Carlow edge out defiant and battling Leitrim after another titanic extra time struggle in Lidl LGFA NFL Division 4 Final

Resilience and courage in abundance that saw them take a dramatic Lidl LGFA NFL Division 4 Final in Grant Heating St Brendan’s Park was just not enough for Leitrim to emerge victory on Sunday as a well drilled and impressive Carlow deservedly took the title after a titanic struggle in Birr.

In a game where there were shifts of momentum, Carlow led for all but a brief spell in the first period of extra time as they always seemed to have an answer to whatever Leitrim threw at them, no matter how much it knocked them back on their heels.

A power Muireann Devaney goal from a free in the final eight seconds cut the gap at the final whistle to a solitary point as despite a defiant refusal to bend the knee, Jonny Garrity’s side just couldn’t get the better of a Carlow team who dominated possession for long periods and had the greater share of chances.

Leitrim had come out on the right side of an extra-time epic in the semi-final against Sligo but unfortunately, this time it was Carlow who prevailed after a thrilling contest that had everything a fan might want from a national final.

Even the most diehard Leitrim fans agreed that the Barrowsiders were the better team on the day with keeper Martina Gallagher making a string of one-on-one saves to deny them goals at crucial points during the initial 60 minutes, a fact that made it doubly cruel when a bobbling snap shot from Cliodha Ni Se bobbled away from her grasp and into the net two minutes into the second period of extra-time.

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Along with a sin-binning for Charlene Tyrell, it robbed the Green & Gold of momentum and despite herculean efforts to drag themselves back into the game, Carlow’s defence held firm until Devaney’s thunderbolt left just a tantalising point between the teams when the hooter sounded seconds later.

That point deficit is extra tough after a disputed Muireann Devaney wide early in the second half - Leitrim supporters were sure it crept inside the post, I myself thought it had flashed wide while the rest of the press box were sure it had gone between the posts. But after referee Conor McCarthy consulted with his umpires, the effort was ruled wide.

It was just one incident of what might have been but Leitrim were living on the edge for long periods with Carlow creating a host of goal scoring chances that they didn’t take while they also missed a few frees down the home straight that might have seen them safely across the line.

Carlow’s trio of Cliodhna Ni Se, Sara Doyle and Caoimhe O’Neill were the architects of Leitrim’s downfall as they controlled the pace of the game, often moving at walking pace before exploding into action as they probed and pulled Leitrim’s defensive shield over and back across the field.

It is a credit to Leitrim’s sheer bloody-minded refusal to give in that they went so close to pulling off the victory - they lacked nothing in spirit nor effort and they gave everything they had in pursuit of another national title but Carlow just had that bit extra that eventually told after a pulsating encounter.

The Leitrim team that contested the Lidl LGFA NFL Division 4 Final in Grant Heating St Brendan's Park Birr Picture: Willie Donnellan

Carlow set the tone early for the game as they controlled the ball as Cliodhna Ni Se fired over two points in the first seven minutes, one from play and one a free. Kate Gormley saw an early shot blocked for a fifty that Michelle Guckian put wide while Muireann Devaney also had a wide.

Devaney opened Leitrim’s account on eight minutes, Leah Fox’s pass setting up a lovely point on the turn but Carlow were in control, hitting back with points from Ruth Bermingham and Ni Se, both involving Sara Doyle in the build-up. Carlow had a bad wide before a foul on Devaney allowed Michelle Guckian to convert a free on 12 minutes.

Kiernan added a fifth Carlow point as Leitrim were struggling badly on the kickout and they should have had a goal but Martina Gallagher made a smart save from a shot Kiernan put too close to the keeper, Ni See immediately adding a point after a loose Leitrim pass was picked off.

Carlow hit the post and saw a Ni Se point batted clear by Gallagher but the Leitrim defence got back to smother the Carlow attack. Leah Fox drove a powerful low shot just over the crossbar on 21 minutes before Sara Doyle cut through with alarming ease for Carlow’s seventh point.

But the game took the first of many dramatic turns - Michelle Guckian fielded the kickout, Laura O’Dowd collected the pass and released Leah Fox for a real close range poacher’s finish to cut the gap back to a point.

Carlow almost hit back with a goal but Amy Hanley’s shot flew inches wide while they butchered a chance when Ni Se played the ball short to Doyle but the Leitrim defence forced a turnover.

Leitrim finished strongly, Dearbhaile Beirne ending a good run with a point while Michelle Guckian put a free badly astray, meaning it was all level at the break, Leitrim 1-4 to Carlow’s 0-7.

Dearbhla Rooney was sprung off the bench at halftime for Niamh Tighe but a good break from the throw-in saw Sara Doyle point after just 20 seconds. Kate Gormley fisted the ball over the bar after Muireann Devaney made an incredible catch before setting up what could have been a goal chance.

Carlow’s Megan Townsend broke through on goal but Gallagher was equal to a poor finish before a Muireann Devaney effort was ruled as a wide despite protests from the Leitrim players. Michelle Guckian dropped a free short and from the break, Carlow went up the field and straight through the middle for Edel Hayden to drive to the net seven minutes into the second half.

However, five minutes later, Leitrim were level - great work from sub Ailbhe Clancy, Fox and Muireann Devaney released Dearbhaile Beirne for a well taken goal but as they had all game, Carlow responded well, points from Doyle and Ni See pushing them two clear after 47 minutes.

Muireann Devaney popped over a free but Carlow were missing chance, Ni Se putting a two point free short before Sara Doyle finished off a long period of Carlow possession with a goal. With time running out, Leitrim staged a rally with Leah Fox firing over to cut the gap to a point.

Ni Se and Muireann Devaney both missed chances but after Leitrim got away with a three-man breach, after being earlier called for a controversial one, Leitrim broke as Muireann Devaney won and converted a free in the dying seconds to send the game to extra-time.

The Carlow team that defeated Leitrim in the Lidl LGFA NFL Division 4 Final Picture: Willie Donnellan

If normal time was exciting, extra time was incredible - Ailbhe Clancy had a shot blocked before Carlow broke, Aibha Kiernan finally getting the better of Gallagher in a one-on-one finish. But barely had the cheers died down and Leitrim struck back, Muireann Devaney’s pass finding Laura O’Dowd unmarked behind the defence and she produced a spectacular lob that ended in the far corner.

Leitrim took the lead for the only time in the game seconds later when Leah Fox hit a spectacular effort from distance over the bar but a stunned Carlow steadied themselves and they got a huge boost when Charlene Tyrell was sin-binned and Ni Se fired the free over the bar seven minutes into the first period.

Carlow went back in front in added time of extra time, Doyle breaking after the Barrowsiders turned over a Leitrim kickout, leaving them 2-13 to 3-9 in front at halftime. Their next score more or less killed off the game, albeit with a healthy dose of luck - Carlow went long to Ni Se, now operating at full-forward.

The Carlow player seemed to lose control of the ball but pulled on it first time, maybe 20-25 yards out as she was falling, the ball seemingly easy for Martina Gallagher in the Leitrim goal but the ball took an unfortunate bobble, squirming past the grasp of the Leitrim keeper and into the net in a killed blow.

Carlow were on top but couldn’t kill off the game despite some good chances as Ni Se put a two point free wide and Kiernan saw a goal chance blocked with an unmarked teammate in front of goal. Charlene Tyrell’s sin-bin ended but time was the enemy - Laura O’Dowd tried another chip shot but Nicole Hanley proved equal to it.

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Muireann Devaney saw a shot deflected for a 50, but Dearbhaile Beirne’s effort was diverted out for another 50 by a Carlow defender, all while seconds clicked away. Her second effort went into the area with the referee awarding a free for a foul. 

Even with Carlow players lining the goal, Muireann Devaney went for goal and got it, rifling a shot into the roof of the net but with just eight seconds left on the clock as she took the kick, the hooter sounded before the kickout was even possible and Carlow celebrated as Leitrim players slumped to the ground.

LEITRIM

Scorers: Leah Fox & Muireann Devaney (2f) 1-3 each; Dearbhaile Beirne 1-1; Laura O’Dowd 1-0, Michelle Guckian (f) & Kate Gormley 0-1 each

Team: Martina Gallagher, Jasmine Maye, Charlene Tyrell, Niamh Morahan, Dearbhaile Beirne, Lauren Devaney, Sarah Reynolds, Niamh Tighe, A Devaney, A Gilmartin, Leah Fox, Laura O’Dowd, Muireann Devaney, Michelle Guckian, Kate Gormley. Subs: Dearbhla Rooney for Tighe (HT), Ailbhe Clancy for Gormley (41), Chloe Dolan for A Devaney (44), Vivienne Egan for Guckian (49), Emma Guckian for Gilmartin (68), Shaylyn Ward for Reynolds (77)

CARLOW

Scorers: Cliodhna Ní Shé 1-6, 3f;, Sara Doyle 0-5; Aibha Kiernan 1-1; Edel Hayden 1-0; Ruth Bermingham 0-1

Team: Nicole Hanley; Aoife Carroll, Anne Roche, Siofra O’Neill, Aoibhin Webb, Niamh Forde, Ruth Bermingham; Roisin Bailey, Caoimhe O’Neill, Edel Hayden, Cliodna Ní Shé, Amy Hanley; Megan Townsend, Sara Doyle, Aibha Kiernan. Subs: Brónagh Nolan for Townsend (38), Beibhín Nolan for Hayden (67)

REFEREE: Conor McCarthy (Cork)