Goals key as Ballinamore take Leitrim title
Fenagh got off to the better start with Fergal McLoughlin and Ruairí O'Rourke splitting the Ballinamore posts in the first three minutes. But a Paul Moran two-pointer levelled matters on the eight-minute mark. Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Ballinamore, thanks to goals from Tom Prior, Paul Honeyman (penalty) in the first half and a second-half goal by Paul Moran, outgunned Fenagh in the Leitrim final replay at a blustery Carrick-on-Shannon to impressively claim their 21st county.
After starting slowly Ballinamore switched their performance into top gear for the final 22 minutes of the first half and from then on forced Fenagh to play second fiddle for the rest of the showdown.
Fenagh got off to the better start with Fergal McLoughlin and Ruairí O'Rourke splitting the Ballinamore posts in the first three minutes. But a Paul Moran two-pointer levelled matters on the eight-minute mark.
Shortly afterwards Ballinamore took the lead for the first time in the game when Michael McKiernan fired over. The Ballinamore men went further ahead by the 10 minute thanks to a Tom Prior two pointer which was preceded by a one pointer from Brian Leyden.
Fenagh kept in touch when Fergal McLoughlin hit over an 18th-minute two-pointer from a placed ball. Two minutes later Ballinamore hit back with a well worked goal that Tom Prior finished to the net.
Fergal McLoughlin answered with a two-pointer from a Fenagh placed ball shortly afterwards but Tom Prior hit back with a Ballinamore point to give his side four point's scoreboard advantage at that stage.
Ballinamore finished the half strongly with Paul Honeyman converting a 25th minute penalty and whipped over a two pointer shortly afterwards. Fenagh finished with a Fergal McLoughlin point before the break after which Ballinamore went into their halftime dressing room enjoying a 2 – 10 to 0 – 7 lead.
After the restart Ruairí O'Rourke slightly reduced the deficit for Fenagh when he hit over a 36th minute point. However Ballinamore kept up the pressure on Fenagh when Keelan McHugh answered with a similar score seven minutes later.
Fenagh points from Riordan O'Rourke and Oisin McLoughlin by the 47th minute kept them in touch with Ballinamore. However the next three minutes Ballinamore answered with similar scores from Dillon Beirne and Paul Honeyman.
The Ballinamore men stayed in the driving seat for the remainder of the game and killed off any chance of a Fenagh comeback when Paul Moran fired home his side's third goal with seven minutes remaining.
Near the end Donal Wrynn hit over a consolation two-pointer for Fenagh but Ballinamore was home and dry at that stage.
: : P Honeyman 1-6 pen, 2p; P Moran 2p & T Prior 2p 1-2 each; M McKiernan, B Leyden, K McHugh & D Beirne 0-1 each.
F McLoughlin 0-6 2pf (0-4); Ruairi O'Rourke 0-3 2pf; Riordan O'Rourke & D Wrynn 2p 0-2 each; O McLoughlin & Ryan O'Rourke f 0-1 each.
M Aherne; D McGovern, B Banks, M Murphy; M McKiernan, M McBrien, C McHugh; S Moran, N McGovern; D Beirne, T Prior, K McHugh; P Moran, B Leyden, P Honeyman.
Subs: L Quinn for Murphy (47), W McKeon for D McGovern (50);L Murphy for Leyden (54); C Moran for McKiernan (58).
C Andrews; D 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.
Subs: C Mulvey for D Greenan (56); S Greenan for Gilheaney (58).
: M Feeney (Dromahair).
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