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Date Time Competition Season
13 August 2022 7:00 pm Leitrim SFC 2022

Match Report

Gortletteragh hold on for victory in Kinlough

Gortletteragh edged out Melvin Gaels by a single point in the first round of the Connacht Gold Senior Football Championship played in Kinlough on Saturday evening.

Inter-county players Jack Heslin (Gortletteragh) and Ciallian McGloin ( Melvin Gaels) didn’t start due to injury. Played in perfect conditions in front of a small crowd, it was the visitors who had the better of the exchanges in the opening half and went in leading by 5 points at the break, 1-6 to 0-4.

They deserved their lead with the goal coming from full forward Keoghan McGovern who was a constant threat to the Gaels defence. James Campbell (2) and a point each from Oisin Niblock, Tom Crowe, Ciaran Reynolds and Evan Ward were the first half point scorers for the winners.

The losers never got going, a disappointing first half from a team who had played a higher level of league than their opponents so far this year with points from Matthew Cleary, Declan Clancy and two from Caolan Clancy keeping their side in touch at the break.

Jamie Quinn (G) and Jesse McGuinness (MG) entered the action for the second half, but whatever was said by the home teams management at the break seemed to have paid off with four unanswered points in the space of six minutes of the restart to leave just a point between the teams, Declan Clancy hitting over 2 with one each from Declan Roper and Shane McGloin. But the visitors steadied the ship.

Teams exchanged points, Jamie Quinn and Philip McGowan before the winners extended their lead to three with points from Quinn and Francis Flynn. A tough enough ask for the Gaels was made tougher when Cathal McSharry was sent off by referee Seamus Mulhern and when Quinn hit over a free to leave his team four ahead with eight minutes remaining, it looked home and dry for the visitors.

But it was not to be, Cillian McGloin was brought on, and received a yellow card within two minutes but the Gaels reduced the arrears to two points coming to the end of normal time.

A close in free to the home side, successfully put over, left just a point between the teams as we entered added time close with the winners looking very nervous at this stage. And they had every right to be with the Gaels winning another free from an identical position but then the drama unfolded.

As the home team were lining up the free to level the match, an umpire drew the attention of the referee, had a word with him, Mulhern then going to Cillian McGloin to issue a second yellow followed by a red, seemingly for an incident after the free was awarded. To make matters worse for the home team, they lost the free, ball was thrown in with Gortletteragh clearing the danger and holding on for a one-point victory.

The Gaels will be bitterly disappointed not to have something from the game but indiscipline cost them dearly in the end.

Gortletteragh, on the other hand, will be delighted with the victory having had a poor league campaign and of course without county star Jack Heslin.

Melvin Gaels

1Michael Neil Gallagher Goalkeeper
2Kyle O’Driscoll 19 Midfielder
3Cathal McSharry Defender 49'
4Peter Connolly Defender 57'
5Colm McGowan Defender
6Shane McGloin Defender
7JJ Lipsett Defender
8Peter McGowan Forward 35'
9Kieran Clancy 23 Defender
10Declan Clancy Forward 25', 32', 36', 55'
11Mathew Cleary 21 Forward 6'
12Philip McGowan Forward 38'
13Caolan Clancy Forward 12', 28'
14Declan Roper Forward 31'
15Michael Ferguson Defender
19Eoghan Gallagher 2 Defender
21Cillian McGloin 11 Midfielder 35'
55'
59'
23Jesse McGuinness 9 Forward 59'

Gortletteragh

1Niall Tiernan Goalkeeper
2Brendan Naughton Defender
3Gerard Campbell Defender
4Cian Mulvey Defender
5Oisin Niblock Defender 15'
6Eamon Reynolds Forward
7Evan Ward Defender 29'
8Glen Ward 23 Forward
9Francis Flynn Forward 48'
10James Campbell Defender 5', 22'
11David Mulvey Defender
12Tom Crowe Forward 19'
13Ciaran Reynolds Forward 26'
14Keoghan McGovern Forward 11'
15Kevin McGrath Forward
26Jamie Quinn Forward 36', 45', 52'
23John Reynolds 8 Midfielder

Past Meetings

(Round 1)
0-10 1-14
Leitrim SFC
Cornageeha

Ground

Kinlough
Kinlough, Leitrim, Ireland

A former Leitrim GAA County Board secretary and public relations officer and a proud Drumkeeran clubman. Has reported extensively on club and county scene for local radio and newspaper.