Beirne drives Leitrim forward

FEARLESS Leitrim provided the first shock of the summer when their stylish and high-octane performance stunned last year’s beaten Connacht finalists Sligo at Markievicz Park yesterday.

Full-forward Conor Beirne — one of seven debutants in Leitrim’s starting 15 — rifled a terrific goal 14 minutes from time for the matchwinning score as the visitors built on an industrious first-half.

Ragged tempers and misplaced challenges resulted in three dismissals in the closing stages — Sligo centre-back Brian Curran picked up a straight red card with two minutes remaining and in stoppage time there were second bookings for Eamonn O’Hara (Sligo) and Emlyn Mulligan (Leitrim).