Manager Jonny Garrity delighted with Leitrim Ladies battling spirit

The battling spirit of the Leitrim players to come through an extremely tough Lidl LGFA Division 4 Semi-Final against Fermanagh was the key ingredient in the Green & Gold’s victory in Bawnboy according to manager Jonny Garrity.

Speaking on Monday after the dramatic extra-time 1-12 to 1-10 victory, Jonny was happy to reflect on the game: “We’re delighted with the result, we’re delighted we have a final to prepare for. There are areas of the performance that can improve but the important thing was getting over the line and we’ve done that so we’re very happy.”

Going into the game, unbeaten Leitrim started as red-hot favourites but they needed an injury time equaliser to force extra-time before pulling away to victory. And it was Leitrim’s spirit that Jonny highlighted as key to victory.

LEITRIM'S DUBLIN DOUBLE DATE

League Finals: Leitrim Hurlers to take on Cavan in Abbotstown next Saturday in Allianz NHL Division 3B Final while Leitrim Ladies face Antrim in Parnell Park on Saturday April 16, in Lidl LGFA Division 4 Final

“The quality Fermanagh possess, it didn’t surprise but what I would acknowledge is that it was by far their best performance of the season. Fermanagh performed very highly and better than they had been performing and they probably needed to do that to stay in the game and they did that.

“It could have been enough for them to go through but for the fight and the spirit we showed. It was a strange game - we had one or two of the chances that hit the bar in the first half went in, it could have been a completely different game and it may have turned into a comfortable day at the office but as it was, it turned into a dogfight and thankfully we came through in the end.”

Part of those struggles were down to the opposition’s plan to ruffle Leitrim's feathers with Michelle Guckian and Leah Fox both seeing time in the sin-bin late in the game: “We knew that Fermanagh had a gameplan, they said as much themselves and it became evident early on that they were targeting our players. 

“They certainly put a lot of pressure on the referee with certain players in mind and it was no coincidence that we had a couple of our big contributors sin-binned. That is frustrating because the infringements that they were ticked for and eventually booked for were so low-level that it just seemed extremely harsh. But again, we dealt with what we had to, on and off the field, we were the team at the end who was powering over the line.”

Leitrim emerge from extra time thriller to book place in Lidl LGFA Division 4 Final

LEITRIM 1-12 FERMANAGH 1-10 (AET)

The lack of game time for all Division 4 counties, something Jonny has commented on before, didn’t help either: “It is really, really hard to build up any consistency and momentum whenever there is three weeks layoffs between games. We feel a little bit hard done by in Division 4 because it is not such a big issue in Division 1 to 3 where they get more regular games but nevertheless, it is the situation we are in and we can’t control that.

“Having focused on the game and the way we wanted to perform, maybe slightly underperformed but battling spirit and the heart the girls showed was everything we hoped it would be and thankfully, we just got enough in the tank.”

However, the Leitrim manager also paid tribute to the focus his players displayed under pressure: “Any sort of preconceptions go out the window when you’re in the heat of battle and when you find yourself in an almighty battle, as Sunday was, those notions can be as much a hindrance as a help. 

“We had the girls primed to show a high level of focus and I think that they managed to do that when it really counted. We were slow to start admittedly but once we pulled ourselves back into the game and thankfully found the equaliser late on, I think that we were the team in the ascendancy late on and probably even weathered the storm even with 14 players.

“We have shown over the course of the national league the ability to blow teams away and shown the ability to grind results out when it seemed unlikely so to show both sides is very, very pleasing. I would be much happier if we weren’t so dramatic and leave it so late but winning is a good habit to be in at the minute and we’re managing to do it whatever way it takes on the day.”

No divided loyalties for Leitrim Ladies manager Jonny Garrity as he looks for a performance

Now Leitrim face another three week wait for the final where they will face 2022 All-Ireland Junior champions Antrim and for Jonny, it is a case of reinforcing all the work that has been done so far: “There are bits and pieces we have to improve on but we don’t have to start from scratch. 

“We know we underperformed in a few areas and it is just a case of being aware of that and looking to up those levels again but I think when we do that, it is going to leave us in a good place going into the final. We’re going up against a good team but we’re a good team as well so it is going to be a good occasion.”