Leitrim stunned as Roscommon turn the tables to end Green & Gold TG4 LGFA All-Ireland IFC quest

Leitrim's ladies journey for 2026 came to an unexpected end, with defeat to Roscommon in the TG4 LGFA All-Ireland Intermediate Championship quarter-finals on Sunday in Heartland Credit Union Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada.

A home game against a side that Leitrim dismantled in the Connacht Final looked on paper like a routine day at the office. However, Roscommon put in a tremendous performance to destroy the script entirely.

The 2024 All-Ireland winners were on a quest to get back to Croke Park, but instead it is Roscommon who will face Westmeath in the last four. Leitrim can have no complaints as they simply never got to the pace of the game. Their neighbours dictated terms and despite Leitrim's greater experience, the home failed to find a way into the game. Leitrim were strangely flat throughout and seemed unnerved by Roscommon's drive. Roscommon brought hard work and determination to Pairc Sean, but also plenty of skill.

Some of their scores were of the highest quality and in Aisling Feely, they had the games star performer. The Boyle woman finished with 0-6 (just one point from a free) and she simply destroyed the home defence. She was ably assisted by Roise Lennon and Laura Mannion in attack. Caoimhe Lennon finished with two goals to her credit and it is surely a long time since the Leitrim defence had a nightmare day like this. It was a remarkable turnaround from the one sided Connacht final, which clearly stung Roscommon badly.

Leitrim are normally not short of leaders but on this occasion, few players would be happy with their performances. Michelle Guckian in goals had a busy afternoon, as she had to deal with many Roscommon attacks. She kicked two terrific two point frees but they were not enough to inspire her team-mates. Laura O'Dowd worked very hard but she, like her other forward colleagues, were frustrated by an excellent Roscommon defence. Leah Fox tried to bring Leitrim back into the game but she was also curtailed by the Roscommon rearguard.

The game started with a Vivienne Egan effort going harmlessly into the hands of Roscommon keeper Helena Cummins. Few would have thought that this was to be a prelude to a first half of poor shooting by a wasteful Leitrim. Roscommon were on target from Roise Lennon, who sent over a point in the third minute.

A Muireann Devaney free went off the uprights in the fourth minute and this was followed by a Laura O'Dowd effort being gathered by Helena Cummins. Roscommon found the net in the ninth minute, with Caoimhe Lennon finishing from a Laura Mannion pass. Following a foul on Aoife Gilmartin, Michelle Guckian sent over a two pointer free. Surely that would ignite Leitrim's challenge?

Aisling Feely scored her first point of the day in the 14th minute (free) making it 1-2 to 0-3 to the visitors. Aoife Gilmartin, one of Leitrim's better performers, shot wide of the uprights under pressure, as Roscommon were determined to give nothing easy to Leitrim attackers. A Michelle Guckian wide from a '45 was followed by a Muirean Devaney point (free) in the 17th minute. However, Roscommon struck for their second goal when the Leitrim defence was exposed and Caoimhe Lennon applied the final touch, making it 2-2 to 0-4.

Kate Gormley fired into the 'keepers hands in the 22nd minute and there was just too much of this type of wasted ball from a Leitrim perspective. Michelle Guckian kicked over a terrific two pointer free in the 23rd minute. This was followed by a two pointer attempt from play from Leah Fox but the Manor girl's radar was off. Guckian was busy in the goals when she brought off a good save from a Caoimhe Lennon shot.

Laura Mannion, very much the orchestrator of the Roscommon attack, sent over a pointed free in the 28th minute. Into stoppage time, Michelle Guckian took matters into her own hands and powered up the field. She passed to Leah Fox, who used her pace, only to fire wide of the uprights.

Roscommon held a 2-3 to 0-6 lead at half-time. Leitrim supporters would have hoped that their side would come out galvanised for the second half. However, that didn't happen. In fact, Roscommon reeled off three points without reply from Aisling Feely (two) and Roise Lennon (a terrific kick).

Roscommon maintained their hard work and hard running of the first half. Ellen Irwin was excellent at midfield, an area where Leitrim failed to get a foothold. This was acknowledged when Chloe Dolan was taken off midway through the second half.

Muireann Devaney kicked what appeared a bread and butter freekick for her to the right and wide, although the flags behind the goal were swirling with the wind. Aisling Feely continued to stamp her authority on the game with a brilliant point in the 37th minute. A well worked Leitrim move led to an Aoife Gilmartin point in the 38th minute.

Two goals now separated the sides and the pressure was mounting on Leitrim. Roscommon scored three points without reply from Mannion, Roise Lennon and Ella Thompson.

Jonny Garrity rang the changes for Leitrim as the half wore on. Talented forward Ailbhe Clancy was introduced with 13 minutes remaining and the Clontarf player made an impact. Aoife Gilmartin tried to spark a Leitrim comeback in the 49th minute, but her shot was brilliantly saved by Cummins, who bravely smothered the effort.

Ailbhe Clancy sent over a pointed free in the 52nd minute. The goal that Leitrim craved came in the 55th minute, when Shaylyn Ward finished from a Muireann Devaney pass. Too little, too late?

Aisling Feely added two points, one from a free.

Leitrim were awarded a late, late penalty in stoppage time. Muireann Devaney took the spotkick but blazed it to the left of the post. However, Devaney did find the net a minute later. But time had run out for Leitrim's All-Ireland dreams.

LEITRIM

Scorers: Muireann Devaney 1-2, 2f; Michelle Guckian 0-4, 2 tpf; Shaylyn Ward 1-0; Aoife Gilmartin, Ailbhe Clancy 0-1 each

Team: Michelle Guckian; Dearbhaile Beirne, Charlene Tyrrell, Niamh Morahan; Rachel McIntyre, Lauren Devaney, Sarah Reynolds; Anna Devaney, Chloe Dolan; Vivienne Egan, Leah Fox, Aoife Gilmartin (0-1); Laura O'Dowd, Muireann Devaney (1-2, 2f), Kate Gormley. Subs: Shaylyn Ward (1-0) for Egan (41), Niamh Tighe for Dolan (43), Rebecca Rooney for L. Devany (46), Ailbhe Clancy & Dearbhla Rooney for Gormley & Anna Devaney (47)

ROSCOMMON

Scorers: Aisling Feely 0-6, 1f; Caoimhe Lennon 2-0; Roise Lennon 0-3; Laura Mannion 0-2, 1f; Ella Thompson 0-1

Team: Roscommon: Helena Cummins; Megan McKeon, Aine Connaughton, Aine McGrath; Ella Thompson, Ria Lennon, Ruth Cox; Ellen Irwin, Abby Curran; Niamh Feeney, Saoirse Wynne, Aisling Feely Roise Lennon, Laura Mannion, Caoimhe Lennon. Subs: Niamh Watson for Feeney (41), Rachel Fitzmaurice for Roise Lennon (46), Kate Nolan for Irwin (55), Lauren Shanagher for Curran (57), Racel Brady for McKeon (injury time)

Referee: Paul McCaughey (Westmeath)