London 2-11 Leitrim 3-12
A battling London side fought all the way before Leitrim left London with a 3-12 to 2-11 win.
Leitrim took charge in this one early doors when Darragh Rooney opened their account. Henry Walsh was unlucky not grab a London goal but was denied by Darragh Maxwell who pulled off an impressive save just as it looked like London would take the lead.
Ryan O’Rourke added a second point to the visitors tally before they had a goal when the same man scored from the penalty spot after Shane Moran was brought down.
Henry Walsh got an impressive point from a tight angle and Chris Farley got two points to get London back into the game.
Both sides would then share possession, notching important scores. Leitrim were ahead by a point at the break but London had grown into the game.
Leitrim started the second period the brightest and the visitors went five points ahead once more and it looked like they had the game wrapped up when Jack Heslin played in Donal Wrynn, who found himself in space to put Leitrim eight up.
Counties are learning to never write London off and they demonstrated this once more. Sean Hickey finished off a fine move to get London’s opening goal and dreams of a historic comeback started when Fearghal McMahon got a second London goal.
James Hynes added to the London score and the difference was just one while Leitrim’s Evan Sweeney was black carded just before injury-time.
London were frustrated as they had few opportunities to get level but they untroubled their visitors as time began to run out for the Exiles.
Leitrim would have the last say in this one when O’Rourke got their third to wrap up a hard-fought win.
London: Noel Maher; Eoin Walsh, Matt Moynihan, Nahthan McElwaine; Ronan Sloan, Cahir Healy, Evan Wynne; Stephen Dornan (0-1), Thomas Lenihan (0-1); Conal Gallagher, Matthew Walsh, Liam Gallagher; Chris Farley (0-2, two frees), Liam Gavaghan (Captain)(0-4, four frees), Henry Walsh (0-2).
Subs: E McCormick for C Farley (28 mins), James Gallagher for Henry Walsh (44 mins), James Hynes (0-1) for Thomas Lenihan (47 mins), Fearghal McMahon (1-0) for Enda McCormick (53 mins), Sean Hickey (1-0)for Cahir Healy (57 mins).
Leitrim: Darren Maxwell; Mark Diffley, Donal Casey, Paddy Maguire; James Rooney, Shane Quinn, David Bruen (Captain); Pearce Dolan (0-3), Donal Wrynn (1-3, one 45'); Domhnaill Flynn, Mark Plunkett, Conor Dolan (0-1); Ryan O'Rourke (2-2) , Shane Moran, Darragh Rooney (0-2, one free).
Subs: Evan Sweeney (0-1) for Shane Moran (49 mins), Jack Heslin for Conor Dolan (55 mins), Conor Reynolds for Paddy Maguire (62 mins), Riordan O'Rourke for Darragh Rooney (65 mins), Emlyn Mulligan for Domhnaill Flynn (72 mins).
Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan)
