Flynn breaks Antrim hearts

A DOMHNAILL FLYNN pointed free four minutes into added time gave Leitrim a deserved victory at Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada, Carrickon-Shannon.

Referee Barry Judge handed out 14 yellow cards (seven each), four black cards and one red.

Despite Leitrim’s bright start, Ryan Murray scored a superb goal .

The interval score was 1-6 to 0-6 in favour of the Saffrons.

When Leitrim’s Darragh Rooney levelled matters with 15 minutes left, the momentum was with the home side.

However, poor finishing by Leitrim kept Antrim in the game and Murray edged them ahead in the 62nd minute. Two unanswered Leitrim points then swung the game back in their favour.

In a tense and exciting finale, Patrick McBride’s equalising pointed free one minute into added-time indicated a draw, until Flynn’s late, late score broke Antrim hearts.

SCORERS – Leitrim: R O’Rourke 0-5 (4f), D Flynn (3f), D Rooney 0-3 each, J Heslin, R Mulvey, M Plunkett 0-1 each. Antrim: R Murray 1-5 (1f), M Fitzpatrick, P McBride (2f) 0-2 each, C Duffin 0-1.

LEITRIM – D McKiernan 7; M McWeeney 7, P Maguire 8, A Flynn 7; S Quinn 7, M Plunkett 8, R Mulvey 7; S Moran 7, P Dolan 6; S McWeeney 7, D Flynn 7, J Heslin 7; D Moran 7, E Sweeney 7, R O’Rourke 8. Subs: D Rooney 8 for Heslin (30), G Plunkett for D Moran (61), E Mulligan for Sweeney (64), S Flanagan for Dolan (70).

ANTRIM – P Nugent 6; P McCormick 6, R Johnston 6, P Gallagher 6; N Delargy 6, M McCarry 6, D Lynch; M Sweeney 6, M Johnston 6; K Quinn 6; S Beatty 6, P McBride 7; C Duffin 7, M Fitzpatrick 7, R Murray 8. Subs: C Hamill 6 for McCormick (HT), O McKeown 6 for Beatty (52), E McCabe for Duffin (61), R McCann for Quinn (67).

REF – B Judge (Sligo).