IN the first round of the All-Ireland Intermediate Championship, Fermanagh Ladies let a second-half lead of seven points slip to be pegged back by Leitrim and lose by one.

The game in Ballinamore last Saturday was dominated by Fermanagh apart from the last 10 minutes when Leitrim pinned Fermanagh back as they fought back.

Although Fermanagh were in control for much of the game they still had to call on keeper Shauna Murphy to keep save a penalty in either half but it is a game they will be bitterly disappointed in losing.

Fermanagh raced into a three-point lead after four minutes thanks to scores from Roisin O’Reilly, Sarah Britton and a free from the impressive Eimear Smyth.

Michelle Guckian, who was to be Leitrim’s scorer-in-chief on the day, got her side’s first point but it was cancelled out by a Joanne Doonan score.

A foul on Leah Fox allowed Guckian to convert a free for the home side and cut the deficit to two shortly after.

On 10 minutes, Smyth then got her first from play as a crossfield ball to found Doonan who passed to the full forward who popped over with her left.

Fermanagh were defensively sound and breaking quickly whenever they turned Leitrim over but they were failing to convert the chances at the other end.

Fox got her first point of the day to leave it 0-05 to 0-03 at the first water break in Fermanagh’s favour.

Sight of goal

On the restart, Fermanagh had their first sight of the goal when Britton was found with a long ball from O’Reilly. But the Leitrim keeper, Michelle Monaghan produced an excellent save to keep the shot out.

Sarah McCausland then hit a fine score to make it a three-point game with Fermanagh turning the ball over through Aoife Flanagan.

And Smyth was the beneficiary of another turnover, this time from Doonan to stretch Fermanagh’s lead further.

The Fermanagh full forward was on target again after good work from Aisling O’Brien and O’Reilly set her up to fire over.

Leitrim in response went down the field and Fox was dragged down in the box giving the referee no option but to signal for a penalty with Molly McGloin being sin binned.

The strike was saved by Murphy but Leitrim did come away with a point from Laura O’Dowd, 0-08 to 0-04. Ailbhe Clancy made it a three-point game as the half drew to a close but Fermanagh were to finish the half with a bang.

Aoife Flanagan was found by Smyth and she raced through before finding the top corner to leave it 1-08 to 0-5 at the break.

Guckian hit the first point of the second half for Leitrim before Smyth hit two in a row to push Fermanagh into a seven-point lead.

Laura O’Dowd gave Leitrim hope as she scored a cracker of a goal to make it 1-10 to 1-06 with 40 played.

Fox made it a three-point game as the referee signalled for the second water break.

With eight minutes to play, Smyth converted a free when play was called back as it looked like Fermanagh were through on goal.

This was to be the final score for Fermanagh as Leitrim began to apply pressure.

Leitrim had another penalty as Fox was fouled again, this time Eimear Keenan receiving a yellow card and again Murphy made the save.

But Guckian was to hit the next two scores with Clancy putting the minimum between the sides.

It was Guckian then levelled the game with a point which saw Fermanagh’s Smyth appearing to be tripped in the lead up to but the referee took no action.

Guckian then tapped over a free after she was fouled to complete the comeback for Leitri and consign Fermanagh to another defeat.