Leitrim let Mayo off the hook in return to senior ranks

Goals win you a game, but not taking chances can cost you one — that was the story as Leitrim began their first senior football campaign since 2009 with a narrow three-point defeat away to Mayo in the opening round of the Connacht championship.

Both teams arrived at a windy Swinford Park aiming to bounce back from disappointing league campaigns — Leitrim missed out on promotion from Division 4, while Mayo dropped out of the top flight.

Leitrim made major changes to their starting team with Jasmine Maye and Chloe Dolan both ruled out through injury. Most notably, 2024 Intermediate Player of the Year and team captain Michelle Guckian was shifted from centre-forward into goals.

The move, returning Guckian to her original Leitrim position, proved effective. She brought real authority to the square and, once she settled, became an attacking option surging forward from the back.

Despite the loss, Leitrim will take heart from a superb second-half showing, outscoring Mayo 1-7 to 1-4 and causing problems across the pitch — although they also left three clear goal chances behind.

Mayo, playing with a strong wind at their backs, opened the scoring through Erin Murray after two minutes. Vivian Egan quickly linked up with Muireann Devaney to fire over Leitrim’s first reply, before Murray swung another over with her right foot.

Pinned back at times in the opening half, Leitrim struggled to retain possession from kickouts against the breeze. Guckian’s efforts against the wind made for tough going.

Mayo took full advantage, with Murray and centre-forward Sinead Walsh adding points in quick succession to open up an early three-point lead.

When Leitrim did move the ball through the hands, they looked dangerous, but their shooting let them down, racking up a half-dozen wides before the break.

Laura O’Dowd, Muireann Devaney, and Guckian all missed chances before Walsh extended Mayo’s advantage with a close-range free.

Wing-forward Ava McDonnell then found space and looped a high shot between the posts to put Mayo firmly in control.

Still, Leitrim remained a threat. A sharp kick-pass from Devaney picked out Clare Owens in front of goal, and she knocked over Leitrim’s second point.

Alannah Devereux struck a long-range effort in response for Mayo, and another quick Mayo point soon followed.

Leitrim had moments of dominance but couldn't convert them, with Ailbhe Clancy and O’Dowd sending further efforts wide.

In the middle of a Leitrim purple patch, Mayo struck a hammer blow. Erin Murray sliced through the defence and teed up Saoirse Lally for a simple finish into the net.

Leitrim closed the half with two frees to narrow the gap to seven points, while Mayo’s Sherin El Masry was fortunate not to see a card after dragging down Devaney.

Mayo’s defensive tactics were shrewd, bordering on cynical at times, as frequent fouling slowed Leitrim’s momentum. Captain Danielle Caldwell and El Masry were serial offenders but escaped sanction.

The wind held steady into the second half — but the tide turned.

Devaney collected a perfect kick-pass from Clancy to slot over a point in the opening minute, followed by Guckian converting a free as she pushed forward.

With the elements now in their favour, Leitrim launched wave after wave of attack.

Rachel McIntyre floated a long ball inside to Leah Fox, who was lively all game. She beat her marker and the keeper — only for her shot to drift just wide.

Moments later, Clancy gathered a high ball into the square but was smothered by two defenders before she could shoot.

Where Leitrim were wasteful, Mayo were clinical as Sinead Walsh found enough of a gap in the Leitrim defence to get in on goal and with strength enough to hold off the two players tackling her - and a questionable number of steps - she rocked the ball to the back of the net.

Leitrim nearly responded instantly as Laura O'Dowd broke through, but lost composure at the crucial moment with the goal at her mercy.

Walsh tacked on a free for Mayo, while Guckian missed a placed ball at the other end. However, she atoned moments later with a brilliant diving interception across her goalmouth to deny Walsh a certain tap-in.

Devaney pointed another free to keep Leitrim within reach before Mayo earned a penalty — but substitute Annie Gough ballooned it over for just a point.

Devaney then added a superb solo goal, latching onto a loose ball, cutting inside, and rifling a low shot past the Mayo keeper.

She almost grabbed a second when a short kickout went astray, but her soccer-style volley flashed wide of the post.

In a frantic finish, Leitrim threw everything forward, with Guckian even joining the attack, but ultimately, Mayo held firm, with Leitrim adding just one more Devaney free before the final whistle sealed a hard-fought win for the home side.

Mayo

Julia Gawalkiewicz, Lucy Wallace, Nicola O’Malley, Ciara Durkin, Danielle Caldwell, Ella Brennan, Sherin El Masery, Hannah Reape, Saoirse Lally, Riona Jordan, Sinead Walsh, Ava McDonnell, Erin Murray, Niamh Mooney, Alannagh Devereux. Subs: Lynda Hanley for Mooney (37), Kathyrn Sullivan for Jordan (46), Annie Gough for Devereux (49), Ciara Whyte for Lally (57), Siomha McNulty for Murray (60).

Scorers: Niamh Mooney 0-1; Erin Murray 0-2; Sinead Walsh 1-4; Ava McDonnell 0-1; Alannah Devereux 0-1; Saoirse Lally 1-0; Annie Gough 0-2.

Leitrim

Michelle Guckian, Mollie Murphy, Charlene Tyrell,Eimear Quigley, Sarah Reynolds, Clare Owens, Rachel McIntyre, Niamh Tighe,Aisling Quinn, Aoife Gilmartin, Vivienne Egan, Ailbhe Clancy, Leah Fox, Muireann Devaney, Laura O’Dowd. Subs: Anna Devaney for Vivienne Egan (50), Edel Shanley (44), S Ward for A Quinn (48), S Quinn for L Fox (52), L Tivnan for M Murphy (58).

Scorers: Ailbhe Clancy 0-3,3f; Viviene Egan 0-1; Clare Owens 0-1; Muireann Devaney 1-4, 2f; Michelle Guckian 0-1,1f; Leah Fox 0-1.

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