NHL Roinn 3B FINAL Sligo 3-17 v Leitrim 2-16

Back 19/10/2020 @ 11:29 | mainnews | NHL Roinn 3B FINAL Sligo 3-17 v Leitrim 2-16

The county hurlers were back in Bekan almost 19 months after last years appearance at the venue where they lost this final in 2019 to Longford. It was a cold and wet day in 2019 but 2020 surprisingly for October had a better hurling day for the final where Sligo hit more wides than points scored - an amazing statistic  . This was also the first game under the new county hurling management team of Padraig Mannion and his selectors after the resignations of Daithí Hand and his team. This also meant there were a few high profile player absentees in particular scorer in chief Keith Raymond. On the other side there was a number of new names in the squad and the subs bench along with the team fitness proved vital in the closing stages.

Sligo hit 19 wides and the Leitrim keeper gave a man of the match display with a number of top class saves with one in particular in the second half absolutely stunning. The physical presence of Conor Beirne and Poinard in the Leitrim full forward line caused havoc as did the Moreton brothers with their all action style. 

Sligo got off to a good start with a Gerard O'Kelly Lynch point from play within seconds of the throw in and he followed with a free two minutes later. Ben Murray and Gavin O'Hagan equalised for Leitrim. Sligo has a number of good chances at this time for goals but none were taken. Debutant Conor Hannify got his first score for Sligo in the 12th minute but O'Hagan replied and at the water break Leitrim lead by one following a James McNabola free. In an eventful 90 seconds, Leitrim found the net when Beirne fielded turned and passed to Poinard who drove to the net. This was quickly followed by a O'Hagan free and from the subsequent puck out GOKL broke and headed for goal and drove across the keeper to the net. In the 26th minute Eoin Comerford got a goo long range point but Leitrim struck back when a long range effort by McNabola made its way to the Sligo net via a deflection or deft touch from Beirne. Beirne pointed directly afterwards. Hannify and O'Kelly Lynch responded for Sligo. 

Ronan Cox came on for Sligo at this point adding a more physical presence around the middle with great tenacity. It was blow for blow before the half time break with Mikey Gordon and Finnian Cawley scoring from play and Tony O'Kelly Lynch with a free being cancelled out by two from O'Hagan and Colm Moreton making the score at the whistle 2-9 v 1-9 to Leitrim. 

Conor Griffin moved into full forward for the second half and right away it paid dividends with the first score of the half. GOKL got his second goal in the second minute of the half, again striking across the goal into the side netting. Leitrim responded and hit a puprle patch where they out hurled and out muscled Sligo with 4 points up to the water break from O'Hagan and Enda Moreton with only a 65 from O'Kelly Lynch in response. Daniel Rolston entered for his senior debut and added a stronger presence in front of the full back line. Ruairí Brennan and Michael Munnelly also entered the fray in the 22nd minute with both providing very good displays. When Colm Moreton scored a point after throwing off two defenders in the 24th minute it looked like it would be Leitrims day. However their half forward line were beginning to look spent along with Sligo running more with the sliotar in hand and off the shoulder it began to change. Michael Munnelly scored a point after a good run down the left side of the field which he popped over from an acute angle and in the 30th minute the goal that would drive onto victory arrived. 

A Leitrim puckout was won on the Sligo 65, a few short passes and Mark Hannify went on a solo run that ended almost 100m later on the Leitrim goal line with a handpass to Gerard O'Kelly Lynch who deftly kicked under the Leitrim keeper.  Leitrim did respond with another O'Hagan free but at this stage there was going to be only one winner with some smart crossfield passes resulting in Hannify , Ronan Cox and Cawley all scoring points from play to give Sligo the victory and promotion to Roinn 3A for the 2021 season.

Captain Niall Feehily received the cup on behalf of his team.

Scorers: 

Sligo - Gerard O'Kelly Lynch 3-4 (1f 2x65), Tony O'Kelly Lynch 0-3 (3f), Conor Hannify 0-2, Finnian Cawley 0-2, Eoin Comerford, Mikey Gordon, Conor Griffin, Michael Munnelly, Mark Hannify, Ronan Cox 0-1 each.

Leitrim - Gavin O'Hagan 0-9 (6f), Conor Beirne 1-2, Peter Poinard 1-0, James McNabola 0-2(1f), Colm Moreton 0-2, Ben Murray, Enda Moreton 0-1 each

Sligo : Stephen Fleming, Kevin O'Kennedy, Niall Feehily(capt), Niall Kilcullen, Finnian Cawley, Rory McHugh, Mark Hannify, Mikey Gordon, Conor Griffin, Gerard O'Kelly Lynch, Kieran Prior, Eoin Comerford, Conor Hannify, Tony O'Kelly Lynch, Andrew Kicullen
Subs - Ronan Cox for Comerford, Daniel Rolston for N.Kilcullen, Ruairí Brennan for Kieran Prior, Michael Munnelly for C.Hannify