Bearna cut loose in extra time as Leitir Mór run out of steam

Leitir Mór 1-13

After extra-time

THIS was an entertaining if strange Galway senior football championship encounter that Bearna could well have lost before ultimately cruising to a convincing victory in extra-time.

Level eight times, Bearna scorched clear hitting 1-7 without reply as Leitir Mór were left to reflect on what might have been. Fortunate to survive against a determined Leitir Mór outfit, Bearna had a bit more attacking quality and they made it count in the closing stages. Leitir Mór failed to score in extra-time time and such was Bearna's utter dominance then the losers were only able to create two chances in the final 20 minutes.

Bearna, who had introduced DD Flaherty and teenager Ryan Folan to telling effect, closed out the deal impressively. Pat Fallon is stitching a decent panel with a nice blend of youth and experience together again and there gave glimpses to suggest why they are quietly confident about making an impact.

While Bearna possessed an extra drop of class following the arrival of Flaherty and Folan, Leitir Mór had started with commendable urgency. The Gaeltacht side, managed by Bert Curran, himself a respected and notable contributor to in the development of the Bearna club throughout the years, adopted a direct running style that had the favourites in a spot of bother initially.

Curran had organised his team effectively and the players were slick enough, accumulating a 0-6 to 0-2 advantage by the 17th minute. Leitir Mór were clinical, only spurning one scoring opportunity during that initial burst while at the opposite end Bearna's shooting radar wasn't functioning perfectly.

Still when the interval rolled around Bearna had trimmed the deficit to the minimum as Kieran Hanley nailed three fine efforts in a row. Those scores carried significant value as only a point separated the protagonists.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.