Carlow comeback stuns Leitrim as Ed Burke's side claim top spot
Carlow manager Ed Burke has steered his side to top spot in Division 4. Photo: Michael O'Rourke.
Winning Carlow manager, Ed Burke, paid tribute to his team after they came away from Carrick-on-Shannon with a seven game 100% record in the National Football League Division 4.
Six points behind at half-time (0-7 to 0-1) two goals in the second half broke the home resistance as Carlow marched on.
“This is a panel who are working ferociously hard in training. With the GPS during the week most of them have had personal bests for the year and that is after playing three games in fourteen days,” he pointed out.
The visitors had reason to be worried in that opening half. Aoibhinn Webb scored the only Carlow point while Leah Fox, Michelle Guckian, Aoife Gilmartin and Muireann Devaney all raised white flags for Leitrim.
“It was a wind and I suppose us trying to hold onto the ball as a method. They got some counter attacks on us,” Burke noted.
“They didn’t have many attacks which we were happy about but they scored from all the attacks they did have.”
The Carlow possession game helped suck the momentum from the Leitrim attack who could never fully settle.
“They probably only had nine attacks and if you had told me at the start of the game that they would have only nine attacks, I would have said perfect if we had four or five points,” Burke added.
One side of the pre-match preparations had produced dividends in that opening half but now Carlow needed to push on.
They were helped by an early Sara Doyle point and an Aibha Kiernan goal in the third quarter which was massive in the context of a low scoring game. Leitrim replied with a point a piece from Guckian and Fox.
Doyle scored a two-pointer from play which brought a moment of controversy into the game with Leitrim suggesting the Carlow player was inside the D.
The score stood and Carlow went on to register further points through Clíodhna Ní Shé and Doyle.
It got better for the visitors and when Kate Burke was fouled going through, Ní Shé converted the resultant penalty to give Carlow a slender looking 2-6 to 0-11 lead. Their job was made harder with Ruth Bermingham picking up a yellow card in the 57th minute.
In a tight game, Burke could never relax but he could see what Carlow were doing well.
“As good as Leitrim are I don’t feel we were ever out of control when we got going,” he said.
It was a tight finale to the game. Webb scored her second point which meant the home side had to go for goal. They did create an opportunity but the Carlow defence held their lines and saw out the remaining time which surely shortened their journey on the way home.
“Over time, mentally, they have learned they are good enough to be winning and all the skills are being built on.,” the manager said.
“I would be first to admit a year of me not being there has been good for them. They have learned new things. Seen new things.
“We have some very good players. Some of our defending was outstanding. Niamh Forde typifies this. You cannot get the better of her.”
Carlow play Offaly or Longford in the semi-final on March 29 with a promotion place beckoning. The manager is happy but insists the players push on now.
“We have nothing won yet,” Burke said.
L Fox 0-5, M Guckian 0-3 (3fs); M Devaney 0-2, A Gilmartin 0-1.
S Doyle 0-4 (1-tp), C Ni Shé 1-1, A Kiernan 1-0, A Webb 0-2.
Martina Gallagher; Jasmine Maye, Charlene Tyrrell, Niamh Morahan; Dearbhaile Beirne, Lauren Devaney, Rachel McIntyre; Niamh Tighe, Anna Devaney; Aoife Gilmartin, Leah Fox, Michelle Guckian; Muireann Devaney, Shaylyn Ward, Emma Guckian.
Dearbhaile Rooney for E Guckian (44); Chloe Dolan for A Devaney (48); Vivienne Egan for Ward (53); Sarah Reynolds for Beirne (58).
Nicole Hanley; Aoife Carroll, Anne Roche, Clodagh Mahon; Aoibhinn Webb, Niamh Forde, Ruth Bermingham; Roisin Bailey, Grace Lawler; Amy Farrell, Clíodhna Ní Shé, Amy Hanley; Aibha Kiernan, Sara Doyle, Kate Burke.
Bronagh Nolan for Farrell (43); Beibhin Nolan for Hayden (44); Megan Townsend for Lawlor (47); Edel Hayden for O’Neill (58).
Keith Sherrin (Meath)
