Four-goal Carlow deliver sixth straight win
Clíodhna Ní Shé, who top-scored for Carlow with 1-4 against Longford, pictured here slipping the ball outside to teammate Bronagh Nolan. Photo: Michael O'Rourke.
Carlow made the four-hour round trip to Hugh Devine Park just outside Edgeworthstown, home of Mostrim GAA, on Sunday afternoon, safe in the knowledge that they were already guaranteed a place in the Lidl National Football League Division 4 semi-finals.
But the away side put in another masterful performance as Carlow scored four goals on their way to a stunning 22-point victory, their sixth straight win in this year's National League.
The four goal-scores were responsible for the majority of Carlow's tally, with Cliodhna Ni She scoring 1-4, Sarah Doyle's 1-3, and a pair of well-taken goals from Megan Townsend.
The five wins from five before the trip to Longford gave Carlow manager Ed Burke the freedom to experiment with his side. And he made four significant changes from the 15 that started last time out against Derry, with Niamh Murphy, Beibhin Nolan, Megan Townsend and Meave O'Neill coming in to replace Aoife Carroll, Caoimhe O'Neill, Amy Hanley and last week's hat-trick hero, Aibha Kiernan.
Longford came into the game with a 50/50 record after their first four games, and still holding out a realistic chance to make it into the semi-finals themselves, but they were well off the pace on their home patch, managing just three points in the entire game.
Benkerry-Tinryland's Aoibhinn Webb has been a revelation for Ed Burke's charges this season, and the star wing back opened the scoring early on for Carlow, before Sian Gallagher played a lovely one-two with Katelyn McKeon to draw Longford level after five minutes.
Carlow had the ball in the net moments later, but the umpire crossed to say his flags, signifying the goal had been chalked off, as the visitors were inside the square before turning the ball home.
Longford went straight on the attack after that where the classy Aoife Darcy played a deft ball inside to Kamille Burke, but the full forward's shot hit the crossbar, with Beibhin Nolan and Niamh Forde combining to get the ball to safety.
Sarah Doyle raised a white flag for Carlow before turning provider for Cliodhna Ni She, who rippled the Longford net with a fine finish into the bottom corner with ten minutes on the clock.
Carlow were in total control now and bombarded the Longford goal, with a mix-up in the home defence allowing Megan Townsend to take advantage, prodding the ball beyond Siobhan Egan to raise a second green flag.
Ni She followed up with a point from distance to leave Carlow 2-3 to 0-1 up midway through the first half.
Longford were far better in the second quarter, but they were kept at bay by some excellent Carlow defending, making great reads and turning the ball over time and time again.
Ni She pointed twice with Edel Hayden also getting on the scoresheet, with Nicole Hanley making a fabulous one-on-one save to deny Edel Sheehy a goal.
Aoife Darcy pointed a free for the hosts, but Carlow ended the half with their third goal, a spectacular strike from Sarah Doyle from all of 35 metres out, leaving Carlow up 3-6 to 0-2 at the interval.
Darcy pointed another free for Longford straight after the restart, but the hosts were reduced to 14 just two minutes into the half when referee Brian Foley flashed a red card at captain Sian Gallagher for a stray elbow to the head of Edel Hayden.
Carlow's Player of the Match Aoibhin Webb added another two points to her tally from corner back before the visitors added their fourth goal midway through the half when Megan Townsend raised her second green flag.
The final quarter was a procession for Carlow, who added another five points, including two from Sarah Doyle, two from captain Roisin Bailey and a second free from Cliodhna Ni She.
Carlow's final game in the round robin stage is this coming Sunday, away to Leitrim in what could be a trial-run for the league final.
Aoife Darcy 0-2 (2f), Sian Gallagher 0-1.
Cliodhna Ni She 1-4 (0-2f), Megan Townsend 2-0, Sarah Doyle 1-3, Aoibhinn Webb 0-3, Roisin Bailey 0-2, Edel Hayden 0-1.
Siobhan Egan; Grace Kenny, Leanne Keegan, Riane McGrath; Kate MacEntire, Emma Doris, Emma Farrell; Sian Gallagher, Shauna Hagan; Katelyn McKeon, Katie Crawford, Ailbhe Brady; Edel Sheehy, Kamille Burke, Aoife Darcy.
Amy Creegan for Kenny (inj, 19), Hannah Burke and Sarah Macken for MacEntire and Sheehy (both HT), Eileen Boyle and Aoife Nolan for McGrath and Crawford (both 43), Fummi Talabi for McKeon (57).
Nicole Hanley; Niamh Murphy, Anne Roche, Beibhin Nolan; Aoibhinn Webb, Niamh Forde, Ruth Bermingham; Roisin Bailey, Siofra O'Neill; Edel Hayden, Cliodhna Ni She, Maeve O'Neill; Megan Townsend, Sara Doyle, Bronagh Nolan.
Amy Hanley for Bronagh Nolan (HT), Aibhe Kiernan for Hayden (37), Aoife Carroll for O'Neill (46), Sarah Nolan for Brmigham (53).
Brian Foley (Wicklow).
