Leitrim Claim All-Ireland U20 C Hurling Crown After Penalty Shootout

Delighted with the victory, Olcan Conway termed Leitrim's penalty shootout victory over Monaghan in the All-Ireland U20 C Hurling Final as a “toss of a coin” as he termed the game a wonderful advertisement for the game of hurling.

Leitrim boss Olcan Conway has hailed his side’s All-Ireland U20 C Hurling Final victory over Monaghan as a “toss of a coin” after a pulsating game at Kingspan Breffni Park.

The sides finished level after extra-time, before Conway’s charges prevailed 5-4 on penalties to claim the title.

Conway admitted that penalties are a “cruel” way to finish a game, but praised both Leitrim and Monaghan for serving up a thrilling contest.

“It is cruel to finish a game on penalties,” said Conway after the game.

“When you get to penalties it is just a toss of a coin and we came out the right side of it. You have to give a hell of a lot of respect to Monaghan.

“They were fantastic this evening and our lads were very good as well.

“Leitrim and Monaghan really did give everything out on that field today. It was a wonderful advertisement for Under 20 hurling in the so-called weaker counties.

“It was top class hurling out there and it was a brilliant game.”

Conway, who is a passionate advocate for hurling at weaker counties, was delighted with the standard of the game in Cavan.

“It was a pulsating game,” said Conway.

“We were in front; they were in front, two teams pegging each other back all the time and it was the same in extra time - such a game of hurling.

“Honest to God it was a fabulous game, really good. Monaghan kept going; we kept going.

“In the last minute you had lads cramping up left, right and centre. It goes to show you how much it meant to both teams. Both sets of players really did give it everything.”

Cian McManus and Dean Early both made late efforts to win the game for Leitrim in normal time, but Conway praised the duo for their efforts despite the points ultimately drifting wide.

“They were from the wrong side of the wind, which was getting up and the wind just sneaked the two outside the post,” said Conway.

“They were still making great efforts with Cian coming up from wing back and Dean coming from wing forward to get their shots close enough in the final minutes of extra time.

“Their efforts unfortunately didn't go over the bar but fortunately we came out on the right side of it at the end.

Olcan Conway hails ‘fabulous’ All-Ireland U20 C Hurling Final after Leitrim’s penalty triumph

On Pearse Kenny’s winning penalty, Conway added: “It was a great penalty by Pearse; he bounced it along the ground and pinged it into the corner.”