Leitrim retain TG4 Connacht Intermediate with ruthless demolition of outclassed Roscommon
TG4 CONNACHT LGFA IFC FINAL: LEITRIM 4-18 ROSCOMMON 0-8
An imperious Leitrim banished the lingering memories of their defeat in the Division 4 Final when they simply demolished an outclassed Roscommon in an one-sided TG4 Connacht LGFA Intermediate Championship Final on Sunday in Heartland Credit Union Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada.
From the first whistle to the very last, Leitrim tore into a shell-shocked Roscommon as it almost seemed as if the Green & Gold were taking their frustrations from their League Final defeat at the hands of Carlow on their neighbours, the unfortunate neighbours simply unable to trouble the victors.
With no Connacht Intermediate Final in 2025, Leitrim actually retained the Gift of Life Cup but unlike previous years when they were tested to the limit by Roscommon, 2026 was very different as the intensity of Jonny Garrity’s side knocked the challengers for the proverbial six with the writing on the wall from a very early stage.
In what was easily their most complete display of the year, Leitrim underlined their status as one of the favourites for the TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate title, playing with a conviction and venom that saw them score at will and repel whatever Roscommon threw at them.
A caveat to the joy of the victory is that Roscommon were a shadow of the side who twice took Leitrim to the limit in 2024, a year when the Green & Gold claimed the Mary Quinn Cup in Croke Park. Roscommon were unable to counter the intensity, physical strength and sheer running power of a Leitrim team who dominated all sectors of the field.
It was a very untypical display from the Rosssies who never got going from the word go, the confidence draining from their efforts but it also has to be said that a tigerish Leitrim defence, led by an outstanding Jasmine Maye who did a great job in negating the impact of Aisling Hanly, never let Roscommon build any sort of momentum.
With Muireann Devaney and Laura O’Dowd virtually scoring at will, running up tallies of 1-10 and 2-4 respectively, it says much that the Player of the Match went to Leah Fox but the Glencar Manorhamilton centre-forward was undeniably the top performer, pulling the strings and setting the tempo for a hard working attack.
Manager Jonny Garrity made two big calls before the game, switching captain Michelle Guckian back to defence and starting Dearbhla Rooney in place of Martina Gallagher and Niamh Tighe but the moves paid off big time with Guckian adding structure and leadership from the goals, making a string of good stops into the bargain.
Rooney’s pace and mobility added to a sector where Anna Devaney, Aoife Gilmartin & Vivienne Egan dominated but it seems almost churlish not to list every single Leitrim player such was the scale of dominance.
Undoubtedly harder tests remain but this was a major step-up in intensity and application for Leitrim and they will look forward to the group stages of the All-Ireland series where, subject to correction, they are due to face Wicklow and either Fermanagh or Down with huge confidence.
The Leitrim team that defeated Roscommon in the TG4 Connacht LGFA IFC Final Picture: Willie Donnellan
Roscommon had a shot gathered by Michelle Guckian who went off on a run before the ball found its way to Laura O’Dowd who soloed through from well inside her own half to fire over a good point.
Vivienne Egan dropped a shot short on seven minutes while Roscommon’s Aisling Feely hit a wide but, even after eight minutes, the game was as good as over when Leitrim struck for 1-1 from Laura O’Dowd in a matter of seconds, the Ballinamore player fisting the ball over the bar before a poor Roscommon kickout was pounced on, Leah Fox producing a sumptuous crossfield pass to find O’Dowd who buried the ball in the net.
Muireann Devaney landed a point that came altogether too easily while Vivienne Egan was denied a goal when a brilliant Fox pass found the Annaduff player but Helena Cummins diverted the ball out for a fifty. Devaney added a free after 14 minutes to leave the home team 1-6 to no score ahead.
A poor Feely free went wide from Roscommon before Devaney scored a wonder point from a tight angle and a shell-shocked Roscommon finally opened their account when defender Megan McKeon finished off a well worked move with a fine point.
But any hope that score might have raised in Roscommon’s ranks was well and truly crushed on the 20 minutes mark, Vivienne Egan’s strong run seeing her bearing down on goal only for the Annaduff player to crash to the ground in a tackle, the ball breaking kindly for Laura O’Dowd to first time to the net.
Dearbhaile Beirne’s strong run led to another easy Devaney point, at least the Glencar Manorhamilton woman made it look easy, before Aisling Hanley fired over a well worked second point for Roscommon. Devaney responded with two points, one from a free to stretch the lead to 14 points.
The Roscommon team that was defated by Leitrim in the TG4 Connacht LGFA IFC Final Picture: Willie Donnellan
Laura O’Dowd opened the second half scoring as she charged through for an easy point before Roscommon put together back-to-back scores for the first time, Aisling Hanley pointing after Leitrim failed to clear their lines and Aisling Feely added a second after four minutes.
But again, Leitrim came roaring back with another brilliant Leah Fox putting the ball on a plate for Vivienne Egan to round the helpless Cummins for Leitrim’s third goal. Muireann Devaney added two more points, the second after twisting and turning her way away from the defender, before deciding to get in on the goal act herself.
There seemed little danger as Roscommon came out of defence but an ill-judged pass from Aine Connaughton went straight to a Leitrim player. The ball was transferred to Devaney on the wing and despite pressure from a defender, the keeper and a tight angle, Leitrim’s top scorer drilled the ball to the Roscommon net for Leitrim’s four goal.
Michelle Guckian made a good save from sub Rachel Fitzmaurice before Devaney swept over another lovely point. Roscommon countered with points from sub Lauren Shanagher and Aisling Feely, Vivienne Egan responding while Michelle Guckian made a point blank stop from Feely with Fitzmaurice driving wide from a tight angle.
Leah Fox produced a lovely sidestep to fire over her only point of the context while Laura O’Dowd took her tally to 2-4 after she burst through tackles to point. Lauren Shanagher got her second of the game while Laura O’Dowd was unable to make it a hat-trick late on with a good goal chance after a Shaylyn Ward free broke for her.
Dearbhaile Beirne surged forward for Leitrim’s last score of the game before Aisling Feely pointed after a good run from Rachel Fitzmaurice, completing the scoring despite Feely driving a 21 yard free at the Leitrim goal after the hooter had sounded.
LEITRIM
Scorers: Muireann Devaney 1-10, 3f; Laura O’Dowd 2-4; Vivienne Egan 1-1; Michelle Guckian (f), Dearbhaile Beirne & Leah Fox 0-1 each
Team: Michelle Guckian, Niamh Morahan, Charlene Tyrrell, Jasmine Maye; Sarah Reynolds, Lauren Devaney, Dearbhaile Beirne; Anna Devaney, Vivienne Egan, Aoife Gilmartin, Leah Fox, Dearbhla Rooney, Laura O’Dowd; Muireann Devaney, Kate Gormley. Subs: Chloe Dolan for A Devaney (45), Rachel McIntyre for L Devaney (51), Shaylyn Ward & Siomha Quinn for M Devaney & Gormley (52), Niamh Tighe for D Rooney (54)
ROSCOMMON
Scorers: Aisling Feely 0-3; Aisling Hanly & Lauren Shanagher 0-2 each; Megan McKeon 0-1
Team: Helena Cummins; Áine McGrath, Áine Conaughton, Ellen Irwin; Megan McKeon, Saoirse Wynne, Grainne Lohan; Ruth Cox, Abby Curran; Niamh Feeney, Niamh Watson, Ella Thompson; Aisling Hanly, Aisling Feely, Caoimhe Lennon. Subs: Rachel Fitzmaurice for Lohan (HT); rachel Brady, Lauren Shanagher & Ciara Cunningham for McKeon, Feeney & Lennon (44)
Referee: Shane Curley (Galway)