Tom Prior hammers home last ditch goal to force replay in Leitrim SFC final

The replay promises to be another entertaining encounter if it turns out to be anything like this riveting contest. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Leitrim SFC final: Fenagh St Caillins 2-11 Ballinamore SOH 1-15 

Ballinamore secured a hard fought for draw with neighbours Fenagh in the 63rd minute after an exciting Leitrim final in Carrick-on-Shannon when Tom Prior fired to his opponent's net before the long whistle sounded.

In what was an exceptionally close contest from start to finish and it was not surprising that after matters had reached an even Stephen situation on five different occasions over the hour that the showdown ended in a draw. 

The replay promises to be another entertaining encounter if it turns out to be anything like this riveting contest.

Ballinamore got off to a flying start with Paul Moran, Paul Honeyman and Keelan McHugh firing over a point each in the opening two minutes. Fenagh reduced the deficit to one over the next five minutes after Oisin McLoughlin converted a free and Riordan O'Rourke fisted over.

The Fenagh men took the lead for the first time when Ryan O'Rourke converted a penalty on the 13 minute mark. But Ballinamore got back on level terms over the next seven minutes to Dillon Beirne and Paul Moran who both split the Fenagh uprights.

Fenagh grabbed a two point lead by the 24th minute after Fergal McLoughlin and Oisin McLoughlin slotted over a point each. Ballinamore edged ahead by the minimum as the interval approached thanks to points from Dillon Beirne, Keelan McHugh and Paul Moran (free).

However a Riordan O'Rourke point for Fenagh before the half-time whistle sent the sides in level at half-time (Ballinamore 0-8 Fenagh 1-5).

After the restart Ballinamore grabbed a four point advantage with Paul Moran putting over a two point free and Dillon Beirne, Brian Leyden and Niall McGovern chipping in with a point each.

While Ballinamore held the upper hand and won most of their opponents kickouts, Fenagh struggled in the third quarter, hitting four bad wides in this period. 

But then a 53rd minute Colm McLoughlin goal got Fenagh back on level terms. After that they edged into a three point's advantage over the next seven minutes with Riordan O'Rourke firing over a two pointer and Oisin McLoughlin getting a point of his own.

The Fenagh men seemed destined to claim their first Leitrim senior championship title since 1932 as the clock ticked into added time.

But Ballinamore denied them at the end of the three additional minutes played when Tom Prior hammered to the Fenagh net to send the final to a replay, which will take place on Saturday, October 24 at Pairc Seán MacDiarmada.

Scorers for Fenagh St Caillins: Riordan O'Rourke 0-6 (1tp); Ryan O'Rourke (pen) & C Mcloughlin 1-0 each; F Mcloughlin 0-3; O McLoughlin 0-2 (1f).

Scorers for Ballinamore SOH: P Moran 0-5 (1tpf) f; T Prior 1-0; D Beirne 0-3; K McHugh 0-2; P Honeyman, B Leyden, N McGovern & C Moran 0-1 each.

FENAGH: C Andrews; K McLoughlin, G Butler, C McGovern; E McLoughlin, C O'Rourke, D Greenan; D Wrynn, C McLoughlin; F McLoughlin, O McLoughlin, J Gilheaney; Ruairí O'Rourke, Ryan O'Rourke; Riordan O'Rourke.

BALLINAMORE: D Maxwell; D McGovern, B Banks, M Murphy; D Feely, M McBrien, C McHugh; S Moran, N McGovern; D Beirne, T Prior, K McHugh; P Moran, B Leyden, P Honeyman.

Subs: H Prior for Maxwell (43 inj); N McManus for Leyden (46); C Moran for P Moran (54); L Quinn for Murphy (59).

Referee: K Mallon (Bornacoola).