Bolger hat-trick helps Carlow seal All-Ireland Shield
Carlow celebrate with their newly won All-Ireland Shield. All Photos: INPHO/Dan Clohessy.
Eimear Bolger scored three goals as Carlow swooped late to take the All-Ireland U16 B Shield Camogie final at Peregrines GAA Grounds on Sunday.
With the game heading into injury time, a Carlow six-point lead had been overhauled and Down midfielder, Olivia Sloan, flighted over what looked like the decisive score.
The eventual winners held their heads and in two consecutive attacks, the Burren Rangers player was on hand to find the net after Seána O’Neill’s shot had been saved and the ball ran loose. In the next Carlow move, Bolger was on hand and feinting to go one way and then the other she created space and found the net once more.
It was game over as the U16s became the second Carlow team in 24 hours to win an All-Ireland title following in the footsteps of the U23 team.
Bolger and Ella Doyle scored first half goals for Carlow as they eked out a 2-3 to 0-3 interval lead. The Down threat came directly from their centre-half forward, Grainne McAleenan who posted three points from placed balls.
With the wind in their backs in the second half, it took the Mourne girls time to use it and it looked as if Jenny Lennon’s goal at the end of the third quarter would see them take the momentum.
With McAleenan continuing to find the range for Down, Carlow dug in and while they did go behind late on, they never stopped believing. Ultimately the brace of goals from Bolger had players and supporters celebrating joyously at the final whistle.
E Bolger 3-3, E Doyle 1-3 (1f 45).
G McAleenan 0-8 (45 6fs), J Lennon 1-1, O Sloan 0-1.
Ailbhe Sinnott; Lara Fanning, Maiyah O’Dwyer, Emma Lyons; Sophie Maher, Anna Gurhy, Rosanna Doyle; Eimear Bolger, Kate Nolan; Seána O’Neill, Aoife Bergin, Ella Doyle; Aoibhinn Keogh, Bláithnaid Corcoran, Ciara Moran.
Christine Cassidy for R Doyle (27), Sally Butler for Maher (36), Mia Minchin for Keogh (41), Maher for Lyons (48), Elisa Nolan for Nolan (48).
Eimear Mason; Cara Young, Cara Holland, Mollie Clarke; Lauren Cluskey, Keavy McMullan, Cora Doyle; Ella Fallon, Olivia Sloan; Annie Fegan, Grainne McAleenan, Aislinn Coulter; Jenny Lennon, Teagan Trainor, Hannah Brown.
Cathán Treacy (Cork).
