Carlow ladies secure promotion and place in Division 4 Final
Celebration time for the Carlow ladies after their superb win over Offaly Photo: Pat Ahern
Carlow clinched promotion when a powerful first half performance which yielded three goals to their opponents one gave them a platform for victory in this Lidl National Football League Division 4 Semi-final in Portarlington on Sunday.
The eventual winners scored first when Sara Doyle raised a white flag but Nicole Buckley levelled when her powerful run and shot gave Offaly their first point of the contest.
Five minutes in, Caoimhe O’Neill scored the first Carlow goal and Clíodhna Ní Shé followed up with a two-point free. The Carlow defence was in charge forcing their rivals to shoot hurriedly and by the break the Offaly wide count had gone out to six.
In the meantime, Carlow scored two more goals with Aibha Kiernan netting her first on eight minutes. Carlow continued to press and the same player was on hand to touch home from the right edge of the small square after a good move down the left created the space.
The Offaly goal was scrappy when Carlow failed to take control from a free and Caoimhe Lynam scored from close range. The eventual winners had still done enough to lead 3-7 to 1-2 at the change of ends.
Offaly were always going to hit back and with the wind in their favour they pounced on a Carlow error. Again Lynam was the beneficiary and se scored her second goal on 33 minutes. For Carlow Bronagh Nolan and Edel Hayden both landed points which were needed.
When Ní Shé missed an easy free it brought Offaly on to their opponents. The Midlanders came close to getting back into the game when Buckley broke through but Carlow keeper, Nicole Hanley, dived to her left to smother the shot.
The Barrowsiders were not exactly hanging on but they had to be alert. Aoibhinn Webb’s point from a placed ball was the insurance which put them seven clear . Lynam added a free to the Offaly total but Carlow had the last say when Ní Shé converted a penalty with the last action of the game and they will now play Leitrim in the Division 4 National League final.
C Ní Shé 1-3 (1-0 pen, 1tpf, 2fs), A Kiernan 2-0, C O’Neill 1-0, Bronagh Nolan 0-2, E Hayden 0-2, S Doyle 0-1, R Bailey 0-1, M Townsend 0-1, A Webb 0-1 (f).
C Lynam 2-4 (3fs), M Mann 0-2, N Buckley 0-1, E Hand 0-1 (f).
Nicole Hanley; Aoife Carroll, Anne Roche, Siofra O’Neill; Aoibhinn Webb, Niamh Forde, Ruth Bermingham; Roisin Bailey, Caoimhe O’Neill; Edel Hayden, Clíodhna Ní Shé, Amy Hanley; Megan Townsend, Sara Doyle, Aibha Kiernan. Subs: Bronagh Nolan for Bermingham (h/t), Kate Burke for Hayden (44).
Lauren Dunne; Saoirse McGuinness, Fiona Dempsey, Nicole Buckley; Meabh Rouse, Emma Maher, Anna Grehan; Roisin Ennis, Roisin Mealiff; Faith McDermott, Marie Byrne, Emma Hand; Caoimhe Lynam, Saorah Doyle, Michelle Mann. Subs: Ava Dolan for Maher (h/t), Tara Tyrell for Grehan (44), Brooke McDermott for Doyle (55), Eve Kelly for Doyle (55).
A Gallagher (Meath)
