Newly qualified guard Hayden takes no prisoners against London
Sinéad Hayden squeezes the ball past London's Leah Harold and Aislinn Nagle for one of her three goals Photos: Pat Ahern
Carlow proved too good for the Exiles when they out-fought and out-scored their All-Ireland Junior Football Championship Group B opponents at Whitehall, Colmcille on Saturday.
From the moment Sinead Hayden flighted over a point from play, Carlow were in command. Emily Bartley did find an equaliser from a free but the Carlow forward accounted for 3-1 without reply.
The first three-pointer came when London keeper, Emillie Mooney, failed to find a player from a kick-out and Hayden pounced to find the net. She flicked in a high ball to register another before a passing movement found her inside the defence as Hayden completed her hat-trick.
Another goal, this time from Kate Burke, broke Hayden’s sequence but the game was all but over. By the interval, Carlow led 4-4 to 0-2. The Exiles second point came from midfielder, Emer McCarthy.
Cliodhna Ní Shé’s opening point of the second period ensured that London would not have any notions of mounting a comeback. Hayden raised another white flag.
Bronagh Nolan scored her goal as the referee gave her an advantage. From the kick-out, Ní Shé delivered a sixth three-pointer when she lobbed the keeper. It was tough on London. They had played well at times but at times a pass too much was intercepted by a hungry looking Carlow side.
Maeve O’Neill nailed Carlow’s last goal with a low shot to the bottom left-hand corner. With the rain coming down, the final whistle was a blessing for London.
As for the winners, they will face a bigger test next week away to Longford, who they beat en route to the Leinster final last month. It is here where they will find out a bit more about themselves.
S Hayden 3-2, C Ní Shé 1-3, K Burke 1-2, M O’Neill, B Nolan 1-0 each, S Nolan, E Ware 0-1 each London: E McCarthy, E Bartley (f), S Munnelly (f), E Coombes 0-1 each.
Nicole Hanley; Sinead McCullagh, Anne Roche, Katie Tunstead; Tara Lyons, Beibhin Nolan, Ruth Bermingham; Roisin Bailey, Edel Hayden; Bronagh Nolan, Sarah Nolan, Sinead Hayden; Aoibhinn Webb, Clíodhna Ní Shé, Kate Burke. Subs: Elaine Ware for B Nolan (45), Maeve O’Neill for S Nolan (45), Orlaith Healy for Webb (45), Genevieve Sherlock for Ní Shé (50), Leanne Carroll for McCullagh (50).
Emillie Mooney; Orla Reilly, Aislinn Nangle, Katie Allenby; Ciara Flanagan, Anne Spain, Caitlin Finnerty; Emer McCarthy, Ailish Healy; Edel Gray, Erin Creedon, Shauna Munnelly; Emily Bartley, Aoife Ryan, Michelle Harney-Nolan. Subs: Emma Combs for Bartley (42), Ciara Cottrell for McKegney (42).
Sinead McHugh (Donegal).
