NEW CHAMPS HAVE THAT BIT ’MORE...
IN A cracking Leitrim final at Carrick- onShannon, a 57th- minute Niall McGovern goal enabled Ballinamore — who had last won the county title 31 years ago — to stage a come-frombehind win over champions Mohill.
The decider was level in the 30th minute at 0- 8 apiece after Keith Beirne converted a 45 and a free for Mohill with Keith Keegan and Sean Harkin also putting over points.
Ballinamore, with a Wayne McKeon converted free plus a point from play, as well as Michael McKiernan and Tom Prior who got a point apiece, were firmly in the contest.
Interval
A Shane Quinn point in first half added time then put Mohill ahead by 0- 10 to 0- 9 at the interval.
In a hard-fought battle, Mohill led 0-14 to 0-13 at the second water break after an exchange of points at opposite ends by Bei r ne and Ballinamore’s Shane Moran.
Ballinamore upped their tempo after the restart and got on level terms with a point from Senan Harte and then McKeon added another point to put them ahead.
After that, McGovern’s well- worked goal put Ballinamore in the driving seat.
However, Moh i l l reduced the gap to the minimum after Daniel Beck, Beirne (free) and Keegan hit over points.
But Ballinamore were not to be denied and they secured the title when Dean McGovern shot over at the death. BALLINAMORE: D. Maxwell; L. Ferguson, Ó. McCaffrey, M. Murphy; P. Connaughton 0-1, K. McHugh; W. McKeon 0- 5 2f; S. Moran 0- 3, D. McGovern 1- 0; B. Banks, M. McGrory, M. McKiernan 0-1; L. Murphy 0- 3 3f, N. McGovern 0 -1, T. Prior 0 -2. Subs: S. Harte 0-1 for McGrory ( 3 8); C. McHugh for Connaughton (52); P. Reynolds for M. Murphy (57); J. Cullen for L. Murphy (61).
MOHILL: P. Tighe, D. Mitchell, A. Armstrong, Ó. Madden; J. Mitchell, S. Quinn 0-1, D. Beck 0-1; K. Keegan 0-2, D. Flynn; E. Harkin, K. Beirne 0-10 4f,; Seán Harkin 0-1; A. McLoughlin, R. Kennedy, J. Reynolds 0-2. Subs: F. McGuinness for Kennedy (39); C. Canning for McLoughlin (52); R. Gordon for E. Harkin (60);
Referee: G. Foley
Gaels). ( Melvin