Main Report: 

Sub Heading: Inspired Ladies score famous win with keeper Michelle Guckian the hero

Main Heading: After three defeats Leitrim end Sligo hoodoo

Leitrim produced their best display of the year to retain the TG4 Connacht Ladies Intermediate title but they owe a large debt of thanks to keeper Michelle Guckian for ensuring victory.

After three defeats this year, Leitrim turned the tables on Sligo in spectacular fashion as they set the tempo early on and made the Division 3 champions chase the game, allowing a very mobile and hard working Leitrim attack hit them effectively on the break.

Leitrim raced into an early six point lead after just 12 minutes but Sligo fought back to level just before the break but the Green & Gold ladies struck for a crucial breakaway goal from Dearbhaile Beirne which gave Leitrim a huge boost for the second half.

And in that tension filled second half, Leitrim managed to reply to everything Sligo threw at them, two late Aine Tighe frees sealing a hard fought and well deserved win.

With young forwards Beirne, Carla Le Guen and Aileen Maguire making huge impacts in the wide open spaces of McHale Park and Aine Tighe leading the line with real verve and panache and Sarah McLoughlin and Anna Conlan edging the midfield battle, Leitrim were good value for the win.

Yet all that would have been for nought had Michelle Guckian not produced an epic display that saw her save a penalty and make three fantastic saves in one-on-one situations that simply won the game for Leitrim.

The final match-winning save was incredible - Katie Walsh got behind the defence and fired a ferocious shot that seemed destined to put Sligo ahead with time running out but Guckian got a hand to the ball, diverting it over the bar.

Guckian should have got the Player of the Match award and that is not taking away from a great contribution from Letirim’s secret weapon of Dearbhaile Beirne who produced a great first half and took advantage of real hesitation in the Sligo defence.

You can understand why the award, judged by the match officials, went to Beirne, she made a vital contribution and on any other day, she would have been the Leitrim star but Guckian, for the second year in a row, was the decisive factor in the Gift of Life Cup coming back to Leitrim last Sunday.

A fast opening saw the teams share four points in the first three minutes, Aine and Niamh Tighe on target for Leitrim with Stephanie O’Reilly scoring two for Sligo. But Leitrim took over with a devastating spell of attacking football.

But it came after Michelle Guckian made a great save to deny O’Reilly a certain goal on four minutes and Leitrim took advantage with a long range Le Guen point on four minutes. Aine Tighe added a free on eight minutes before Dearbhaile Beirne cut loose with three points in a three minute spell, Deirdre Ward adding a point as well.

Leitrim were completely dominant but the danger signs that were there were not heeded as long ball out of defence was gathered by Denise McGrath who soloed through from 40 yards to goal. Almost immediately, Guckian made a great save to deny Elaine O’Reilly a second Sligo goal.

Aine Tighe hit back with a free but Sligo hit a potent spell with O’Reilly blazing a goal chance wide before Katie Walsh (2) and McGrath added points. Leitrim were also missing chances and Sligo drew level when Rachel Monaghan pointed with less than two minutes left in the half.

However, Leitrim struck a huge blow when a long ball into the corner saw Beirne round her marker and slot a fantastic curling shot to the far left corner from a tight angle on the right.

Sligo should have drawn level when Sinead McTiernan was fouled for a penalty almost immediately but Guckian saved well from a poor spot-kick from Walsh, Leitrim making the most of the miss when Beirne dodged a defender to fire over.

That left Leitrim 1-10 to 1-6 in front at the break but the free-flowing football was repeated in the second half, both sides missing chances and Sligo driving another goal chance inches wide but they did close the gap with points from Walsh and Monaghan after six minutes.

Sligo keeper Noelle Gormley intercepted well ahead of Aine Tighe but the Kiltubrid woman finished a great move out of defence after great work from Sarah McLoughlin and Carla Le Guen.

The tit for tat continued when Elaine O’Reilly and Walsh pointed either side of great scores from Aileen Maguire and McLoughlin but Leitrim were missing chances, Beirne hitting an upright and the keeper again intercepting before Walsh swapped points with Le Guen after Gormley made a huge interception ahead of Dearbhaile Beirne.

O’Reilly cut the gap once more after a short free but good work from Tighe and Le Guen resulted in a clever point from Maguire.

However, Sligo were coming strong and Walsh added a free before a ball over the top in the last minute of normal time put Walsh clear through on goal - Walsh held off Sharon Kerrigan and unleashed a powerful shot but Michelle Guckian stuck out her hand to brilliantly deflect the ball over the bar to leave just a point between the teams.

But Leitrim refused to buckle and two frees were twice moved in, somewhat controversially by the referee, with Aine Tighe converting what were virtually tap overs to seal the victory.

Still Sligo came and Leitrim had what looked like an escape when Sinead McTiernan appeared to be taken down just on the edge of the square but referee Francie Keane waved play on and Leitrim held on for the victory.

Leitrim: Michelle Guckian (St. Mary’s), Claire Beirne (Mohill), Sharon Kerrigan (St. Joseph’s), Roisin McHugh (Sean O’Heslin’s), Aine Heslin (St. Joseph’s), Lorraine Brennan (Cloone), Melissa Hewitt (Glencar/Manorhamilton), Sarah McLoughlin (Sean O’Heslin’s) 0-1, Anna Conlan (Dromahair), Deirdre Ward (Mohill) 0-1, Niamh Tighe (Kiltubrid) 0-1, Aileen Maguire (Aughawillan) 0-2, Dearbhaile Beirne (Mohill) 1-4, Aine Tighe (Kiltubrid) 0-6, Carla Le Guen (Aughawillan) 0-2.

Sligo: Noelle Gormley, Orla McGowan, Grainne O’Loughlin, Colley Casey, Jacqui Mulligan, Elise Codd, Ruth Goodwin, Denise McGrath 1-1, Bernice Byrne, Sarah Reynolds, Stephanie Reilly 0-3, Elaine O’Reilly 0-1, Laurann Laffey, Katie Walsh 0-6, Rachel Monaghan 0-2. Subs Sinead McTiernan for Laffey (21), Louise Brett for Reynolds (45).

Referee: Francie Keane (Roscommon)

Heading: Michelle plays down heroics

She may have played an absolutely key role in securing victory for Leitrim but Michelle Guckian was deflecting any praise that came her way last Sunday.

Saying she was “Absolutely delighted, there are no words to explain it”, Michelle was keen to deflect any praise - “To be honest, the whole 14 in front of me were the hard workers, everyone worked hard, everyone died for each other on this team.

“I’m glad I had a good game myself but seriously I can’t thank the lads enough, Pat, Larry and David, I can’t thank Angela Mitchell enough. We knew what we were up against and we knew what we had to do and my saves just came off on the day and that’s what I’m delighted about.”

Goals had proved crucial in Sligo’s victory earlier in the year and Michelle recounted  just what happened when she saved a Sligo penalty and a last gasp goal - “I was thrilled when I saved the penalty. I was going the wrong way but I decided to come back and it just worked out. Late on, two points between us and an open goal but I just got my hand to it and put it over the bar.”

And she attributed her good form to guidance from above - “There was someone looking over us and I know who was looking down on the whole team. It was his month’s mind mass last week, he was at all our games and that is Mr McKeon from Cloone and I’d like to say a huge thanks to all the McKeons from Cloone.”

And her final words on the game, Michelle said “Luck went our way today, it doesn’t usually go our way against Sligo, it went our way. Everyone needs a bit of luck and we’ll take it today.”

Heading: Pat thrilled with hunger and desire

Leitrim manager Pat Costello was thrilled with the hunger and desire displayed by his team in the closing stages of last Sunday’s TG4 Connacht Intermediate Championship victory over Sligo.

Pat told the Observer “I’m absolutely thrilled and the manner in which we won, we had to fight to the death for it, it was there for anyone to take it and I think we showed more hunger and more desire and I think the fact that we were Connacht Champions last year stood to them.

“Again, you knew were the dangers were with players like Katie Walsh and they were able to jump across and help in those situations. We got a lot of dirty ball today that we really scrapped for and decisions went our way, the breaks went our way. 

“That’s all luck but it is all good luck and that’s part of it and I’m delighted for the women,” said Pat as the celebrations continued under the stand in McHale Park.

The manager was also thrilled with the manner in which Leitrim played the game - “To win it that way, it win it fair and square, to have our best 15 starting that we didn’t have all year, all through the National League. 

“For me, I suppose from the coaching point of view, hats off to three young girls who in their first Connacht Championship Final won their first Connacht medal, who maybe never played in a Connacht championship before, maybe never won a game in Connacht. 

“That may be harsh but that is reality so to come on today and survive 60 minutes of that and be Connacht Champions, I’m delighted for them.”

Pat also felt that Leitrim used the open spaces of McHale Park to great effect and the switching of positions between Aine Tighe and Dearbhaile Beirne paid off - “We kept moving it, we had Dearbhaile at full-forward, then centre-forward and we said it sort of back-fired so we put her back in again.

“But that is the ebb and flow of a game, players will get tired, breaks will open up and if you have someone with speed, speed was the answer today. For me, all 15 of them were Player of the Match, all 15 of them made important interceptions at vital stages of the game, they all did very well.”

Sligo manager Paddy Henry was gracious in defeat as he paid tribute to Leitrim - “We’re disappointed but you know in the build-up to the game, we knew it was going to be an awful tough game here today. When you beat a team three times, they’re going to come back at you hard and we were expecting that today. 

“Fair play to Leitrim, they dug in deep today, you can’t take it away from them, they were the best team on the day and we won’t begrudge them it.”

Heading: Leitrim look to quarter-finals

Captain Sarah McLoughlin thinks Leitrim have a better path in the All-Ireland series after victory over Sligo - “We just knew we had to win today because if you look at the teams who are left, it is a much better route to go winning the Final rather than trying to go the back door route, Sligo will have it tough now in the next few rounds.

“It does give us more time to prepare but Roscommon went down the other road last year and it worked out better for them as they ended up in an All-Ireland semi-final . They had game after game so who knows what way it works out, whether it is better to have the rest.”

Leitrim could end up facing defeated Munster finalists Clare in the quarter-final on August 15, after they were drawn to play the winners of the Roscommon and Tipperary Qualifier game next weekend.

Headline: Victory means so much more this year

Captain Sarah McLoughlin admitted that Leitrim’s victory in the TG4 Connacht Ladies Intermediate Championship Final meant so much more to the player this year.

Speaking to the Observer, Sarah said “It actually means so much more this year, I don’t know if that is hard to believe but I genuinely was crying tears of joy because they beat us three times this year. Last year, we were going stronger, we had a great campaign in the League so to pull it out of the bag when they had beaten us three times, it was all the sweeter today.

“We just knew we had to win today because if you look at the teams who are left, it is a much better route to go winning the Final rather than trying to go the back door route, Sligo will have it tough now in the next few rounds.”

Leitrim’s tactical changes made a big difference as was the fact that they didn’t let Sligo get in front - “They didn’t get the goals today and we smoothered them, we had loads of people tracking back and we didn’t allow anyone running through the centre.

“We knew if we didn’t let them get a lead, their plan is to get a lead, defend so we knew we had to go out all guns blazing so that we would be the ones always in the lead.

“Dearbhaile’s goal came at an absolutely crucial point in the game, her soccer goal. And the penalty save, it was 1-9 to 1-6 and I said feck this, if they get this, they’ll be level so fair play to Gucks, it was absolutely crucial to pull off that save.

“We know our forwards are small forwards, are nippy and they need that space, Dearbhaile, Carla, they have the legs so we knew we needed to work that space. The last time we played them in the League semi-final, we played Aine in at full-forward and we knew we couldn’t do that this time because they stick two or three on her. And we knew if we pulled Aine out, it would create space in there.

However, the captain admitted she was full of nerves in the final minutes - “The last five minutes, I wasn’t really looking at the score, more what was the difference in the score and those last four minutes, I spent the whole time on tenderhooks, looking at the clock counting down. 

“There was one point in it, two points and they always looked as if they were threatening goals in the last two three minutes.”