Mohill 0-14 Ballinamore Sean O'Heslin's 1-11
Defending champions Mohill forced a late draw with Ballinamore when sub Mathew Murphy fisted over a levelling point at the end of an exciting Leitrim final in Sean O'Heslin Park.
Ballinamore got off to something of a dream start after Paul Honeyman had edged them ahead with a second free and then two minutes later Captain Wayne McKeon sent in a speculative ball than ended in the Mohill net after goalkeeper Padraig Tighe, who had advanced to gather the ball, misjudged its flight.
A shell shocked Mohill got their account opened on the five-minute mark when Jack Rowley split the Ballinamore posts, and they reduced the deficit to the minimum over the four minutes after Keith Beirne converted a free and Keith Keegan fired over from play.
McKeon and Beirne traded scores to leave the minimum margin between the sides on 11 minutes before Ballinamore added points from Honeyman and a Luke Murphy free conversion to get thee clear on the 16 minute mark.
The champions hit back through Beirne (free) and Keegan to leave the minimum between the sides with five minutes left in the opening half, but Ballinamore kept the scoreboard ticking over Paul Moran and Honeyman chipping in, before a Beirne free kept Mohill in the hunt.
Ballinamore led by 1-06 to 0-07 at half-time but Mohill reduced the deficit again to the minimum some six minutes after the restart when Beirne split the posts from a placed ball.
However Ballinamore over the next three minutes responded with points from Honeyman (free) and Naoise McManus.
With the defence of their title in major doubt, Mohill dug deep to get on level terms by 49th minute after Beirne, Tadgh Mulligan and Evan Harkin shot over in turn.
And the champions went on to take the lead for the first time in the game when Jack Rowley smashed one over on the 50 minute mark, with Beirne continuing their momentum with another score from a placed ball.
Ballinamore, who hadn't scored for 18 minutes, had to dig deep and they did just that to score points from Honeyman and McKeon frees to make it an even Stephen situation with just four minutes of normal time left.
After that Ballinamore regained the lead when Honeyman sent a 58th minute free sailing between the uprights, and then Mohill were reduced to 14 players when right corner back David Mitchell received a black card in the second minute of added time.
Ballinamore appeared to be heading for victory after that but they conceded a turnover which ended with the ball being worked to Murphy, who fisted over the equaliser, to sent the game to a replay on Saturday in Ballinamore.
Mohill: Padraig Tighe; David Mitchell, James Mitchell, Ryan Bohan; Seán Harkin, Shane Quinn, Jack Rowley (0-02); Conor Quinn, Domhnaill Flynn; Tadh Mulligan (0-01), Keith Kegan (0-02), Evan Harkin (0-01); Fiachra McGuinness, Keith Beirne (0-07(6f)), Jordan Reynolds.
Subs: Mathew Murphy (0-01) for J Mitchell (53); Ronan Gordon for Mulligan (54); Donal Duignan for Rowley (58).
Ballinamore: Darren Maxwell; Mathew Murphy, Brian Banks, Patrick Connaughton; Michael McBrien, Liam Ferguson, Cathal McHugh; Shane Moran, Naoise McManus (0-01), Michael McKiernan, Wayne McKeon (1-02(1f), Paul Moran (0-02(2f); Luke Murphy (0-01), Tom Prior, Paul Honeyman (0-05(3f)).
Subs: Keelan McHugh for McManus (39); Dessie Wisely & Danny Smith for McKiernan & L Murphy (53); Killian Maguire for C McHugh (61).
Referee: Enda Egan (Fenagh St. Caillins).
