Rossies lose out to Leitrim as Glancy goal proves decisive

Leitrim proved too good for Roscommon when the sides clashed in a lively and at times hard fought FBD League game on Sunday in Ballinamore where a second-half penalty conversion by James Glancy (Glencar/Manor) proved to be the turning point. Roscommon was very wasteful in the first half when they shot seven wides while the home side had just two wides. Leitrim's more clinical approach up front in the opening 30 minutes allowed them to take control of proceedings, even though Roscommon enjoyed a slight edge at midfield in this period. After the restart Roscommon's superiority at midfield waned noticeably as Leitrim's pairing of Paddy McGowan and Daniel Lowe got to grips with the visitors' Michael Finneran and Kevin Higgins, who both impressed initially. Manager Des Newton had to change Roscommon's selected line-up before the start of the game when he drafted in subs John Rogers, Brian Murtagh and Matt Scally for the unavailable David O'Gara, Enda Kenny and Colin Crompton, respectively. As a result Newton had only three outfield subs available to him when the game started, Scott Oates, Daniel Rogers and Paddy Brogan. Both Oates and Rogers saw action with the former being brought on for the injured Brian Murtagh after just eight minutes while the latter replaced Matt Scally for the final quarter of the encounter. Leitrim took the lead in this clash in the 17th minute and never allowed Roscommon to get in front after that. Roscommon managed to pull back to a level pegging situation with Leitrim twice in the first nine minutes of the second half, but that was as close as the visitors came to turning the tables on their rivals. Both sides recorded a number of poor wides in the opening eleven minutes with Gerry Hickey for Leitrim and Donie Shine for Roscommon failing to convert what appeared to be easy close-in frees at opposite ends. The game's first score came on 12 minutes when Leitrim's Gerry Hickey found the range from a 13-metre free. Two minutes later, Roscommon's Ger Heneghan answered with a levelling point from play from an acute angle. Leitrim dominated the exchanges for the next eighteen minutes when they added four unanswered points and held Roscommon scoreless in this period. A 17th minute foul on Robbie Lowe by Michael Higgins in an off the ball incident was punished by James Glancy (Glencar/Manor) when he edged Leitrim ahead from the resultant free. The home side went further ahead five minutes later when Paddy McGowan finished off a good move with a point after being put through by a final pass from Ray Cox. Robbie Lowe shot over for Leitrim after receiving a 24th minute pass from Gerry Hickey, to give his side a three-point cushion. Following two more minutes, James Glancy (Glencar/Manor) converted a free to further extend the home side's advantage while Leitrim's Daniel Lowe received a yellow card six minutes later. Roscommon reduced Leitrim's lead to the minimum just before the interval whistle after Ger Heneghan's low shot from six metres was deflected into the net past 'keeper Cathal McCrann by full-back Ciaran Egan. Heneghan brought Roscommon right back into contention with this critical strike that cut Leitrim's half-time advantage to one point (0-5 to 1-1). Four minutes after the restart, John Rogers - who had taken over the free taking duties from an off form Donie Shine - made it level pegging when he punished a Gerry Hickey foul on him. However Leitrim went ahead once more two minutes later when James Glancy (Glencar/Manor) split the Roscommon posts with a well-hit 45-metre free. But John Rogers put the game back in a stalemate situation again when he slotted over a 39th-minute free after Conor Devaney was fouled. Leitrim won a penalty five minutes later when Michael Higgins, who received a yellow card, took down Ray Cox. James Glancy (Glencar/Manor) tucked away the spotkick to put Leitrim into a lead they never subsequently surrendered. To their credit, Roscommon fought back and cut Leitrim's lead to the minimum by the 51st minute after John Rogers and sub Scott Oates shot a point apiece from play. However Leitrim surged downfield three minutes later and after putting a good move together wing-back Daniel Beck fired over to lift the Roscommon siege with Beck being put through by a final pass from Paul Brennan. A 56th minute foul on Brennan yielded another point for Leitrim after James Glancy (Glencar/Manor) tapped the resultant free over the crossbar. Leitrim's Gerry Hickey was admonished with a yellow card two minutes later by referee Marty Duffy. With Roscommon unable to get any more scores, Leitrim held out for the win in the remaining minutes of the action. New Leitrim joint managers George Dugdale and Barney Breen were happy with their side's overall performance, which also provided them with their first win since taking over from Mickey Moran, who stepped down as manager for health reasons before Christmas. Leitrim: Cathal McCrann; Alan Wynne, Ciaran Egan, Paddy Maguire; Daniel Beck 0-1, James Glancy (St Mary's), Wayne McKeon; Paddy McGowan 0-1, Daniel Lowe; Paul Brennan, Robbie Lowe 0-1, Gerry Hickey 0-1(f); Colm Clarke, James Glancy (Glencar/Manor) 1-4 (1-0pen, 0-4f), Ray Cox. Subs Declan Gilhooley for J. Glancy (St Mary's, HT), Darren Sweeney for R. Lowe (50 mins). Roscommon: Darren O'Malley; Sean McDermott, Jack Sharkey, Stephen Ormbsy; Cathal Dineen, Michael Higgins, Sean Purcell; Michael Finneran, Kevin Higgins; Conor Devaney, John Rogers 0-3 (2f), Brian Murtagh; Matt Scally, Donie Shine, Ger Heneghan 1-1. Subs: Scott Oates 0-1 for Murtagh (8 mins), Daniel Rogers for Scally (45). Referee: Marty Duffy (Sligo).