Karen Duddy at Croke Park
Leitrim and Tyrone played out a thrilling TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Ladies Football Final on Sunday, with Leitrim just shading the final result 3-11 to 3-10.
Maria Canavan for Tyrone opened the scoreline with a point. This was answered by Laura O’Dowd who broke the lines of the red defence to shake the net for Leitrim. The speedy Muireann Devany followed suit with a point.
The following period of play saw momentum swing in favour of Tyrone as the mighty Aoife Horisk put away two fantastic goals and a point, while captain Aoibhinn McHugh pointed from a free.
However, this did not put out the Leitrim ladies as they answered with a massive string of scores, including a goal from Ailbhe Clancy and two frees from captain Michelle Guckian, to put themselves two points in the lead going into the half.
Leitrim had a nervous start, hitting an early wide and missing a shot on goal, but had settled well into play by the break. Tyrone defenders did well maintaining Devany for the most part, whereas they lacked the precision on goal as they sent over seven wides.
Leitrim came out strong after the half, sending over three points, two off the boot of Guckian. Tyrone added more wides to their tally, and appeared to lack ideas in the forward line as the Leitrim defence frustrated their efforts.
Two scores from substitute Sorcha Gormely and Horisk ended Tyrone’s 30-minute dry spell. Answered by Guckian and Clancy, Leitrim were up for this late Tyrone surge. Both counties traded two points each, but it was captain McHugh’s goal with 12 minutes to go that gave Tyrone a huge boost of momentum.
Four points in the game, the final 10 minutes were gritty and tense, with possession switching like a tennis game. Tyrone put three final brave scores over, but Leitrim did just enough to hold them off and maintain a one-point victory.
Corner forward Muireann Devany was emotional after the game.
“I grew up dreaming about this. This is Croke Park, and I’ve lived for this. I’m only 21, but by God I’ve dreamed of this since I was a child. I am just so happy and honoured to be on that bus going down the road with the Mary Quinn Cup. I can’t put it into words.
I’m honoured to say I’m from Leitrim.
