Six in a row for Glencar Manorhamilton as Devaney leads champs past battling St Joseph's

Glencar Manorhamilton lifted their sixth Sweeney Oil Leitrim LGFA Senior Championship title in a row last Saturday in Heartland Credit Union Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada with Muireann Devaney again killing off St Joseph’s dreams of glory with two decisive goals either side of halftime.

In a battle that was tighter than the final seven point margin suggests, Devaney’s ability to produce something out of nothing was enough to separate two evenly matched sides, the dual sports star ending up with a personal tally of 2-8 as well as creating Glencar Manor’s other goal.

St Joseph’s took the game to the champions in the second quarter as they recovered from an early Manor goal, Kate Gormley’s accuracy from placed balls punishing indiscipline in the Glencar Manor defences and when they struck for three points in two minutes just before the interval, it looked as if the challengers would go into the break with a healthy lead.

But then Devaney cut loose - as the half ticked into added time, a long ball found Devaney in the corner and displaying a mix of strength, soccer and gaelic skills, she went by three or four defenders, lost control of the ball but played it along the ground before picking it up and driving past a helpless Sarah Greene in the St Joseph’s goal.

It was a cruel blow for St Joseph’s to see their hard earned lead wiped out but worse was to follow - Devaney added a point before playing Nessa Fox in on goal. The youngster was fouled in the action of shooting and Devaney made no mistake from the penalty spot, adding three more points to take the tie away from St Joseph’s.

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Joes had one great chance to get back into the game when Kate Gormley was taken down for a penalty but Cammie McPartland made a huge save from Carmel McGovern and with that, the danger was past for Glencar Manorhamilton who went on to control the rest of the game.

It would be a mistake to term this a one-woman show because Devaney’s brilliance was built on a fabulous platform in the middle of the park where Dearbhla Rooney pushed her hard for the player of the match honours. With Anna Devaney and Aoife Gilmartin covering acres, Manor had the edge in the midfield battle and that proved decisive in the end.

The game got off to a blistering start with Leah Fox and Aoife Gilmartin both blasting off the St Joseph’s crossbar inside the first two minutes, a goal possibly on on both occasions. True to form, St Joseph’s hit back with Kate Gormley and Deirdre Moran converting a free each inside 60 seconds.

Then came the first goal - Roisin Rooney released Muireann Devaney who cut in along the endline before passing to Aoife Gilmartin coming through like a train. The Leitrim player still had work to do, sidestepping a defender before firing the ball to the Joe’s net for a great goal.

The Glencar Manorhamilton team who defeated St Joseph's to win the Sweeney Oil LGFA SFC title Picture: Willie Donnellan

Manor almost had a second three minutes later, Nessa Fox took off on a run, leaving defenders in her wake, but dragged her shot wide across the face of the goal. St Joseph’s steadied themselves and two Gormley frees had them within a point after just ten minutes of hectic action.

Three minutes later, the sides were level when Manor’s Denise Stenson and St Joseph’s Grainne O’Malley collided going for the ball, Gormley converting but the champions hit back with Aoife Gilmartin and Devaney combining to set up Dearbhla Rooney for a point before Devaney collected a Leah Fox pass, dodged a defender and fired over.

But 17 minutes in, the game took a twist - a Glencar Manor handpass coming out of defence was intercepted, in swept St Joseph’s and Kate Gormley buried from close range, St Joseph’s first from play. Devaney had a shot come off the post but made amends from a free to tie the scores two minutes later.

With both sides trading wides, it looked as if St Joseph’s were striking a significant blow when they hit three points in under two minutes, Celine Shortt, Rachel McIntyre and Bronagh O’Rourke combining to set up Gormley for a point from play before the freetaker added a free.

From that kickout, Joes won the ball back and got it quickly to Michelle Heslin for an excellent long range point as the challengers now led by three points as the game ticked into added time.

But there was still time for one last twist - a long ball found Muireann Devaney in the corner and she quickly went by three or four defenders, lost and regained control of the ball before driving it past a helpless Sarah Greene in the St Joseph’s goal.

The St Joseph's team who were defeated by Glencar Manorhamilton on Saturday Picture: Willie Donnellan

That left the scores level at the break, 2-5 to 1-8, but it wouldn’t stay that way for long - Devaney quickly pointed a free after a foul on herself before her pass found Nessa Fox bearing down on goal only to be fouled in the act of shooting, Devaney placing the ball past temporary keeper Bronagh O’Rourke.

St Joseph’s hit back with a great point on the run from Lorraine Moran but the tide had shifted, Devaney converted two frees and one from play after a good move to leave Glencar Manorhamilton six clear after ten minutes of the second half.

We then had another sliding doors moment - after a successful Gormley free, St Joseph’s won the kickout and charged through on goal, Kate Gormley sure to score but she was fouled in the act of shooting. Penalty awarded but with normal penalty taker Bronagh O’Rourke off the field due to injury, Cammie McPartland saved Carmel McGovern’s spot-kick.

Glencar Manor made the most of their close call - a Devaney free and a Leah Fox point within 60 seconds stretched the lead to seven points 13 minutes from time and from there to the finish, it was tit for tat with Gormley and Devaney swapping frees before Fox, after a period of long Manor possession and Gormley (free) had scores.

St Joseph’s had one glimpse of a goal when a quick free put Jessie McManus free in front of goal but Cammie McPartland made a good save to deny Joe’s a late consolation goal.

GLENCAR MANORHAMILTON

Scorers: Muireann Devaney 2-8, 1-6f; Aoife Gilmartin 1-1; Leah Fox 0-3; Dearbhla Rooney 0-1

Team: Cammie McPartland; Annette Foley, Hannah Johnson, Denise Stenson; Melissa Hewitt, Emma McLoughlin, Lauren Devaney, Dearbhla Rooney, Anna Devaney; Rebecca Rooney, Leah Fox, Aoife Gilmartin; Roisin Rooney, Muireann Devaney, Nessa Fox. Subs: Grace Devaney for Roisin Rooney (47); Sarah Mulvaney Kelly for Foley (56)

ST JOSEPH’S

Scorers: Kate Gormley 1-9, 8f; Lorraine Moran, Deirdre Moran (f) & Michelle Heslin 0-1 each

Team: Sarah Greene, Meadhbh McNamara, Eadaoin Casey, Genevieve Canning, Clare Owens, Lorraine Moran, Grainne O’Malley, Deirdre Moran, Michelle Heslin, Jessie McManus, Rachel McIntyre, Carmel McGovern, Celine Shortt, Kate Gormley, Bronagh O’Rourke. Subs: Eabha McCartin for O’Rourke (38); Aine Heslin for McNamara (47); Aoibheann Sheridan for Shortt (54)

Referee: Enda Egan