Last-minute drama as Leitrim and Longford finish level in League clash

On a day when both Longford and Leitrim ladies needed a win to secure a place in the Division Four league playoffs, they had to settle for a draw as Longford’s Kamille Burke struck a last-minute point to equalize this Kiltubrid dogfight.

Leitrim will feel they let the game slip away after heading into the final five minutes with a four-point lead and momentum on their side. However, a resilient Longford fought back to earn a well-deserved draw.

Neither team truly deserved to lose this encounter, which had everything you could want in a match: end-to-end attacks, multiple comebacks, and crucial scores at key moments.

The result leaves Leitrim in the driving seat for a place in the semi-finals but they must avoid a loss against Sligo next Sunday in Castleconnor - a defeat and a big Longford win over Wicklow could see the Leinster side sneak ahead of the Green & Gold by virtue of scoring difference.

A shower of rain made the ball slick and difficult to hold onto during a first half that was nip and tuck, with Leitrim’s top scorer, Ailbhe Clancy, and corner forward Leah Fox both putting in impressive displays, while Longford stayed in the game thanks to consistent scores from Kamille Burke, Lauren McGuire, and Aisling Cosgrove.

Longford pressed the home side in the middle of the field, which left plenty of opportunities for the likes of Jasmine Maye and Clare Owens, who were happy to run in behind, and they created chances for Leitrim this way.

Leitrim were leading the way in the first half, with Longford working to keep the pace. 

Ailbhe Clancy had three points inside the first 12 minutes but Longford fought back to level the scores at three apiece. Leah Fox then hit two in a minute to stretch the Leitrim team to two before Michelle Guckian tapped over a free on 22 minutes to leave the home side double scores ahead.

Longford, as they would in the second half, rallied with four unanswered points to take the lead approaching halftime but a point from Muireann Devaney had the sides level at 0-7 apiece at the break.

It looked like that might be the story of the second half too, as Ailbhe Clancy hit yet another free kick for the Green and Gold to open the half.

Longford’s Ella O’Reilly, however, turned the game on its head in the next five minutes when her long-range effort dropped short and took an awkward bounce before finding its way into the Leitrim net. She followed that directly with a thirty-yard point off her left boot, putting Longford in the driving seat for the first time in the game.

Leitrim had a job to do to work their way back into the game, with Muireann Devaney and Ailbhe Clancy leading the charge with fine points to cut the gap back to a point, before Lauren McGuire responded for Longford to stretch the lead back to two.

Sensing the danger, a real sense of urgency seemed to fall over Leitrim in the next few minutes as they pressed Longford hard in the middle of the field and made some big turnovers.

Leitrim got a point back from a Michelle Guckian free and began running harder at Longford, sending the ball long to Muireann Devaney, who acted as playmaker for her club mate Ailbhe Clancy, who hit over three points in a busy Longford defense in the next five minutes.

Clancy added another from a free before another Manorhamilton woman, Aoife Gilmartin, intercepted a short kickout intended for Longford substitute Fumni Talabi and returned the ball over the bar for Leitrim’s fifth unanswered point. Suddenly, Leitrim was four ahead in the closing stages.

The game was not over, and neither were Longford ready to accept defeat. They started a final rally, with Fumni Talabi taking the ball and running at the Leitrim defense, setting up Kamille Burke for a point, which Burke converted before hitting a beautiful score from a tough angle near the left touchline a minute later.

Lauren McGuire followed up with a score from a free kick, while Ailbhe Clancy missed the chance to give Leitrim some breathing room at the other end.

Longford played a long ball inside to Kamille Burke, who managed to win herself a free in the final minute of the game. She slotted it over, and the sides were level for the seventh and final time.

There was one last chance for drama as Leitrim went on the attack in search of the winner while Longford defended ferociously but Leitrim were unable to take the chance as the game ended all square.

The draw means both teams will need a win in the final round of the league if they are going to book a place in the playoff stages. For Leitrim, that means beating Sligo in Castleconnor, and for Longford, it means defeating Wicklow.

LEITRIM

Scorers: Ailbhe Clancy 0-9, 3f; MMichelle Guckian (2f), Leah Fox & Muireann Devaney 0-2 each; Aoife Gilmartin 0-1

Team: Michelle Monaghon; Mollie Murphy; Charlene Tyrell; Jasmine Maye; Sarah Reynolds; Clare Owens; Lauren Devaney; Niamh Tighe; Chloe Dolan; Aoife Gilmartin; Michelle Guckian; Ailbhe Clancy; Leah Fox; Muireann Devaney; Emma Guckian. Subs: Rachel McIntyre & Anna Devaney for L. Devaney & Dolan (30); Dearbhaile Beirne for E. Guckian (30); Shylyn Ward for M. Guckian

LONGFORD

Scorers: Kamille Burke 0-6, 3f; Lauren McGuire 0-5, 3f; Ella O’Reilly 1-1; Aisling Cosgrove 0-1

Team: Aoife Cooney; Ailbhe Brady; Emma Bleakley; Leanne Keegan; Caoimhe McCormack; Eimear O’Brien; Ella Duggan; Shauna Hagan; Sian Gallagher; Katelyn McKeon; Katie Crawford; Ella O’Reilly; Kamille Burke;Lauren McGuire. Subs: Mairéad Reynolds for Ella O’Reilly (45); Niamh Brady for Edel Sheehy (50); Funmi Talabi for Caoimhe McCormack (51)

Referee: Kevin Corcoran

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