The Melvin Gaels Junior side suffered their second defeat of the league campaign against a powerful Leitrim Gaels first fifteen in Kinlough last Sunday on a score line of 1-12 to 1-6. Played in ideal conditions the home side struggled to cope for much of the game with the greater physicality and experience of their southern counterparts who appear to be a much stronger outfit than their Division 4 status suggests.

That said there was little to separate the teams in the first 15 minutes with Jonathan Connolly opening the scoring for the northern Gaels with a superbly taken point from the wing after 5 minutes. In the second quarter the Southern side took a firm grip on proceedings to lead at half time by 0-6 to 0-2 – a Paul Simpson free doubling the Melvin men’s tally for the half. The third quarter also belonged to the men from Leitrim village who stormed into a commanding 1-11 to 0-3 lead with 10 minutes remaining.

It is to the credit of the home side that they refused to lie down at this point, instead they displayed tremendous guts and character to fight back in the last ten minutes hitting an unanswered 1-3. Paul Simpson made up for an unfortunate penalty miss with a well executed goal and two points, while the evergreen Tom Lipsett completed the scoring for the home side with a well taken point from play.

The game proved to be a useful learning curve for the players and management who face near neighbours Glencar Manor in Manorhamilton in their next league outing in a fortnight’s time.

Team and scorers were: Paul Rooney, Sean Kilkenny , Matthew McGloin, Shane Ryan, Anthony Tiffoney, Blaine Mulligan, Patrick McGowan, Bernard McGowan, Pat Gallagher, Peter McGowan, Joe McGowan, Donal Clancy, Jonathan Connolly (0-1), Packie Hill, Paul Simpson (1-4) Subs: Peter O’Reilly for Packie Hill, Stephen Clancy for Sean Kilkenny, Tom Lipsett (0-1) for Peter O’Reilly, Declan Roper for Donal Clancy, Joe Tiffoney for Peter McGowan, Kevin Corby.