04 September 2007 2nd half goals win it for Leitrim Share this Article 0 0 0 Shares! 0 Shares! 2nd half goals win it for Leitrim By Daragh Ó Conchúir Leitrim 3-7 Clare 2-9 Three second half goals helped Leitrim secure the narrowest victories over Clare in yesterday’s breathtaking TG4 All-Ireland IFC semi-final at Kingspan Breffni Park. Clare wasted a late opportunity to equalise, when taking a quick free from in front of the posts that captain Majella Griffin would surely have fancied converting. It was typical of the drama provided by a game that burst into life in the latter period with a total of five goals. Michelle Reynolds began the spree with a powerful, low shot to the corner of the net in the 34th minute to give her side the lead but when Griffin fired a bullet beyond Louise Loughlin at the other end 10 minutes later, it was advantage Clare, 1-7 to 1-6. Leitrim’s riposte was instant and match-winning. First Reynolds notched up her second goal in stunning fashion, winning the ball close to the sideline before rounding her marker and firing an unstoppable shot to the net although Denise Walsh did get her fingertips to it. Within seconds Eileen Donoghue pounced on a friendly rebound and suddenly Leitrim were five points clear. Clare were not done though and when Marie Kelly held her nerve well to slide home despite being surrounded by Leitrim defenders, the game was back in the melting pot, only for the Munster side to spurn that late chance. They had led by a point at the interval despite playing second fiddle for much of the opening period. Griffin got them off the mark with a third minute point but Leitrim held the upper hand around the middle third, although it took them almost nine minutes to record their first score by virtue of an Ann Marie Cox free. Cox saw her well struck penalty kick fly just outside the post soon afterwards but undeterred converted another free from the next attack and when the rampaging Donoghue ended a strong run with a point last year’s junior finalists were two points clear. Griffin halved the deficit with a good score and Marie Kelly toe-poked a golden opportunity wide when put in the clear by a glorious Áine Kelly pass but Leitrim responded well with Cox once again hitting the target from a free. Clare finished strongly however with three points from the influential Griffin (free), Niamh Keane and Áine Kelly to go in at the break 0-5 to 0-4 ahead. It was to prove an insufficient advantage in the end. Leitrim: L Loughlin; C Holohan, S Brennan, M McKeon; C Tyrell, L Brennan, T Mylott; M Quinn, A Brennan; C Plunkett, A Conlon, E McGlade; AM Cox 0-6 (4fs), E Donoghue 1-1, M Reynolds 2-0. Sub: S Quinn for McGlade (ht); C Plunkett for Conlon (42); McGlade for Plunkett (51). Clare: D Walsh; L Kelly, C Considine, C Cleary; S Kelly, J Kennedy, G Lynch; L Henchy, U Downes; N Keane 0-1, M Griffin 1-4 (0-1f), M Kelly 1-1; A Kelly 0-2, F Lafferty 0-1, H Quinn. Sub: M Delaney for Kennedy (38); B Kelly for Quinn (51). Referee: E Jones (Tyrone). Share this Article 0 0