Sweeney, Keaveny put Donegal in final

Donegal were first on the board, building an early lead with points from Kieran Keaveny and Pat Walsh. Then Leitrim hit back with a goal from Kenny O’Connor that seemed to spell trouble for Donegal. Leitrim management elected to play Big Kenny at full forward, rather than his usual midfield berth, and when O’Connor turned and stuck the ball in the Donegal net, the sideline crew looked like geniuses.
But Donegal kept to their task, dominating at midfield with Martin Coll and Dermot Hurley while Leitrim struggled to overcome Larry Keenan’s injury. Keenan came into the match carrying a knock and it soon became clear that the big midfielder was playing on one leg and a whole lot of heart.
The match stayed close through the first quarter before Kieran Keavney palmed a goal to an empty Leitrim net. Keavney was the beneficiary of a good passing movement featuring Kevin Lilly and Leslie McGettigan and made no mistake with this apparently gilded opportunity.
Keavney’s goal was just the lift that the two-time defending champions needed, and, unfortunately, for Leitrim, it spelled the beginning of the end. Donegal began using their dominance at midfield and also in the halfback line to feed full forward Aiden Sweeney.
Sweeney, the Donegal county star, was at the center of the storm earlier this season when he and a Donegal teammate were reportedly set to leave the Donegal County set-up for the greener pastures of the North American Board of the GAA.
Today’s performance shone some light on why there was such demand for his services. Despite the close attention of Leitrim full back John Walsh, Sweeney gave a point-taking display, notching 1-7 from both play and frees.
Sweeney followed Keaveny’s goal with a massive free and then the fates stepped in on Sweeney’s side when what appeared to be a point attempt dipped suddenly under the crossbar. Leitrim net-minder Mike McGinley never had a chance, and with their deficit extended to 2-7 to 1-3, Leitrim’s chance also seemed to be slipping away.
As if to pour salt in Leitrim’s wounds, Sweeney knocked two more over the lathe to send Donegal into the break with a commanding 2-9 to 1-3 lead. Now only 35 minutes stood between Leitrim and elimination and trailing by 0-9, Leitrim had a big hill to climb.
Kevin Lilly’s point stretched that deficit to double figures soon after the restart, but then Leitrim went to work. With Tommy Gee beginning to come into the game at midfield, after a very quiet first half, Leitrim began the slow ascent back into this match. Alan McFadden rapped three frees in a row and Aiden Power added another Leitrim point, as thoughts of a comeback danced in Leitrim heads. Two Sweeney points and one from Lilly trumped Leitrim points via Power and Gee, but then the Donegal ended any drama with another goal.
Keaveny raised the green flag after Martin Coll did the dirty work and Donegal were on their way back to the final.
Man of the Match: Aiden Sweeney
Donegal: Martin McDemott, Mark McNeill, Pauric Ronney, Owen Cummins, Garreth Kelly, Anthony Lynch, Niall McCready, Dermot Hurley, Martin Coll, Kieran Keavney (2-3), Tom Walsh (0-1), Kevin Lilly (0-2), Leslie McGettigan (0-1), Aiden Sweeney (1-7), Pat Walsh (0-1). Sub: Anton Diver.
Leitrim: Mike McGinley, Steven Andrew, John Walsh, Dan Downey, Pa Murphy, Padraig Flynn, Padraig Flynn, Dan O’Sullivan, Larry Keenan, Tommy Gee (0-2), Alan McFadden (0-5), Jim Donohue, John Donohue (0-1), Aiden Power (0-2), Ken O’Connor (1-0), Ian Twiss (0-1). Sub: Bob Ryan.