Mulligan helps Leitrim clear opening hurdle

Leitrim 0-17 New York 0-6 : LEITRIM BROUGHT their greater experience and fitness to bear to comfortably see off the challenge of New York in front of a packed Gaelic Park on Sunday.

Leitrim supporters, estimated to number 2,500, swelled the attendance and cheered on their team in glorious sunshine in front of one of the biggest crowds seen at the famous New York venue.

Apart from a 10-minute spell in the first half, Leitrim never allowed the home side to get into any sort of rhythm or dictate affairs to any real extent. Championship debutante Emlyn Mulligan finished this game with an impressive 0-11, 10 from frees.

There was a very physical edge to this game with New York having nine yellow cards issued to them before Dermot Keane saw red in the final seconds. Leitrim received five yellows as referee Paraic Hughes stamped his authority on proceedings.

With three Leitrim natives on the New York panel, this game saw the unusual spectacle of brother playing against brother with Drumkeerin's Alan and Michael Foley lining up against one another.

Leitrim controlled the first 15 minutes and raced into a 0-5 to nil lead with three points from the accurate boot of Emlyn Mulligan and one each from David O'Connor and Declan Maxwell.

New York didn't score until the 18th minute when full forward Dan Doona from Kerry pointed a free. Mulligan replied with a free to stretch the lead for the visitors.

But the home side then hit a purple patch and two quick points from Adrian O'Connor and Mark Dobbin cut the lead while Doona missed a kickable free and Robert Moran squandered a 45.

However, the visitors steadied themselves and finished the half strongly with some fine points.

Mulligan kicked two more frees, Donal Brennan finished a great move with a point from the left and midfielder Michael Duignan added another directly from a New York kick out to leave Leitrim 0-10 to 0-3 in front at the interval.

Leitrim dominated the second half, but there was a lethargy to their play for long spells before a final flourish in the last 10 minutes added to their total.

Mulligan continued to punish New York's indiscipline from placed balls and Leitrim can now look forward to a Connacht semi-final place against either Galway or Roscommon.

NEW YORK : P Ryan; J Bell, A Power, A Foley; L Maguire, D Keane, J Goldrick; K O'Connor (captain), A O'Connor (0-1, free); L O'Donnell (0-2, two frees), P Smith (0-1); M Dobbin (0-1); CJ Molloy, D Doona (0-1, free), R Moran. Subs: P Mulhearne for Molloy (35 min); K Lilly for Dobbin (45 min).

LEITRIM : E Lyons: D Reynolds, J McKeon, S Foley; G Reynolds, M McGuinness, B Prior; G McCloskey (captain), M Duignan (0-2); E Mulligan (0-11, 10 frees), D Maxwell (0-1), C Duignan; D Brennan (0-1), D O'Connor (0-1), M Foley. Subs: P McGuinness (0-1) for Duignan (26 min); B McWeeney for Brennan (58) D Duignan for O'Connor (62); F McBrien for M Foley (66); J Glancy for Maxwell (71).

Referee : P Hughes (Armagh).

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times