Classy Carlow march into league semi-finals
Carlow manager Ed Burke delivers a few final words before sending his side out to face Derry at the SETU Carloe South Campus. All Photos: Michael O'Rourke.
Carlow arrived into Round 5 of the LIDL National Football League with a perfect record in Division 4, courtesy of wins over Sligo, Kilkenny, Wicklow, and a come-from-behind victory over Offaly last time out.
Those results meant that Ed Burke's team would guarantee themselves a place in the semi-finals with a fifth consecutive win on Sunday when they welcomed Derry to the AstroTurf pitch at the SETU Carlow South Campus, with the visitors having won just one of their first four outings.
And the job was done by half time, thanks in no small part to a busy full-forward line of Aibha Kiernan, Sara Doyle and Bronagh Nolan, with all four goals coming from Carlow's St Brigid's stars, including 1-3 from Doyle and a brilliant hat-trick from Kiernan that saw the hosts lead by 15 points at the break.
Caoimhe O'Neill and captain Roisin Bailey ran the show from midfield, while the Carlow half backs added danger in attack, particularly Aoibhinn Webb who chipped in with a couple of points.
The half forward line provided arguably Carlow's most impressive players, with Edel Hayden, Clíodhna Ní Shé and Amy Hanley using all their grit, determintion, skill and experience to grab the game by the scruff of the neck as the trio led Carlow to victory with a mix incredible creativity, and also a willingness to get back and provide a deadly weapon in defence.
The hosts began the game with some strong carries into Derry territory, but struggled to find their range playing into a strong wind.
But they settled themselves when Aoibhinn Webb opened the scoring, and from the restart came the first of Aibha Kiernan's three goals, when she gathered a stray ball ball before composing herself and firing into the net after just six minutes.
Bailey added a couple of scores to leave Carlow 1-3 up with ten minutes on the clock.
Kiernan then raised a white flag before being played in for her second goal thanks to a precision pass from Clíodhna Ní Shé, with Edel Hayden making it 2-5 to no score after quarter of an hour.
Derry managed to work the ball into Carlow territory and finally opened their account through a brilliant score from Kate Hargan in the 22nd minute, but that was cancelled out almost immediately by Sarah Doyle.
The Ulster side came into the game a lot more in the second quarter, but were put under enormous defensive pressure from a well-organised Carlow side.
Kiernan then completed her hat-trick two minutes before the break with a real poacher's goal when she pounced on the ball after Derry goalkeeper Thomasina Cassidy could only parry a long-range effort from Hayden.
Doyle added another score to send the home side into the changing rooms with a 3-7 to 0-1 lead at half time.
Derry changed their entire forward line at the interval, which made an immediate difference as they upped their intensity and intent with ball in hand.
Four of their six replacements each scored in the first ten minutes of the second half as the visitors managed to outscore Carlow during the third quarter.
Niamh Hannon, Gemma Shivers, Clodagh Moore (free) and Sarah Heron were all on target; however, the hosts landed three points of their own through Bailey, Bermingham and Hayden.
Hannon and Doyle swapped scores to make 3-11 to 0-6 with 15 minutes remaining.
Sarah Doyle then scored a spectacular individual goal, slicing through Derry with a brilliant run before firing her shot beyond Cassidy and into the top corner of the Derry net.
Ní Shé completed the scoring for the home side, but Derry finished with a flutter as Shivers raised a green flag with a tidy finish into the bottom corner, much to the chagrin of Carlow keeper Nicole Hanley. A point from Moore brought the game to a close with Carlow winning by 14 points in the end.
Ed Burke's charges still have two games left in the round robin and head to Longford this coming Sunday with a trip to Leitrim yet to come.
A Kiernan 3-1, Sarah Doyle 1-3, R Bailey 0-3, R Bermingham and E Hayden 0-2 each, C Ni She 0-1 (f).
J Shivers 1-1, N Hannon and C Moore (1f) 0-2 each, K Hargan and S Heron 0-1 each.
Nicole Hanley; Aoife Carroll, Anne Roche, Siofra O'Neill; Aoibhinn Webb, Niamh Forde, Ruth Bermingham; Roisin Bailey, Caoimhe O'Neill; Edel Hayden, Cliodhna Ni She, Amy Hanley; Aibha Kiernan, Sara Doyle, Bronagh Nolan.
Amy Farrell for C O'Neill (HT), Megan Townsend for B Nolan (40), Niamh Murphy and Kate Burke for R Bermingham and A Hanley (both 48), Clodagh Mahon, Grace Lawlor and Meave O'Neill for A Roche, S O'Neill and A Kiernan (all 53), Maria Healy, Niamh Ralph and Anna Cullen for A Carroll, A Webb and S Doyle (all 56).
Tomasina Cassidy; Erin Dillon, Leah Brewester, Joanne Corr; Ann McDaid, Sarah Hargan, Blaithinn Donnelly; Kate Hargan, Sorcha Duggan; Niamh McGarry, Annie Ni Lochlainn, Meabh Boylan; Aine McAlister, Jeanette Slevin, Rianna Doherty.
Clodagh Moore, Ann Donnelly, Niamh Hannon, Gemma Shivers, Sarah Heron and Isla Duggan for N McGarry, A Ni Lochlainn, M Boylan, A McAlister, J Slevin and R Doherty (all HT).
Brian Foley.
