game as comfortable winners as Leitrim struggled.

Then Pat Harte was red carded for a second bookable offence in the 42nd minute and the balance of the game changed dramatically.

Ciarán Duignan's 43rd-minute point for Leitrim was immediately cancelled by Conor Mortimer, but that was to be Mayo's final score of the game as the Leitrim midfield pairing of Christy Carroll and Gary McCloskey started winning possession to put the hard-pressed Mayo defence under siege.

In the 51st minute Carroll was first to react to a rebounded ball to score a goal from close in and a rejuvenated Leitrim, urged on by a strong vocal support from the home crowd, went about dismantling the Mayo lead.

The final 15th minutes was all Leitrim as they clawed back the arrears and, with Mayo losing their way, a shock victory was within sight. Points from Colin Regan, two pointed frees by Michael Foley and an extra-time point from play by Donal Brennan brought Leitrim to within a point of Mayo.

As the clock ticked down the home side failed to convert a number of chances to take the victory.

MAYO: J Healy; D Geraghty, L O'Malley, K Higgins; D Heaney, J Nallen, P Gardiner; R McGarrity, P Harte (0-1); BJ Padden, G Brady (1-0), A Dillon (0-1, free); C McDonald (0-2), C Mortimer, (0-4, two frees), A Moran (0-1). Subs: A Kilcoyne (0-1) for A Dillon, P Kelly for D Heaney, J Gill for A Kilcoyne, B Moran for G Brady.

LEITRIM: C McCrann; D Reynolds, J McKeon, M McGuinness; D McHugh (0-1), B McWeeney, S Foley (0-1); G McCloskey, C Carroll (1-0); B Prior, M Foley (0-3, frees), C Regan (0-1); D Duignan(0-1), D Brennan (0-1), C Duignan (0-1, frees). Subs: M Greene for D McHugh, J Goldrick for D Duignan, D Maxwell for C Duignan, F Holohan for C Regan, D beck for S Foley, D Beck for J Goldrick.

Referee: T Quigley (Dublin).