By Kieran Murphy

LAST year when Carlow beat Kerry to win the All Ireland Junior A camogie final many of the victorious team talked about the next step which was an appearance in Croke Park on All-Ireland final day in the Premier decider.
Ambitious talk, but was this possible? If there were doubters the management team and the players certainly believed. Now just over 12 months later Carlow were crowned All-Ireland champions on what is often described as the field of dreams.
Midfielder Ciara Mullins was one of those players who dared to dream.
“This is not a fluke. Mark had his eyes on this cup. There was a group of girls who had the same focus,” she said.
When Ciara Quirke pounced for her first-half goal Carlow didn’t push on and Armagh led by a point at half-time.
“There was nothing in it in the first half. Maybe being in the big stadium took us a while to settle in. Thankfully we weren’t too slow off the mark and didn’t let them get away from us.
“It was even in the first half. Armagh were down by five points in the second half of their semi-final so we knew they were a team who would come out in the second half and have a go at us,” said Mullins.
“At half-time Mark told us not to leave this behind us. They weren’t better than us.”
Carlow won the second half by 3-6 to 1-2. Ciara Quirke completed a hat-trick.
Rachel Sawyer is only 16 years of age. Just like Quirke as a teenager in big games for club, school and county the Naomh Brid forward was unfazed by the magnitude of the occasion. In two games against Westmeath and Armagh she imposed herself on full-back lines.
When called into action here she was not going to let the occasion get to her.
“I was pretty nervous. I was ready but so happy to be asked to go on. It is such an honour to be asked to go on and represent your county in Croke Park. It is unreal.”
Sawyer is a student of Presentation De La Salle in Bagenalstown. Whether it is on the pitch or carrying out post-match interviews she takes it all in her stride.
“When Ciara got that last goal I knew there was no stopping us. I knew we were on top and there was no stopping us. It was just a great day for Carlow.”