Leitrim overcome a dreadful start

By Daragh Ó Conchúir Leitrim 0-17 Wexford 1-10

A ravenously hungry Leitrim overcame a dreadful start that saw
them fall four points behind early on to become the inaugural
winners of the TG4 ladies IFC. Long-serving attacker Ann Marie
Cox, who played when Leitrim won the junior title 19 years ago,
and Sarah McLoughlin were the scoring heroes for the champions,
registering 13 points between them. While McLoughlin deservedly
won the Player of the Match award, Cox and the ubiquitous Maeve
Quinn must have pushed her close. It was a special day for the
midfielder in particular, as the new trophy is named after her
mother Mary Quinn.

Wexford burst out of the traps to lead by 0-5 to 0-1 by the ninth
minute, providing an early exhibition of point-scoring. Leitrim
showed themselves to be no slouches in this department either
however and led by 0-8 to 0-6 at half time. Kate Kelly’s 34th
minute goal might have been the signal for Wexford to push on
for the widely predicted victory but with McLoughlin firing over
points from all angles and Cox deadly from free kicks, Leitrim
regained the lead and held it to the final whistle. Two late Deirdre
Fox frees brought Wexford back to within two points and it took
some spectacular last ditch defending, especially from rock solid
goalkeeper Louise McLoughlin to deny Leona Tector and Caroline
Murphy late on.

But Leitrim were always in control and points from Cox and magnificent
corner-back Mary McKeon sealed the verdict for them.

Scorers –

Leitrim: AM Cox 0-8 (7fs); S McLoughlin 0-5; E Donoghue 0-2; A
Conlan, M McKeon 0-1 each

Wexford: K Kelly 1-1; C Murphy, D Fox (fs), J Dwyer 0-2 each;
S Kehoe, L Evered 0-1

Wexford: MR Kelly; M Murray, M Leacy, A Waters; M Kelly, L Tector,
M Doyle; D Fox, C Scallan; L Evered, J Dwyer, S Kehoe; K Kelly,
C Murphy, M Hearne. Sub: N Scallan for Doyle (26); G Moore for
M Kelly (47); B Curran for Evered (49); K Morris for Leacy (56).

Leitrim: L Loughlin; C Holohan, S Brennan, M McKeon; C Tyrell,
L Brennan, T Mylott; M Quinn, A Brennan; A Conlan 0-1, S McLoughlin,
E McGlade; AM Cox, E Donoghue, M Reynolds. Sub: S Quinn for L
Brennan inj. (26).

Referee: B Gallagher