Higgins swoops to conquer Leitrim

CONNACHT JFC: Roscommon 2-10 Leitrim 0-13 (Aet; 1-7 to 0-10 after 60 mins) : WING FORWARD Kevin Higgins scored a goal three …

CONNACHT JFC: Roscommon 2-10 Leitrim 0-13 (Aet; 1-7 to 0-10 after 60 mins): WING FORWARD Kevin Higgins scored a goal three minutes from the end of extra-time to secure the Connacht junior football championship title for Roscommon after a hard, tight contest against a battling Leitrim side at Pearse Stadium yesterday.

Roscommon had seemed poised for victory in normal time but Leitrim corner forward James Holohan steered over a superb equaliser as the game went into stoppage time.

A goal after seven minutes from Cathal McHugh had earned Roscommon a 1-3 to 0-4 interval lead.

Roscommon led 1-9 to 0-11 at the end of the first period of extra time. Leitrim drew level once more through a Declan Gilhooley pointed free after two minutes but Higgins ended the Leitrim challenge when he fisted a dropping ball to the net.

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ROSCOMMON: M Miley; R Brady, R Cox, D Flynn; N Carty, J Nolan, C Garvey; M Killilea, M Reynolds; K Higgins (1-2), B Mullen (0-2), J McKeague; F Cregg, D Moran (0-5, three frees), C McHugh (1-1). Subs: I Kilbride for Killilea (45 mins); P Garvey for McKeague (51 mins); J Harte for Nolan (53 mins); M O'Donoghue for McHugh (56 mins).

LEITRIM: C McCrann; W Gilgunn, D Flynn, L Ferguson; A Bohan, J McGuinness, D Beck; D Lowe, N Doonan (0-2); P McGowan (0-1), D O'Donnell (0-4, two frees), C Prior (0-1); R Cox (0-1), D Gilhooley (0-2, frees), J Holohan (0-2). Subs: E Lee for Bohan (inj, 5 mins); K Scollan for Cox (half-time); A Cullen for O'Donnell (51 mins); O'Donnell for Prior (69 mins); N Maguire for Lowe (74 mins); J Cullen for Gilhooley (76 mins).

Referee: D Corcoran(Mayo).