Controversy surrounds the result of this hard-fought encounter between unbeaten divisional leaders Offaly and promotion-chasing Leitrim - referee Eugene Murtagh blew the whistle 90 seconds from the end of normal time.

The Leitrim bench were infuriated and despite the apparent intervention of a linesman the referee ended the game. It was a major blow to the home side who had recovered well from a error on halftime which gifted Offaly a goal. A dipping shot from Kieran McManus looked to be well covered but sailed over goalkeeper Garret Phelan's head to put Offaly 1-5 to 0-5 ahead at the interval. Offaly were the better side during a hectic second half which saw Leitrim come within a point of the visitors on two occasions only to lose the initiative. An inspired run by Fintan McBrien midway through the second half to finish off Leitrim's best move of the game to the net gave the home side a muchneeded boost.

Leitrim went looking for an equalising goal only to be pulled up short by the referee's early whistle. It remains to be seen whether Leitrim will lodge an objection.

OFFALY: P Kelly; C Daly, B Malone, J Brady; J Kilmurray, S Grennan, F Cullen (0-1); J Grennan, R Mooney; R Malone, N Keenaghan, (0-2), C MCManus (1-5); B Mooney (0-2), C Quinn (0-1), D Connolly (0-1). Subs: B Kelligan for B Mooney; J Greene for J Kilmurray; J Ryan for D Connolly.

LEITRIM: G Phelan; D Reynolds, S Quinn, J Phelan; P Flynn, D Lynch, J McKeon; P Farrell (04), R Hazlette; P Kieran (0-4), P McDermott (0-1), G Foley; D Mulligan, F McBrien (1-0) P Kenny. Subs: P Gaffey for D Lynch; A Rooney for D Mulligan.

Referee: E Murtagh (Longford).