Glencar Manorhamilton strike late to make it four Gotham Dry Wall LGFA Senior A titles in a row

Two goals in added time saw Glencar Manorhamilton finally break the resistance of a stubborn and tough St Joseph's outfit who pushed the defending champions to the limit in an intriguing if low scoring and off-key Gotham Dry Wall LGFA Senior A Championship Final in Shane McGettigan Park on Saturday afternoon.

For three quarters of this contest, Glencar Manorhamilton's poise and experience seemed set to ensure a comfortable fourth title in a row but St Joseph's, trailing by seven points midway through the second half and yet to score, threw the cat among the pigeons with two goals and a point in the space of four minutes to threaten the north Leitrim team's supremacy.

Transformed by two goals from Bronagh O'Rourke, St Joseph's roared into the contest and started to test the champions as we expected them but they never never able to get their noses in front and with Muireann Devaney and Player of the Match Aoife Gilmartin leading the way, Glencar Manorhamilton held out before striking decisively in added time.

Glencar Manorhamilton celebrate four in a row in Gotham Dry Wall LGFA Senior A Final - GALLERY

Glencar Manorhamilton claimed the Gotham Dry Wall LGFA Senior A Championship for the fourth year in a row when they struck for two injury time goals to kill off the challenge of St Joseph’s in Shane McGettigan Park Drumshanbo on Saturday afternoon. Observer photographer Willie Donnellan was there to catalogue the celebrations after the 2-8 to 2-4 victory

First Devaney, who didn't start the Final due to her involvement with Athlone Town in the Sports Direct Women's FAI Cup on Saturday evening and only came on early in the second half, burst free from a scramble for the ball in the middle of the field and brushing aside two attempted tacklers, the dual sports star soloed 60 yards before planting the ball in the net.

That score came two minutes after St Joseph's drew level and in a match as closely fought as this one, it was a killer blow, a blow doubled a minute later when Ailbhe Clancy produced a remarkable run and chip for a crucial second goal that gave the champions real breathing room.

It was a dramatic and tumultous end to a contest dominated by defences, particularly in the first half as St Joseph's withdrew all but Kate Gormley into their own half when playing against the wind. It meant they frustrated Glencar Manorhamilton's attack but it also left them without a cutting edge at the far end of the field.

The Glencar Manorhamilton team who defeated St Joseph's in the Gotham Dry Wall LGFA Senior A Final in Shane McGettigan Park Picture: Willie Donnellan

The champions dominated possession and open play but with St Joseph's defending as if their lives depended on it, we only got the second point of the game after 24 minutes. Two from Aoife Gilmartin and one from Leah Fox gave Glencar Manor a four point halftime lead but with the wind to come in the second half, St Joseph's must have felt hugely confident.

Ailbhe Clancy had opened the scoring with a fine point on seven minutes, set up by Leah Fox's great catch and run. But it was missed chances that dominated with Fox seeing a goal effort saved on 11 minutes while Clancy had a long range effort held by St Joseph's keeper Sarah Greene.

St Joseph's had a few chances to open their account, Bronagh O'Rourke's effort hitting the post and rebounding clear but it was Glencar Manorhamilton who were creating the chances but missing them as they led 0-4 to no score at the halftime break but they would face the wind in the second half.

The odds definitely improved for St Joseph's less than a minute into the second half when Roisin Rooney was yellow carded for a heavy tackle on Rachel McIntyre but it was Glencar Manorhamilton who reacted decisively, immediately throwing on Muireann Devaney and she immediately fired over a point.

Devaney's presence seemed to drive on the champions who added two more scores to go seven points to no score clear and St Joseph's seemingly without an answer. But then an off-the-ball foul on Bronagh O'Rourke led to a penalty - Cammie McPartland brilliantly saved O'Rourke's spotkick but the St Joseph's corner forward brilliantly chipped the rebound from a tight angle up over McPartland and into the net.

That score transformed St Joseph's as they made huge hay turning over the Manor kickout. Michelle Heslin finished off a well worked move with a long range point and despite a bad miss from sub Jessie McManus, it turned to St Joseph's advantage when McPartland's goal kick went straight to Bronagh O'Rourke who lobbed the retreating McPartland from somewhere near 40 yards!

That tied the scores with just less than 12 minutes left to play - McPartland made a vital catch from a long ball and evaded Carmel McGovern and Glencar Manorhamilton edged back in front when a foul on Leah Fox allowed Devaney to tap over a free on 52 minutes.

The St Joseph's team who were defeated by Glencar Manorhamilton in the Gotham Dry Wall LGFA Senior A Final in Shane McGettigan Park on Saturday Picture: Willie Donnellan

With conditions difficult and both teams throwing everything at it, the game became a real arm-wrestle but it seemed as if St Joseph's would draw level when Bronagh O'Rourke was fouled by Anna Devaney. However, O'Rourke put the free wide but salvation came when referee Kieran Moran penalised Glencar Manorhamilton on the kickout, either not being taken correctly or players inside the area and O'Rourke fired over.

That tied the scores and St Joseph's drove at Glencar Manorhamilton with renewed ferocity but all they could work was a chance for Michelle Heslin that flew wide. It would prove costly when Leah Fox won the scramble for the ball in the middle of the field, St Joseph's appealing for a free. Glencar Manor sprinted clear, getting the ball to Devaney who soloed 60 yards to slam the ball to the net.

St Joseph's kept fighting and O'Rourke converted a long range free on 64 minutes to leave two points between the teams but Glencar Manor again demonstrated their killer instinct when Clancy finished off a run with an audacious chip from a tight angle for Glencar Manorhamilton's second goal.

That well and truly settled it despite another O'Rourke free as Glencar Manorhamilton closed up shop and never gave St Joseph's the sniff of a goal they needed, securing the title for a fourth year in a row.

St Mary's break Glenfarne Kilty hearts as huge crowd enjoys tight Vistamed Junior A Final - GALLERY

St Mary’s Kiltoghert were celebrating in Drumkeerin on Saturday evening as their second string team dashed the hopes of Glenfarne Kiltyclogher to win the 2023 Vistamed Leitrim Junior A Championship title on a 0-11 to 0-10 scoreline. Observer photographer Willie Donnellan was there with his camera to capture pics of the celebrations and the big crowd who thronged into Pairc Naomh Brid ….. see who you can spot!

GLENCAR MANORHAMILTON

Scorers: Muireann Devaney 1-3, 2f; Ailbhe Clancy 1-2; Aoife Gilmartin 0-2; Leah Fox 0-1, 1f

Team: Cammie McPartland, Victoria Golden, Mary Alice Carson, Claire Cullen, Melissa Hewitt, Rebecca Rooney, Karen Connolly, Aoife Gilmartin, Anna Devaney, Roisin Rooney, Ailbhe Clancy, Chloe Rooney, Dearbhla Rooney, Leah Fox, Orlaith Kelly. Subs: Muireann Devaney for D Rooney (33);

ST JOSEPHS

Scorers: Bronagh O'Rourke 2-3, 1-2f; Michelle Heslin 0-1

Team: Sarah Greene, Celine Short, Shannen O'Rourke, Lisa Brady, Rachel McIntyre, Eadaoin Casey, Aoibhe McCabe, Aine Heslin, Eabha McCartin, Genevieve Canning, Carmel McGovern, Clare Owens, Kate Gormley, Michelle Heslin, Bronagh O'Rourke. Subs: Jessie McManus for Shortt (HT); Aoibheann Sheridan for McCartin (57)

Referee: Kieran Moran