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Details

Date Time Competition Season
17 April 2022 2:30 pm Connacht SFC 2022

Match Report

Leitrim survive London fightback

Leitrim just scraped over the line with a four-point victory over a resilient London at McGovern Park this afternoon to progress to a Connacht Semi-Final.

Leitrim distanced the Exiles in the second half but two late goals from the home side meant the visitor’s led by a single point for the final stages.

A Ryan O'Rourke goal in the last minute of the game finally gave Leitrim security and they emerged victors at Ruislip.

The Ridge County hit the ground running and put London under pressure.

The visitors came close through a Ryan O'Rourke miss and Mark Plunkett goal chance but weren't deterred and soon had their first score.

Darragh Rooney pointed from a free on 4 minutes as the Ridge County looked far the better despite keeper Darren Maxwell having to make a good save to keep out a Henry Walsh strike on goal at the other end.

O'Rourke scored Leitrim's second point on 9 minutes and soon after he stepped up to the penalty spot after Shane Moran was brought down in the square and slotted home a goal for his side to make it 1-2 to no score.

Henry Walsh got London's first point on 14 minutes from an acute angle while Chris Farley added another 60 seconds later.

Exiles captain Liam Gavaghan was positioned in midfield and won his side a number of frees going forward.

Farley kicked over the first but Leitrim hit back through points from Mark Plunkett and late change (for Riordan O'Rourke) Conor Dolan.

The sides exchanged points over the next 10 minutes although London were beginning to look stronger.

Despite free-taker Farley having to exit the field due to injury, Gavaghan struck one from 25 yards on 34 minutes.

Stephen Dornan got a point soon after and Gavaghan stepped up to put over another free at the end of two minutes added time to put London within a point at half-time.

Leitrim started the second-half like the first and notched two points through Pierce Dolan and Donal Wrynn.

Another O'Rourke score and a successful Donal Wrynn 45 metre kick gave them a further advantage and they looked to be pulling away as London were yet to score.

When sub Jack Heslin broke through the London defence and laid the ball off to Donal Wrynn they had their second goal and it looked like the visitors' day.

Drama followed however.

With just over 10 minutes remaining, substitute Sean Hickey returned a goal for the Exiles and another sub, Fergal MacMahon, struck London's second with a wonder strike 5 minutes later.

The tide turned more in London's favour when sub Evan Sweeney was black-carded for Leitrim and James Hynes went up the field to bring the deficit to a single point again.

The pressure was on but London just couldn't equalise, with chances from Conal Gallagher and Liam Gavaghan going astray.
In the final stages of 6 minutes added on, it was Leitrim got the next score to finally put the game to bed.

Donal Casey did well to beat the London backs and got the ball to Ryan O'Rourke who struck to net his second goal of the game to give his county a four-point lead much to the relief of the Leitrim support.

The final whistle was blown in the aftermath and it was Leitrim who scraped through to a Connacht semi-final with victory over a tenacious London side. 

London

1Noel Maher Goalkeeper
2Eoin Walsh Defender
3Matt Moynihan Defender
4Nathan McElwaine Defender
5Ronan Sloane Defender
6Cahir Healy 26 Defender
7Evan Wynne Defender
8Stephen Dornan Midfielder 35'
9Thomas Lenihan 24 Midfielder 25'
10Conal Gallagher Forward
11Matthew Walsh Forward
12Liam Gallagher Forward
13Chris Farley 19 Forward 15', 20'
14Liam Gavaghan Forward 34', 35+2', 46', 64'
15Henry Walsh 23 Forward 14', 32'
16Gavin McEvoy Goalkeeper
17Cathal Long
18Conor O’Neill Defender
19Enda McCormick 22
20Eoin Flanagan Defender
21Eunan Curran
22Fearghal McMahon 19 65'
23James Gallagher 15
24James Hynes 9 Midfielder 68'
25Oladimeji Olajubu
26Sean Hickey 6 58'

Leitrim

1Darren Maxwell Goalkeeper
2Mark Diffley Defender
3Donal Casey Defender
4Paddy Maguire 19 Defender
5James Rooney Defender
6Shane Quinn Forward
7David Bruen Defender
8Pearce Dolan Midfielder 36', 41'
44'
9Donal Wrynn Midfielder 47'
31', 39', 46'
10Domhnaill Flynn 23 Forward
11Mark Plunkett Forward 20'
18Conor Dolan 21 Forward 23'
13Ryan O’Rourke Forward 12', 76'
9', 44'
14Shane Moran 17 Midfielder 27'
15Darragh Rooney 12 Forward 4', 27'
16Brendan Flynn Goalkeeper
12Riordan O’Rourke 15 Forward
17Evan Sweeney 14 Forward 59'
68'
19Conor Reynolds 4 Defender
20Ciaran Cullen Defender
21Jack Heslin 18 Defender
22Conor Farrell Defender
23Emlyn Mulligan 10 Forward
24Cillian McGloin Midfielder
25Aaron Hoare Forward
26Oisin McCaffrey Defender
  • 76'

    Full-Time. Leitrim take away a 4 point win at Mcgovern Park after some late drama. They will progress to a Connacht semi-final while London will regret some late misses that could have seen them draw the game.

  • 76'

    Leitrim goal from Ryan O'Rourke puts 4 points between the sides!

  • 74'

    Gavaghan's attempt goes wide!

  • 73'

    London fouling the ball as they are missing chances to equalise

  • 72'

    Emlyn Mulligan on for Leitrim!

  • 72'

    Still a 1 point game! - London putting on the pressure now

  • 71'

    There will be 6 minutes of additional time!

  • 70'

    Conal Gallagher misses from the right for London

  • 70'

    One point game as James Hynes raises the white flag for London!

  • 70'

    Evan Sweeney black carded - Leitrim down to 14 men for the remainder

  • 66'

    Fergal McMahon strikes a second goal for London! Only 2 points in it!!!

  • 68'

    Rooney replaced by Riordan O'Rourke

  • 64'

    Gavaghan goes wide with his 5th free of the day

  • 58'

    Sean Hickey strikes back for London!

  • 56'

    Its looking like Leitrim's day as Jack heslin slips the ball to Donal Wrynn who scores the Green and Gold's second goal

  • 55'

    Heslin replaces Conor Dolan

  • 55'

    Sub Evan Sweeney points

  • 46'

    Gavaghan slots over another free for his fourth of the day!

  • 47'

    Donal Wrynn's 45 creeps over to give Leitrim a 5 point advantage

  • 47'

    Donal Wrynn's 45 creeps over to give Leitrim a 5 point advantage

  • 45'

    Tom Lenihan subbed off too

  • 45'

    Henry Walsh subbed off for London

  • 44'

    Ryan O'Rourke fists over as Leitrim counter

  • 43'

    Leitrim defence holding London at bay

  • 43'

    London wide

  • 41'

    Darragh Rooney goes left and wide as a goal is still the difference

  • 39'

    Donal Wrynn point to put 3 points between the sides

  • 35'

    Back under way at McGovern Park!

  • 38'

    Half-Time. Only a point in it as London have surged back into the game after a difficult start. London 0-8 - 1-6 Leitrim.

  • 37'

    Gavaghan steps up and gets another point from a free!

  • 37'

    2 minutes added nearly up

  • 36'

    Liam Gallagher wins a London free going forward

  • 36'

    Dornan point after he wins a forward mark

  • 34'

    Gavaghan strikes a point from the 25 yard free

  • Lenihan wins a free in a good area for the Exiles

  • 32'

    Henry Walsh point as London return a score

  • 31'

    Donal Wrynn point for Leitrim as they open a gap

  • 28'

    McCormick replaces Farley

  • 28'

    London free-taker has to come off injured for London, could be crucial

  • 27'

    Great Rooney point for Leitrim

  • 26'

    Tom Lenihan point for London

  • 25'

    Shane Moran booked for Leitrim

  • 23'

    Conor Dolan gets another for Leitrim, his first of the day

  • 22'

    Mark Plunkett point as Leitrim get back into it!

  • 21'

    Matthew Walsh goes wide for London as the home side take charge

  • 19'

    Farley scores his second

  • 20'

    London captain Liam Gavaghan playing in midfield today so far, wins another free for London

  • 17'

    Leitrim holding London out for now

  • 15'

    London score again through Chris Farley

  • 14'

    Henry Walsh opens scoring for London from a difficult angle with a point!

  • 12'

    O'Rourke steps forward and scores!

  • 11'

    Shane Moran wins ball inside the London box and is fouled to win a penalty

  • 9'

    Ryan O'Rourke point

  • 7'

    Conor Dolan's point attempt goes short

  • 7'

    Rooney goal chance mis-hit!

  • 7'

    Rooney goal chance mis-hit!

  • 6'

    Keeper Darragh Maxwell makes a good save on Henry Walsh of London!

  • 5'

    Leitrim on top so far, playing with good pace

  • 4'

    Darragh Rooney gets Leitrim under way with a free!

  • 2'

    Mark Plunkett goes just wide after Leitrim could have a goal!

  • 1'

    Ryan O'Rourke hits wide after Leitrim win the throw-in!

  • Amhrán na bhFiann plays out around McGovern Park

  • 5 minutes until throw-in!

  • Top forward Keith Beirne missing for the Ridge county today due to a one game suspension, will this hinder Leitrim's chances?

  • No changes to the London side from today's program

  • Conor Dolan replaces Riordan O'Rourke at half-forward for Leitrim

  • Hello and welcome along to Final Whistle's Connacht Championship coverage of Leitrim take on London at McGovern Park. The winner will progress to a Connacht semi-final. My name is Jack Joy and I'll be taking you through this afternoon's game. Throw-In is at 2.30!

Past Meetings

(Round 3)
0-9 2-5
NFL Division 4
Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence

(Round 5)
1-9 0-7
NFL Division 4
Pairc Sean MacDiarmada

(Round 5)
0-0 0-0
NFL Division 4
McGovern Park, Ruislip

Ground

McGovern Park, Ruislip
Masson Avenue, London Borough of Hillingdon, London, Greater London, England, HA4 6QT, United Kingdom

Jack Joy is a journalism student at Dublin City University