Leitrim Gaels Ladies turned on the style in their very first championship game as they picked up a win in a historic day for the club. St Brigid’s second team made for formidable opposition and played their part in an entertaining contest.

It was the experienced players who made their mark in this game. The impressive Catherine Farrell scored 5-04 for Leitrim Gaels while Louise Gallagher was a real threat for the Brigid’s side.

Barely 20 seconds had elapsed on the clock when Orla Smith set up Farrell for her first goal of the game. In the fourth minute Chloe Harvey grabbed her and her side’s first goal. One minute later Farrell was on target again with a fine goal.

In the eighth minute Harvey found the top corner of the net to cut the deficit to just one point. In the 13th minute St. Brigid’s were awarded a penalty but Sonia Maguire made a great save to deny Gallagher. 

Three points from Gallagher gave Brigid’s the lead for the first time in the 21st minute but two minutes later Niamh Hargaden drew the Gaels level. The side’s were level again in the second minute of first half stoppage time before a neat Farrell point gave Gaels a one point lead going in at the interval.

Another Farrell point in the 36th minute edged her side ahead by two but Deirdre Quinn and Jemma Galligan drew the sides level for the sixth time in the 39th minute. In the 43rd minute Farrell got through for her and her side’s third goal. Jacinta Maguire replied with a point for Brigid’s but two goals in the space of two minutes from Farrell and Smith put Gaels in the driving seat. It was Farrell that set Smith up for her goal in the 47th minute.

Gallagher kicked over a good point to close the gap to six points in the 54th minute but the exceptional Farrell raised the green flag with another goal one minute later.

Karen Reynolds got a seventh goal for the Gaels in the 60th minute while just before the end Maguire’s effort crossed the line for a third Brigid’s goal.