Fermanagh went into Saturday’s All Ireland qualifier as massive underdogs and that proved to be the case as Leitrim comprehensively beat them bringing to an end a disappointing season for the Erne ladies. The Connacht finalists were far too strong for the very young and mostly inexperienced Fermanagh team that took to the field in Templeport, Co Cavan.
Fermanagh were without Shauna Hamilton and Ciara McGuinness which hugely hampered an already struggling Fermanagh team. As expected, Aine Tighe proved to be a massive thorn in Fermanagh’s side all afternoon, with the talented full forward amassing an impressive 4-09 of Leitrim’s scores.
Fermanagh leaked goals easily and indeed Leitrim could have had the ball in the net after 20 seconds had it not been for Tighe’s shot hitting the post but Leitrim’s star player made amends with two points in quick succession to give her side the lead.
At the other end, Fermanagh also had a goal chance but Lynne McFredrick’s shot crashed off the crossbar and their chance went a begging. From here on it was one way traffic, as Fermanagh endured a barrage of scores. Anna Conlon, Tighe and Michelle Heslin pointed before Leitrim broke through for their first goal. A mix up in the Fermanagh defence gifted their opponents’ possession and Tighe was put through for the goal.
Fermanagh’s goalkeeper Roisin Gleeson was the best player on the field for the Erne ladies. She stood tall on numerous occasions, denying Tighe and Carla LeGuen goals. Tighe was in scintillating form in front of goals though and no Fermanagh player could stop her. Another goal from Tighe and one from LeGuen left the score 3-12 to 0-01 at the break with Aisling Woods getting Fermanagh’s only score of the first half. .
The second half showed no improvement for Fermanagh. From the throw-in Leitrim sprang into action once more. Tighe played a one-two with Eilis O’Dowd before running in to plant the ball in the back of the net. With 41 minutes on the clock Tighe added her fourth goal, after Fermanagh’s defence were caught out by a ball over the top.
Michelle Guckian and Tighe were the main point scorers as Leitrim stretched their lead. Fermanagh got a consolation goal midway through the half when McFredrick found the net. It was soon cancelled out though, when Emma Guckian found the net twice, to rubber stamp an emphatic win for Leitrim and a day Fermanagh would rather forget.
Fermanagh Manager, Emmett Curry said: “Leitrim were far better and they will go far in the competition but 7-14 was a disgrace. I don’t think Mickey Harte could’ve done anything to get the win, to be honest.”
Asked whether he wishes to continue as manager, he said: “At the minute, I don’t know. I’ve been on the go since last August with the under-16s and it’s been a long year. I don’t know what will have to happen, they’ll just have to rebuild from youth level but lots of people have opinions on it.”