Joe McGill scores as London defeat Leitrim in Connacht Plate final

Joe McGill grabbed a goal and a point as London overcame Leitrim in the FBD Insurance Connacht League Plate Final on Saturday evening at the Connacht Centre of Excellence.

The St Mary’s, Convoy man got the first goal of the game for the Exiles as they led by 1-7 to 0-4 at the break and he kicked another in the second half on their way to winning.

Former Naomh Colmcille man Daniel Clarke was also on the scoresheet, kicking two points from midfield, while London captain Nathan McElwaine from Termon also started.

The trio play for North London Shamrocks at club level, as the side won a second London senior title in 2025 for a second successive season.

Shaun Wogan, a former Glenswilly man, was an unused substitute for the side managed by Michael Maher, with another Termon man, Michael Boyle, part of the coaching staff.

Gaoth Dobhair’s Michael Carroll had been part of the panel for the league phase, but didn’t feature in Saturday’s Shield final.

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Shay Rafter top scored for London, with the Tara man hitting 1-4, while Conor O’Donoghue of St Kiernan’s also hit 1-1.

London will begin their Division 4 league campaign at home to Tipperary this Sunday, January 25, in McGovern Park at 1pm.

London scorers: Shay Rafter 1-4, 45, 1f; Joe McGill and Conor O’Donoghue 1-1 each; Daniel Clarke and Kristian Healy 0-2 each; Conor Goggin and Conal Gallagher 0-1 each.

Leitrim scorers: Oisin McLoughlin 0-5, tp, 2f; Ben Guckian 1-1; Arek Oberwan, Tom Plunkett and Hugh Bracken 0-1 each.

Leitrim: Daire O’Shea, Oran Foley, Peter Prior, Dessie Wisely, Arek Oberwan, Eoin McLoughlin, Dara Greenan, Bailey McBride, Colm McLoughlin, Oisin McLoughlin, Ben Guckian, Hugh Clancy, Adam Gethins, Tom Plunkett, Joe McGloin. 

Subs: Cormac Moran and Luke Braam Farrell for Wisely and Clancy (24); Gavin Gallagher for Greenan (34); Joey McBrien for C McLoughlin (42); Hugh Bracken, Oisin Molloy, Sean Carolan Morris and Charlie Kearney for E McLoughlin, McGloin, Braam Farrell and Gethins (54).

London: Andrew Walsh; Nathan McElwaine, Matt Maughan, Stephen Henry; Conor Coggin, Conal Gallagher, Conor O’Donoghue; Liam Gallagher, Daniel Clarke; Tighe Barry, Joe McGill, Kristian Healy; Michael O’Reilly, Shay Rafter, James Davis. 

Subs: Ciaran McKeon for Barry (36); George Durrant for O’Reilly (42); Liam Murphy, Conor Redican and Ciaran Gaughran for McGill, O’Donoghue and Davis (53); Oran Kerr for Goggin (59).