Faithful fall to clinical Carlow
Carlow players celebrate after a job well done against Offaly
Just like the Carlow men's football team, the ladies are riding high on top of their National League Division 4 after their fourth successive win of the new season.
Indeed, between the two teams, Carlow’s football teams have won all seven league game that they have played so far.
Carlow’s ladies had to be patient before securing this win. Despite Aibha Kiernan giving them the perfect start with in the opening minute, they had to play second fiddle for the majority of the opening half as they played into a strong wind and driving rain.
Two Clíodhna Ní Shé frees were all that they had to add to Kiernan’s early goal in the first half and by the break they were 0-9 to 1-2 behind. Caoimhe Lynam scored soon after the restart to extent Offaly’s lead to five points but as the weather improved and the sun began to shine, Carlow started to reel in their hosts at the Faithfield Fields grounds just outside Tullamore.
Kieran and Ní Shé scored but an Emma Hand free in the 46th minute sent out the signal that Offaly were still in the fight and made the score 0-11 to 1-4.
A superb score on the run by Aoibhinn Webb in the 47th minute kick started a dominant final quarter for Carlow.
Ní Shé’s well struck shot a minute later was tipped on to the crossbar by Lauren Dunne but Carlow kept the ball alive and eventually pointed through Ruth Bermingham’s shot off the inside of the post.
Carlow were completely on top by now and a goal seemed inevitable and duly arrived in the 51st minute when Ní Shé pounced after Kiernan’s shot had been saved and turned the ball home.
Ní Shé and Doyle tagged on points to push Carlow into a three point lead in the dying minutes.
Faith McDermott pulled one back for Offaly in the 57th minute and Carlow still needed a couple of well timed tackles to make sure the home team didn’t get any closer but they saw the game out in style as they moved a step closer to qualifying for the semi-finals ahead of a home game next weekend against Derry.
Shannen Cotter; Aoife Carroll, Anne Roche, Béibhín Nolan, Siofra O’Neill, Niamh Forde, Ruth Bermingham 0-1; Edel Hayden, Roisin Bailey; Aoibhinn Webb 0-1, Clíodhna Ní Shé 1-4 (3fs), Amy Hanley, Aibha Kiernan 1-1, Sara Doyle 0-1, Bronagh Nolan. Subs: Caoimhe O’Neill for A Roche, h/t; Megan Townsend for Hayden, 41; Amy Farrell for Bronagh Nolan, 43; Maeve O’Neill for Hanley, 51.
Lauren Dunne; Saoirse McGuinness, Nicole Buckley, Fiona Dempsey, Meabh Rouse, Emma Maher, Anna Grehan 0-1; Roisin Mealiff, Roisin Ennis; Marie Byrne, Caoimhe Lynam 0-2 (1f), Tara Tyrell 0-2, Eve Kelly 0-2, Sarah Fitzgerald 0-1, Emma Hand 0-2 (1f). Subs: Faith McDermott 0-2 for Rouse, 19; Una O’Brien for Fitzgerald, h/t; Brooke McDermott for McGuinness, 56.
John Purcell
