Michelle Guckian is challenged by three Fermanagh players Picture: Therese Foy
Leitrim did it the hard way as they booked their place in the Lidl LGFA Division 4 Final thanks to an extra-time victory over a battling Fermanagh in Templeport GAA grounds in Bawnboy on Sunday.
Heavily favoured for the title, Leitrim needed a late Michelle Guckian free to ensure a draw at the end of normal time after Fermanagh had wiped out a two point lead to go a goal to the good.
In a game that swung one way and then the other, Fermanagh led by five points at the halftime break before a Bronagh O’Rourke goal got the sides level in the second half.
The victory leaves Leitrim facing Antrim in the Final on Sunday, April 16, in Parnell Park in Dublin with the game against the Saffrons the first game at 2pm in a double header in the famed Dublin venue.
Michelle Guckian opened the scoring before Fermanagh levelled the scoring with a good score from Blaithin Bogue. The tit for tat continued with the Leitrim captain converting a free before Fermanagh drew level once more before the Erne women took the lead with a goal after keeper Michelle Monaghan had made a fantastic one-handed save.
Michelle Guckian pulled back a point for Leitrim but three points for Fermanagh saw them lead 1-5 to 0-3 at the halftime break. The Leitrim captain cut the gap with a point after the restart and a good point from Leah Fox left just three points between the teams.
That gap was wiped out when Michelle Guckian broke through and laid off a handpass to an unmarked Bronagh O’Rourke who drove the ball to the net. Leitrim also had a goal disallowed when Laura O’Dowd’s handpass evaded the touch of Michelle Guckian and went straight to the net.
Points from Glencar Manorhamilton duo Fox and Ailbhe Clancy put Leitrim two to the good but Fermanagh fought back and hit three points on the bounce to take the lead once more while Leitrim’s hopes suffered a big blow when Leah Fox received a yellow card meaning ten minutes in the sin-bin.
However, with time running out, Michelle Guckian fired over the equaliser to send the game to extra-time although the Leitrim captain didn’t see much action in the first period as she received a yellow card and ten minutes in the sin bin.
But Guckian’s loss was off-set by the return of Fox and despite Fermanagh regaining the lead, Ailbhe Clancy fired over to ensure it was level at halftime of extra-time. Two points from Leah Fox, one from a free, edged Leitrim two clear before Michelle Guckian marked her return from the sin-bin with a huge point.
Fermanagh did fire over a late point to keep the pressure on Leitrim but the Green & Gold held out to ensure a place in the League Final.
LEITRIM
Scorers: Michelle Guckian 0-6, Leah Fox 0-4; Bronagh O’Rourke 1-0; Ailbhe Clancy 0-2
Team: Michelle Monaghan, Jasmine Maye, Charlene Tyrell, Mollie Murphy, Rebecca Rooney, Kasey Bruen, Carla Le Guen, Megan McGovern, Aisling Quinn, Laura O’Dowd, Michelle Guckian, Ailbhe Clancy, Vivienne Egan, Leah Fox, Elise Bruen. Subs: Bronagh O’Rourke for Egan; Niamh Tighe & Sarah Reynolds for Quinn & K Bruen; Siomha Quinn for E Bruen, Aoife Gilmartin for McGovern, Roisin McHugh for O’Dowd
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