Carlow stand on the brink of history with perfect season in sight

Carlow ladies stand on the brink of a feat few teams ever dare to dream about, let alone achieve when they run out at Croke Park on Sunday for the 11.45am throw-in against Antrim in the TG4 All-Ireland All-Ireland Junior Football Championship Final.

Winning an 18th successive match, completing the season with a 100% record, and collecting a third trophy along the way would be a monumental, magical and magnificent accomplishment. And yet, it would be only the cherry on top of the cake.

Years from now, every member of this squad would cherish being able to say they were part of the Carlow team that delivered a perfect season.

For too long, many of this group fell at the semi-final stage in the All-Ireland Junior Championship and they have finally reached the Promised Land of Croke Park. That won’t be enough to satisfy manager Ed Burke, though, as wonderful as this year has been to date, failing to lift the trophy on Sunday would inevitably leave a sense of disappointment, particularly as it would mean another year at junior level for a team who appear to have the quality to make their mark at a higher level.

Croke Park is a wonderful place to play football but only when you win. The Bennekerry/Tinryland contingent in the group have been there and enjoyed that feeling in recent times but it can be a lonely place when things haven’t gone your way.

Antrim will pose a different challenge than most that Carlow have faced so far this year. They reached the Division 3 final and only lost by a point to Louth so their quality is beyond reproach.

The management team of Burke, Wayne Heavey and co. will do their work in preparing their team for the opposition but they are in the enviable position of going into the game knowing that they possess more than enough quality to be a threat to Antrim.

Carlow don’t rely on one individual forward for scores but have plenty who can hurt the best of defences. Clíodhna Ní Shé is a player born for the big stage, and along with Sara Doyle and Aibhe Kiernan that trio have contributed an incredible 36-140 in Carlow’s 17 games so far this season.

Carlow are an extremely fit and mobile team around the middle third with players like captain Roisin Bailey, Caoimhe O’Neill, Amy Hanley and the ageless Edel Hayden.

Aoibhín Webb has been a superb addition to the team this season after returning from Dubai and she will revel in the wide open spaces of Croke Park, as will Ruth Bermingham.

In front of the goal, Anne Roche offers great protection on the edge of the square ahead of solid goalkeeper Nicole Hanley.

There are so many others then who can make an impact no matter what they are asked to do, like Aoife Carroll, Siofra O’Neill, the Nolan sisters, Bronagh and Beibhinn, and Megan Townsend.

History and an All-Ireland title is within this team’s grasp – and they are well capable of taking the opportunity at hand.