February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Early exchanges saw the score at 0-2-all. Leitrim center back Fergal Griffin was involved in much of the physical play and his match up with Kevin Lilly quickly grew contentious.
Paul Murray’s third point gave Leitrim a 0-4 to 0-2 lead after 20 minutes. Kieran Power, in goal last week, was proving a revelation to midfield, making several huge Aussie Rules-style catches to spark Leitrim.
Donegal’s dangerous Thomas Deehan finally pointed a free after several misses that saw the young Offaly man throwing his mouth guard to the ground in frustration. Points from Kevin O’Connor and Joe Sweeney nudged Donegal in front 0-5 to 0-4 at the short buzzer.
On the resumption the football was nearly as dull as the gray skies overhead. Doengal managed a point after a Leitrim pass went directly to Kevin Lilly, who gratefully converted the gift into a Donegal point. Deehan and Lilly then combined for a neat one, two with Deehan pointing before a succession of wides by both clubs.
Donegal led 0-7 to 0-4, just a kick of the ball as the saying goes. That kick of the ball came when Leitrim sub Padraig Carney fired to the Donegal net after Alan McFadden and Aiden Traynor had done the spadework. That would be Leitrim’s only score of the half, and their last score of the game.
Donegal pulled away with 0-3 more from Deehan who had left his early match jitters behind him.
Lilly and Griffin got into it again, inciting a melee. The dust had barely settled when Mike Griffin took a shot at Deehan sparking another set to. With no one booked from either donnybrook, the match finally fizzled out, with Donegal happy with the win and likely unconcerned with the style points.
Before the match began a moment of silence was held for Donegal man Mike Meehan. Meehan was involved in the Donegal club for many years, in many capacities. His sons, Eugene, Mike, Kevin, and Damien all played football with the Good Sheppard club, and Kevin and Damien also wore the colors of the father’s county with distinction. Damien, as many Irish Echo readers will remember, died in the Sept. 11 attacks at the World Trade Center.
Man of the Match: Kevin Lilly.
Donegal: Eunan Doherty, Mike Murphy, Gerry Duggan, Martin Donachy, Shaun Campbell, Matthew Mitchell, James Mitchell, Eoghan Carrew, Niall McCready, Joe Sweeney (0-2), Kevin Lilly (0-2), Conor Hunter, Kevin O’Connor (0-1), Paddy O’Kane, Thomas Deehan (0-5).
Leitrim: Keiran Potter, John Walsh, Aiden Power, Kieran Fitzgerald, Mike Griffin, Fergal Griffin, Neil McGuire, James McFadden, Kieran Power, Aiden Traynor, Alan McFadden, Paul Murray (0-3), Kieran Traynor, Billy Harte, Kieran Keaveney (0-1) Sub: Padraig Carney (1-0).
Referee: Dave Ryan.
Astoria Gaels vs St. Barnabas Cancelled
Referee Tom Darby cancelled the last match of the evening as lightning began to flash a little too close for comfort. Astoria Gaels were leading St. Barnabas 1-3 to 0-5 after 20 minutes. Both sides have already qualified for the JFA playoffs. The match will be made up if necessary.