Carlow run riot in Ruislip to seal All-Ireland semi-final
London captain, Niamh Crowley, referee Colm Conway, and Carlow caprain Róisin Bailey before throw-in at McGovern Park, Ruislip. Photo: Damian Dolan.
Carlow travelled to McGovern Park, Ruislip on Saturday for their highly anticipated TG4 All-Ireland Junior Championship clash with London.
The Barrowsiders put in a ferocious performance, impressing in front of goal with five green flags going up in the London sky.
Carlow had 1-5 to spare in the opening round victory at home to Limerick and were 2-4 better off than Sligo last time out, also on home soil. That left them top of Group B coming into this tie, a position they have now solidified with their third consecutive victory.
London finish bottom of the group, having lost all three games, with Limerick hosting Sligo this coming Sunday to decide who finishes second.
Carlow hit the ground running, with captain Róisín Bailey kicking the opening point. Bronagh Nolan then bagged herself a goal before the visitors were awarded a penalty, with Clíodhna Ní Shé taking the responsibility and rippling the London net.
Aibha Kiernan then pointed before goal number three came courtesy of Bailey.
Carlow added another five points before the break – one each from Kiernan, Maeve O'Neill and Sara Doyle, plus two from Aibhínn Webb – to hold an 11-point lead at the break, up 3-7 to 0-2.
Kiernan and Doyle each pointed at the start of the second half, with Ruth Bermingham pointing either side of Carlow’s fourth goal, which came thanks to Edel Hayden.
Maria Healy added her name to the score sheet before Kiernan and Doyle each pointed again followed by a fifth goal when Galway referee Colm Conway awarded a second penalty. Ní Shé took the responsibility again and again raised a green flag.
Points from Healy, Bermingham and two from Doyle brought an end to the game, with Carlow emerging as 23-point winners.
It could have been ever better for the visitors, who left several scores on the field, including seven wides and Sara Doyle twice hitting the crossbar.
Speaking to The Nationalist, Carlow manager Ed Burke spoke about the value his squad got from the experience in London.
“When the idea of going to London came up, we said we'd build our team bonding into the thing, so we stayed for the two nights. It all worked out nicely for us - the match was on nice and early on a Saturday, so it gave us a Saturday evening to relax as well as be together as a group; and then fly home the next day.
“We left on a 7pm flight on Friday, so we got to the hotel, just had dinner and a quick team meeting and straight into the leaba then.”
Burke was also please with how the game went in London, saying, “we scored 5-18. Did we miss a load? We did. Were we playing at our best? We weren't. But, as I said at half time, when we can have them kind of leads and still be making mistakes, sure, look, who can complain?
“It was warm, it was very warm, but it's not even that - the humidity was incredible out there. So, it was actually very, very tough conditions to play in.”
The semi-finals will be played at neutral venues, where Carlow will meet the Group A runners up, which will be Derry, Offaly or Antrim. The final, should Carlow get that far, is on the Sunday of the August bank holiday weekend on the hallowed turf of Croke Park.
C Ní Shé 2-0 (2pens), S Doyle 0-5, R Bailey 1-1, A Kiernan 0-4, B Nolan and E Hayden 1-0 each, R Bermingham 0-3, A Webb and M Healey 0-2 each, M O’Neill 0-1.
