Ballinamore Sean O’Heslin’s and Fenagh St. Callins will have to do it all over again after a pulstating Leitrim semi-final.
Ballinamore raced into a four point lead through, Michael McKieran 0-3 (1*2pt) and Paul Moran. Fergal McLoughlin registered Fenagh’s first score on nine minutes.
Paul Honeyman added a point and a two-pointer as Ballinamore moved six points clear. Ryan O’Rourke added Fenagh’s second point on 18 minutes.
While, Ballinamore moved seven points clear thanks to two frees inside a minute from Honeyman and Luke Murphy.
Ryan O’Rourke over his second point of the day two minutes before half-time. However, Honeyman struck a two-pointer in response.
Leitrim star Ryan O’Rourke converting a free three minutes into injury time to round out the first-time. Ballinamore led 11-points to four at half-time.
Fenagh came out for the second-half with the wind at their backs and a bit between their teeth. Oisin McLoughlin landing a two-pointer after two second-half minutes.
Paul Honeyman converted a two-point free on 35 minutes. However, McLoughlin fired over his second two-pointer from the 45m line, 60 seconds later.
McLoughlin made a three point game a minute later with his hat-trick of two-pointers. Ballinamore leading 13-points to 10.
Luke Murphy added a single point free, while Riordan O’Rourke responded from play. McLoughlin made it a one-point game with his fourth two-pointer. This one from 49 metres.
Ryan O’Rourke fired a ball over the bar to level the game on 46 minutes. Paul Honeyman wisely moved a free inside the arc, converting it on 50 minutes to restore Ballinamore’s lead.
Ballinamore grab second wind
Ballinamore suddenly had a second wind when Michael McKiernan collected a Wayne McKeon pass and rifled it to the corner of the Fenagh net. Sean O'Heslin's led 1-15 to 14-points.
However, Fenagh’s response was excellent. Oisin McLoughlin's shot dropped short. Paul McLoughlin followed it in, keeper and ball end up in the net. The referee consulted with his linesman before awarding the goal.
Indeed, Ballinamore responded well. Tom Prior converting their patience with 60 seconds remaining. Ballinamore leading 1-16 to 1-14.
However, a Coalon Honeyman point and a Daniel McLoughlin fisted point sent the game to extra-time.
Injury-time was just as intense. Ryan O’Rourke and Paul Honeyman exchanging scores as we headed for extra-time.
There was no let-up in extra-time. A Ryan O’Rourke free and another McLoughlin two-pointer moving Fenagh three clear six minutes into extra-time.
However, Brian Layden and Shane Moran brought it back to one-point. Layden kicking a brilliant in injury time at the end of the first period to make it 1-20 each.
Fenagh were reduced to 14 men six minutes into the second period when Ryan O’Rourke received a second yellow card for an off the ball tussle.
Oisin McLoughlin converted a free to move Fenagh ahead with three minutes remaining. However another Brian Layden fisted point levelled the game.
That was how it finished, Fenagh St. Callins 1-21 Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins 1-21 after extra-time. We will have to do it all over again to discover who makes the Leitrim senior final.
