Carlow lose out to superior Kerry second-half show

Very National Camogie Division 2A League

Kerry 0-15 

Carlow 2-8

A superior second half performance saw Kerry take the points in this camogie National League Division 2A third round game at Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday.

Playing with the wind into the scoreboard end of the ground, Carlow took the lead with a 2nd minute point from Sarah Sheehan. Kerry equalised through the experienced Patrice Diggin who converted a free.

With both sides trading points, the first goal came on nine minutes when Carlow’s Anna Murphy doubled on a ball just outside the small square to find the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

Ten minutes later, and again from close range, Caoimhe Coady scooped the ball home to put the home side into a good position. They did survive a scare when a long ball from Kerry left-half back, Aoife Behan dropped under the crossbar but Carlow keeper, Catherine Kavanagh, batted the ball out to the right and safety.

At the interval, Carlow led 2-5 to 0-3.

Inspired by a two-point side-line cut at the tunnel side from Amy O’Sullivan, the visitors chipped away at the Carlow lead who only scored three frees in the second period. On the other hand, Diggin scored nine points from frees and play. Her last match-winning shot came as the game went injury time and even though Carlow had a couple of outside chances they came up against a side who sensed victory and did not concede.

Scorers Kerry: P Diggin 0-11 (9fs), Amy Sullivan 0-2 (sl), C Spillane, E Conway 0-1 each.

Carlow: E Treacy 0-6 (5fs), C Coady 1-0, A Murphy 1-0, S Sheehan 0-1, C Jordan 0-1 

CARLOW: Catherine Kavanagh; Niamh Canavan, Rachel Breen, Gillian Doyle; Mairead O’Shea, Michelle Nolan, Aibha Kiernan; Caoimhe Jordan, Eleanor Treacy; Eve Sinnott, Sarah Sheehan, Anna Murphy; Ciara Kavanagh, Caoimhe Coady, Holly Wall.

Subs: Leah Ryan for Wall (41), Eibhe Lawler for Ciara Kavanagh (52), Aimie Nolan for O’Shea (52).

KERRY: Aoife Fitzgerald; Michelle Costello, Sara Murphy, Rachel McCarthy; Roisin Quinn, Niamh Leen, Aoife Behan; Caoimhe Spillane, Ruth O’Connor; Amy O’Sullivan, Patrice Diggin, Amy McCarthy; Ann Marie Leen, Kate Lynch, Ellen O’Donoghue.

Subs: Aine O’Connor for N Leen (16), Shannon Collins for O’Donoghue (41), Niamh Quinn for McCarthy (50), Emma Conway for A M Leen (59), Kathryn Ryan for Quinn (61).

Referee: Max Molloy (Wicklow)