Leitrim reclaim Connacht Intermediate crown from Roscommon

Connacht Intermediate LGFA Final (Sunday, 12^th May 2024)

Leitrim 3-12 Roscommon 0-19

DARREN KELLY

Leitrim’s goal scoring prowess was decisive in regaining the ‘Gift of Life’ Cup they surrendered 12 months previously to be crowned TG4 Connacht intermediate ladies football champions at St. Brigid’s GAA, Kiltoom, Co. Roscommon on Sunday.

Goals from Ailbhe Clancy, Michelle Guckian and Muireann Devaney swung this contest for Johnny Garrity’s team.

Aimee O’Connor kicked 10 points for Roscommon while Aisling Hanly and Kate Nolan were also prominent.  But 10 wides overall proved costly for Ollie Lennon’s side.

Roscommon made the ideal start with a Nolan point inside 35 seconds but despite being under pressure, Leitrim opened up the opposing defence with Guckian’s shot just over the bar.

Siomha Quinn put Leitrim ahead on six minutes before Roscommon’s best spell.  Hanly and O’Connor converted two each with Lauren Shanagher also on target, making it 0-6 to 0-2 to the primrose and blue on 13 minutes.

However, Leitrim, who’d missed three goal chances, gained major success as Quinn and Áine Redican helped Clancy get their first green flag 60 seconds later.

Guckian’s free levelled before Ella Thompson gave Roscommon the lead again.  But when Laura O’Dowd and Devaney opened up the right flank on 22 minutes, Guckian finished off Leitrim’s second goal for a 2-3 to 0-7 advantage.

Judy McDermott, Hanley and O’Connor overturned the deficit. Guckian restored parity but Kate Nolan restored Roscommon’s advantage.  A Devaney point on 29 minutes left it 2-5 to 0-11 at the interval.

Devaney and O’Dowd got two Leitrim points after the restart but O’Connor responded with two frees.  And when Leitrim went three clear again through two Clancy frees and Guckian, another O’Connor triple had it 2-10 to 0-16 on 47 minutes.

But when Devaney took Niamh Tighe’s pass 60 seconds later, she slotted into the corner for Leitrim’s third goal.  A Clancy point from play on from 45 yards put four between them.  Sinead Farrell reduced arrears but Clancy replied with a free.

Roscommon rallied with O’Connor getting two more white flags to bring her personal tally.  But despite gaining one more chance, they couldn’t find the critical goal and Leitrim who won their third intermediate title in four seasons.

Scorers – Leitrim: M Guckian 1-4 (1f), A Clancy 1-4 (3f), M Devaney 1-2, L O’Dowd 0-1, S Quinn 0-1.

Scorers – Roscommon: A O’Connor 0-10 (3f), A Hanly 0-3, K Nolan 0-2, J McDermott 0-1, E Thompson 0-1, L Shanagher 0-1, S Farrell 0-1.

LEITRIM: M Monaghan; C Owens, C Tyrrell, E Quigley; S Reynolds, K Bruen, E Bruen; N Tighe, M Guckian; L O’Dowd, M Devaney, Á Redican; A Clancy, V Egan, S Quinn.

Subs: L Fox for Quinn (36), O Flynn for Egan (38), B O’Rourke for Guckian (54)

ROSCOMMON: H Cummins; A McGrath, E Irwin, C Cregg; J McDermott, S Wynne, N Feeney; A Shanagher, E Thompson; L Shanagher, K Nolan, R Fitzmaurice; A Hanley, L Fleming, A O’Connor.

Subs: S Farrell for McDermott (38), A Gavin for L Shanagher (54)

REFEREE: Shane Curley (Galway)