In what was a strange match, Leitrim dominated the first half, faded in the second half as Longford kicked numerous good chances away and then had to withstand the scare of two late goals at a time when the game was as good as over.

In what may seem a contradiction, Longford had enough chances to win the Shield Final yet Leitrim were still comfortable winners.

According to those who were at the blitz, both teams produced far better performances last Saturday but last Wednesday’s Shield Final won’t live long in the memory as both teams missed some great chances, with Longford the more wasteful.

Leitrim’s scores came in two main blitzes - Brian Beirne landed 1-2 in the first ten minutes while Colm O’Reilly, Domhnall Flynn and Ciaran Gilheaney all pointed in the first four minutes of the second half.

Leitrim then went 23 minutes without a score but Flynn’s second point turned out to be so critical when Padraig McCormack lashed home two late goals.

What won the day for Martin McGowan’s side was a resilient back-line and a great work ethic throughout the entire team - when the pressure was on, and it was on in the second half as Longford dominated, Leitrim players in all sectors worked hard to ensure the home side wouldn’t get any easy scores.

Longford players were never given a minute on the ball and when they did manage to get through, they found keeper Colin Maguire an impenetrable barrier - making three great saves in one incident in the 58th minute, saves that would take on even greater significance later when Longford did get two goals.

Captain Martin Beirne led his defence by example with a great display at centre-back but he was more than ably supported by his entire back-line where Matthew Murphy stood out with his calmness under pressure. Upfront, Ciaran Gilheaney typified the Leitrim effort with a ferocious work ethic and a steely determination, particularly on his long solo runs in the second half.

Brian Beirne was the hero of the first half as he scored all but one point of Leitrim’s halftime total of 1-4. His power in the air and ability to score caused Longford no end of problems but as the supply to him dried up in the second half, Beirne faded out of the contest.

Sub Shane Dwyer caught the eye when he came on with his pace while the likes of Micheal McWeeney, Jamie Conlon and John Healy did well.

Leitrim got off to the best possible start but not without some fortune - a Shane Moran ball from the right corner seemed to get caught in no man’s land between the keeper and Brian Beirne and the Leitrim full-forward managed to scramble the ball home after three minutes.

A minute later, Gerard Kelly’s long delivery saw Stephen McManus set up Beirne to point. Misses from Colm O’Reilly, Domhnall Flynn and McManus caused a little bit of worry before Beirne scored a fine point from a very tight angle on 10 minutes.