Leitrim suffer first defeat of Division 4 campaign in top of the table clash

Leitrim’s promotion hopes in the Lidl LGFA Division 4 took its first major bump last Sunday when an Eimear Smyth goal was enough for Fermanagh to triumph in a top of the table clash in St Patrick’s GFC pitch in Donagh.

After three wins on the trot against Kilkenny, Wicklow and Derry, this was Leitrim’s first loss of the campaign and their first in the ordinary rounds of the League since February 2020 with two draws in that time, quite a remarkable statistic that will nevertheless still sting.

The main reason for Fermanagh's victory over Leitrim was Eimear Smyth’s well executed goal 29 minutes into the action, a quick break from the home team’s defence following a Leitrim turnover and a clinical finish from the game’s top scorer.

Ironically, given Leitrim’s ability to find the net in their three previous games, it was their inability to convert chances that proved most costly as Laura O’Dowd, Ailbhe Clancy and Leah Fox were all denied certain goals by point blank saves from Fermanagh keeper Roisin Cleary.

Playing with the advantage of a still breeze, Leitrim started brightly and dominated the game's action in the opening ten minutes. A super Leitrim move that started after a turnover near the visitor's goals ended when Laura O'Dowd fired over a second minute point for the contest's opening score.

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Four minutes later Leitrim increased their lead Sarah Reynolds split the uprights thanks to a pinpoint pass from Michelle Guckian. A minute later Leitrim again split the Fermanagh defence wide open and a goal chance fell to Laura O'Dowd which she put narrowly wide from close range.

Fermanagh, who had played second fiddle to Leitrim in the first ten minutes, eventually made a serious foray into the visitor's territory that ended with the impressive Eimear Smyth opening their account when she popped over an 11th minute point.

Two minutes later Blaithin Bogue landed another point for the Erne women. Fermanagh took the lead for the first time in the end of the first quarter when Smyth struck for her second point of the afternoon.

Leitrim responded well by driving deep into Fermanagh territory on 17 minutes with Niamh Tighe firing over but Fermanagh edged back in front three minutes later when the lively Bogue fired over.

Fermanagh goalkeeper Roisin Gleeson made an excellent save to deny a 22nd minute Leitrim goal bound chance that fell to Ailbhe Clancy. However Leitrim levelled matters for a third time a minute later when Megan McGovern surged forward to fire over a well-struck point. 

Two minutes later Leitrim had a let off when Fermanagh's Niamh McManus blazed a piledriver off her opponent's upright just below the crossbar. Michelle Guckian got Leitrim back in front when she split the  posts from a free but Leitrim's lead was short lived as Smyth hit over a peach of a point just two minutes later.

Shortly afterwards Smyth struck for the game's only goal after she had been put through with a well hit Blaithin Bogue foot pass. This score proved to be the game changer as Fermanagh went in leading by 1-5 to 0-5 at the break.

The Leitrim team who were defeated by Fermanagh in the Lidl LGFA Division 4 Picture: Leitrim LGFA

It was a lead that Leitrim couldn't overturn in the second half despite their best efforts to do so against a re-invigorated Fermanagh side that now had the bit between their teeth. 

After the restart Fermanagh completely dominated the exchanges in the third quarter and aided by the breeze more or less pinned Leitrim in their own half.

The Erne women continued to run at the Leitrim for most of the game's third quarter and while the visitors defended with a high degree of discipline Fermanagh still managed to win three frees in scoring range that allowed them to increase their advantage to six points.

Eimear Smyth punished Leitrim's fouling with Fermanagh points from 36th, 41st and 46th minute placed balls. Leitrim eventually got their offensive game going again in the final quarter as Ailbhe Clancy hit a 48th minute free.

Further points from Ailbhe Clancy and Laura O'Dowd reduced Fermanagh's lead to three points by the 55th minute and Leitrim must have thought that when Clancy put through a flying Leah Fox, the newly minted LGFA Player of the month would find the net but Glesson managed to divert her shot onto the crossbar and then the post before rebounding to safety.

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Fermanagh managed to interrupt Leitrim's final quarter fight back when Smyth again punished a foul by the visitors from a free. Fermanagh sub Serena Feely was sin binned in the 58th minute but even with five more minutes, Leitrim were unable to make inroads into the Fermanagh lead with just another Clancy free to close out the scoring.

FERMANAGH

Scorers: Eimear Smyth 1-7 4f; Blaithin Bogue 0-2

Team: R. Gleeson; M. McGloin, S. McQuade, E. Keenan; E. Douglas, C. Murphy, CC Bogue; B. Bannon, S. McCarville; B. Bogue, E. Smyth, N. McManus; D. Maguire, L. Maguire, J. Doonan. Subs: C. Gallagher for CC.  Bogue (46); E. Maguire for D Maguire (48); E. McMahon for McCarville (51); A. McCabe for McManus (53); S. Feely for Bannon (56)

LEITRIM

Scorers: Ailbhe Clancy 0-3, 3f; Laura O'Dowd 0-2; Sarah Reynolds, Niamh Tighe, Megan McGovern & Michelle Guckian (f) 0-1 each

Team: Michelle Monaghan; Laura O'Dowd, Charlene Tyrell, Clare Owens; Sarah Reynolds, Kasey Bruen, Orla Flynn; Niamh Tighe, Aisling Quinn; Vivienne Egan, Michelle Guckian, Siomha Quinn; Ailbhe Clancy, Leah Fox, Elise Bruen. Subs: Bronagh O'Rourke for Guckian (HT); Aine Redican for Egan (52); Eimear Quigley for Flynn (55)

REFEREE: Declan Carolan (Armagh)