ANTRIM, led by Bronagh Devlin, dominated  a very entertaining and hard fought Lidl National Football League Division 4 league semi-final at Kingscourt and were full value for their four points over last year’s TG4 All-Ireland intermediate champions Leitrim.

Antrim got off to a whirlwind start with Omolara Danhunsi firing over while Anna Mullholland and Devlin found the Leitrim net in the opening three minutes.

Muireann Devaney rifled home a Leitrim goal in reply after six minutes and that was followed by two points from Michelle Guckian, one of them a free. Leitrim took the lead for the first time in the game after Ailbhe Clancy was taken down for a 14th minute penalty which she converted. Antrim centre back Ciara Brown was sin-binned for fouling Clancy in the penalty incident.

A Leah Fox point four minutes later increased Leitrim’s advantage to two points. An Omolara Danhunsi effort after 21 minutes brought Antrim back on level terms.

Maria O’Neill’s pointed a free that put Antrim into a lead they never subsequently relinquished. For the remainder of the half Antrim outgunned Leitrim by 0-4 to 0-2 with Devlin pointing twice while Teresa Mellon and Dúana Coleman added a point apiece.

Leitrim answered with points from Laura O’Dowd and Ailbhe Clancy which left Antrim leading by 3-6 to 2-5 at the break. Leitrim went further behind within two minutes of the restart when Nicole Jones hammered home the Saffron’s fourth goal.

However the Leitrim women responded determinedly to this set-back when Devaney found the Antrim net within the space of 60 seconds and after that reduced the deficit with points from Guckian and Devaney.

Antrim got back on top with Aine Tubridy and Devlin (free) whipping over points. Leitrim again managed to peg Antrim’s lead back to two points thanks to Laura O’Dowd who fired over twice in succession.

A 57th minute Devlin goal ensured Antrim’s win even though Omolara Danhunsi was sin binned close to the final whistle.

Antrim joint manager Michael Devlin was delighted they reached the final, even if there is plenty of room for improvement.

“We came in with a purpose for every game and we prepared like we did for every game,” he said. “The girls played three different games today. One where they were fluid. One where they had to dig deep. One where they conceded three soft goals but they didn’t drop their heads.”

Antrim: B Devlin 2-3 (0-2f), O Danhusi 1-1; A Mulholland and N Jones 1-0 each; M O’Neill, T Mellon, D Coleman and A Tubridy 0-1 each.

Leitrim: M Guckian 1-4 (0-2f), M Devaney (1-1), A Clancy (1-1, 1-0pen), L O’ Dowd 0-3, L Fox 0-1.

Antrim: A Devlin; N McIntosh, M Blaney, M Mulholland; S O’Neill, C Brown, D Coleman; A Mulholland, A Tubridy; T Mellon, L Dahunsi, A Kelly; B Devlin, N Jones, M O’Neill.
Subs: L Agnew for Jones (43); O Ni Corra for Tubridy (50); C McKenna for S O’Neill (53); A Turley for Ni Corra (54).

Leitrim: M Monaghan; M Murphy, C Tyrrell, J Maye; S Reynolds, C Owens, R McIntyre; N Tighe, C Dolan; A Gilmartin, M Guckian, A Clancy; L Fox, M Devaney, L O’Dowd.
Subs: V Egan for Dolan (HT); S Quinn for Fox (40); E Guckian for Murphy (47); S Ward for Gilmartin (54).

Referee: Maggie Farrelly (Cavan).