Defending champions Leitrim looked comfortable winners until the final quarter when they lost their way to a lively GMIT side who just fell short in this encounter at Cloone.
It was all so different in the opening half as Leitrim got off to a great start scoring three points in as many minutes.
It took the students 11 minutes to register their first score, a Jonathan Duane 45 followed by an exchange of points before Leitrim hit a purple patch scoring three without reply and Paul Brennan finished a four-man move to the net one minute from time to put Leitrim comfortably ahead 1-8 to 0-5.
Four more Leitrim points to just one from GMIT extended the Leitrim lead during the third quarter but two GMIT points followed by a goal by substitute Alan Meenaghan seven minutes from time reduced the arrears as Leitrim faded.
A Paul Brennan point one minute from time eased the pressure and Leitrim ran out deserving winners.
LEITRIM: P Farrelly, B Prior, D Wrynn, P Maguire, W McKeon(0-1), G Reynolds, P Brennan(1-1), G Hickey(0-1), A Hickey, K Conlon, C McCrann(0-2), C Reynolds, R Cox(0-1), R Lowe (0-1), E Mulligan(0-6, 0- 3 frees). Subs: R Mulvey(0-1) for C Reynolds; T Beirne for G Hickey; D Beck for B Prior; F Clancy for K Conlon; D Moran for C McCrann; S Foley for A Hickey.
GMIT: G Shiel,A Wynne,C Donoghue,N Sheridan,C Sweeney,F Durkan,R Shanahan,A McCormack,J Finan, M Farragher, M Lundy(0-3), N Bracken,C Kelly, E Monahan(0-4 , three frees),J Duane(0-2). Subs: S Hennelly(0-1) for F Durkan; S Tighe(0-1) for J Finan; L Monaghan for C Donoghue; G Kelly for C Kelly; A Meenaghan(1-0) for R Shanahan.
Referee: M Duffy(Sligo).
