Impressive Leitrim run up a big score for comfortable win over Longford

After suffering so many heartaches at just the wrong time, Leitrim gave notice of their serious intent to escape from the Lidl LGFA NFL Division 4 in 2026 with a commanding demolition of Longford last Sunday in Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.

This was a Longford team that had drawn with Leitrim in last year’s League but with three goals in the opening 11 minutes, Jonny Garrity’s side laid down the law earlier last Sunday to never give the home side any real chance of causing a shock.

Leitrim’s scoring power, at Intermediate and Division 4 level, must be absolutely frightening for opposition teams to prepare for as Michelle Guckian, Ailbhe Clancy and Muireann Devaney were all kept on the bench for the first half, their arrival immediately leading to more goals.

There are, of course, a few caveats about the victory last Sunday - Longford lost their manager in the week before Christmas and had just one training session ahead of the start of the League and the fact that, in a game where unlimited subs are permitted, that they could only bring on four subs in contrast to the 13 deployed by Leitrim tells you were both teams are right now.

For all that, Longford caused a few problems but for the most part, Leitrim were in complete control here and should have added considerably to the six goals they did get.

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Of the new players, Kate Gormley was the standout performer and it will be very hard to keep the St Joseph's attacker out of the starting line-up in the future while Niamh Morahan also impressed in defence.

Aoife Gilmartin, Rachel McIntyre, Vivienne Egan, Michelle Guckian, Emma Guckian, Muireann Devaney and Ailbhe Clancy all caught the eye for Leitrim, Gilmartin in particular with an energetic display.

Offaly will pose a much stiffer test next Sunday but even at this early stage, if Leitrim maintain this form, they will be very hard stopped.

Longford actually had the first two chances, seeing one shot hit the woodwork, but Leitrim were equally quick off the mark, Kate Gormley releasing Vivienne Egan after four minutes. The Annaduff’s player shot hit the post but Egan finished expertly for a brilliant start for the Green & Gold.

Longford immediately replied with a fine Michelle Farrell score, matched quickly by an Emma Guckian score after good work from Gormley. From the kickout, Leitrim turned the ball over the work into Leah Fox who saw her first shot blocked before putting the rebound home.

Aoife Gilmartin swapped points with Katelyn McKeon but Fox and Rachel McIntyre combined to set up Gormley for a goal after just 11 minutes.

Fox (free) and Gormley added points before Leitrim had a period of 15 minutes where they didn’t score and Longford hit back with points from two Aoife Darcy frees. Gormley ended the mini-drought with a fine point but Longford had a sting in the tail before halftime with Darcy converting her third free of the half.

The Leitrim team who defeated Longford 6-17 to 2-10 in the opening round of the 2026 Lidl LGFA NFL Division 4 last Sunday in Glennon Brothers Pearse Park Picture: Willie Donnellan 

Kamille Burke finished off a good counter attack with a fine point before Vivienne Egan looked to have goaled only for the shot to be cleared off the line. Longford broke down the field and with a somewhat speculative shot from about 30 yards, Katie Crawford saw her powerful low shot evade the grasp of Martina Gallagher to end up in the net.

That left Leitrim with a 3-5 to 1-6 lead, hardly reflective of their dominance but they quickly set about rectifying that as they introduced Michelle Glancy, Ailbhe Clancy, Niamh Tighe, Shaylyn Ward and Dearbhaile Beirne at the break.

That had an immediate effect as Leitrim started to dominate kickouts - Clancy pointed after just 18 seconds before Aoife Darcy got another free. Then Leitrim added points from Aoife Gilmartin, Gormley, Emma Guckian and Clancy again in the space of two minutes.

Leitrim’s progress hit a setback when another long range Crawford shot got the better of Gallagher in the  goal to close the gap to six points. Kate Gormley immediately replied with two points before on came Muireann Devaney & Dearbhla Rooney.

Devaney’s very first touch was to tap the ball to the empty after a Guckian pass and then, three minutes later, Aoife Gilmartin charged through to blast the ball to the Longford net and the game was as good as over.

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Devaney hit a point before Emma Guckian’s long range point attempt caught out the Longford keeper, going into the net off her hands. Longford replied with a good Burke point but Devaney, Gilmartin and Niamh Tighe all added points.

The game ended with Longford hitting two points in added time from Hannah Burke and a Darcy free, either side of a Michelle Guckian free as Leitrim cruised to a comfortable victory.

LEITRIM

Scorers: Kate Gormley 1-5, 1f; Aoife Gilmartin 1-3; Muireann Devaney & Emma Guckian 1-2 each; Leah Fox 1-1; Vivienne Egan 1-0; Ailbhe Clancy 0-2, 1f; Niamh Tighe & Michelle Guckian (f) 0-1 each

Team: Martina Gallagher; Jasmine Maye, Charlene Tyrell, Niamh Morahan; Aoibhin McGoldrick. Lauren Devaney, Rachel McIntyre; Chloe Dolan, Anna Devaney; Aoife Gilmartin, Leah Fox, Vivienne Egan; Siomha Quinn, Kate Gormley, Emma Guckian. Subs: Michelle Guckian, Niamh Tighe, Ailbhe Clancy, Dearbhaile Beirne, Shaylyn Ward, Muireann Devaney, Dearbhla Rooney, Michelle Hackett, Edel Shanley, Lucy Murphy, Katie Guckian, Roisin McGloin and Elodie Gazzonet

LONGFORD

Scorers: K. Crawford 2-0; A. Darcy 0-5, 5f; K. Burke 0-2; K. McKeon, M. Farrell & H. Burke 0-1 each

Team: A. Cooney; G. Kenny, E. Doris, A. Creegan; A. Brady, G. McEvoy, E. Farrell; S. Gallagher, K. McEntire; K. McKeon, K. Crawford, E. O’Reilly; M. Farrell, K. Burke, A. Darcy. Subs: R. McGrath; H. Burke; Casey McNamara; S. Egan

Referee: Jason Buckley (Dublin)