Leitrim get the job done to clinch top spot with Wicklow victory

Leitrim booked a home quarter-final in the TG4 LGFA All-Ireland Intermediate championship when they put in a disciplined display to overcome Wicklow last Sunday in their final group game at the An Tocher pitch in Roundwood.

With wins over Tyrone and Wicklow, Leitrim topped their group and will face old rivals Roscommon in the quarter-finals on Sunday, June 30, with the Green & Gold enjoying home advantage for the contest.

Wicklow, who lost to Tyrone in their first outing, were playing for their championship survival while Leitrim could afford a draw and still top the table. Yet they still faced a competitive encounter from Wicklow which should see them well battle tested for the quarter-finals.

Niamh Cullen drew first blood in the game when she fired over a first minute Wicklow point but aura O' Dowd put Leitrim on level within the space of 60 seconds when she answered with a well taken point after bearing down on goal.

O'Dowd edged Leitrim ahead for the first time in the game when she fired over almost immediately after her opening score. But seconds later it was level again when Wicklow midfielder and captain Sarah Jane Winders split the posts after a decisive attacking run.

BALLINAMORE CONFIRMED FOR LEITRIM'S QUARTER-FINAL CLASH WITH ROSCOMMON

The Garden County women regained the lead when Niamh Caffrey converted a fifth minute free. It took Leitrim another four minutes to get on level terms when Muireann Devaney opened her account in the game with a good effort that sailed over the crossbar.

Leitrim got their noses in front once more when Elise Bruen put Michelle Guckian through to shoot over on the 12 minute mark. This score proved to be a turning point as they went on over the next 12 minutes to gain a grip on the contest with three unanswered points.

These three crucial points were fired over by Ailbhe Clancy, Michelle Guckian after a final pass from Muireann Devaney with the last one being hit over by Devaney herself.

In the final minutes of the half, Wicklow hit back with a point from a Niamh Caffrey free and another from play by Aobha Harmon. In between those scores, Guckian tapped over a placed ball after Muireann Devaney was fouled as she was bearing down on goal.

After withstanding strong resistance from Wicklow, Leitrim went into their dressing room leading 0-8 to 0-5 at the break and after the restart, they pulled further ahead with Laura O'Dowd shooting over a 33rd minute point to complete a well orchestrated move that involved a number of her teammates.

Over the next four minutes, Michelle Guckian stretched the Leitrim advantage to seven points when she converted two frees, one for a foul on herself and the other for a foul on Devaney.

In reply Niamh Caffrey opened Wicklow's second half account when she put over a 40th minute free before she swapped frees with Guckian after Muireann Devaney was fouled. A further exchange of points occurred by the 48th minute mark after Leitrim's Ailbhe Clancy and Caffrey registered points each from placed balls.

Leitrim managed to stretch their seven points by the 55th minute mark thanks to Ailbhe Clancy who converted a free and shortly afterwards split the Wicklow posts from play.

Wicklow made a final concerted bid to pull the game out of the fire when they drove determinately at the Leitrim post in an attempt to get goals. But Leitrim successfully resisted the Garden County's last ditch effort to score goals in a united disciplined manner.

LEITRIM DEFINITELY DID THE HARD WAY AGAINST TYRONE SAYS MANAGER GARRITY

In the final scoring action of the encounter Wicklow's Niamh Caffrey tapped over two frees which were answered by a point from play by Leitrim's Síomha Quinn and Michelle Guckian free conversion that closed the game scoring.

Michelle Guckian, Charlene Tyrrell, Muireann Devaney, Laura O'Dowd and Ailbhe Clancy all played big roles in Leitrim's win over Wicklow. But Elise Bruen, who defended solidly and made speedy attacking runs, gets the nod as the player of the match.

LEITRIM

Scorers: Michelle Guckian 0-6, 4f; Ailbhe Clancy (2f )& Laura O'Dowd 0-4 each; Muireann Devaney 0-2; Síomha Quinn 0-1

Team: Michelle Monaghan; Eimear Quigley, Charlene Tyrrell, Clare Owens; Sarah Reynolds, Kasey Bruen, Elise Bruen; Niamh Tighe, Michelle Guckian; Orla Flynn, Laura O'Dowd, Muireann Devaney; Ailbhe Clancy, Bronagh O'Rourke, Áine Redican. Subs: Síomha Quinn for Bronagh O'Rourke (45); Lauryn McKeon for Tighe (56); Edel Shanley for Quigley (61) Eímhín Quinn for Owens (63)

WICKLOW

Scorers: Niamh Caffrey 0-7, 6f; Niamh Cullen, Sarah Jane Winders & Aobha Harmon 0-1 each

Team: Ellen Griffin; Ailbhe King, Lucy Dunne, Shannon Goetelen; Niamh Caffrey, Alana Carroll, Roisin Byrne; Aoife Gorman, Sarah Jane Winders; Sarah Evans, Michelle Renaghan, Aobha Harmon; Eimear O'Brien, Niamh Cullen, Megan Healy. Subs: Aoife Cullen for Renaghan (HT); Caoimhe Murphy for King (43); Niamh O'Brien for Carroll (57)

Referee: Ray McBride (Dublin)