Slow start costs Carlow despite second half resurgence
Abhainn Coady scores a second half point for Carlow
Carlow’s hopes of a first National Camogie Division 2 League win were dashed when they produced a disappointing first half performance which gave them a mountain to climb in the second half at Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday.
Laois led from the outset with two points, one a free, from Aimee Collier. Caoimhe Jordan replied for Carlow with a good point but the home side were playing catch-up as the visitors tacked on all their scores from play in the opening half.
Collier and Grainne Delaney scored the goals in the second quarter to give the O’Moore team a 2-7 to 0-4 interval lead.
When Aisling O’Dea flashed over another Laois point early in the second half, it looked as if it was going to be a long day for the home side.
Led by Aimee Nolan, Carlow fought to the end from there. She might have been wearing number 26 on her back but the Myshall player took the game by the scruff of the neck.
She scored three points from distance over the 30 minutes. The Carlow goals came from Ciara Kavanagh at the end of the third quarter and when Abhainn Coady touched home from close range late in the game, Carlow had a chance.
Their opponents found a bit more and points from Eimear Hassett and Kaylee O’Keefe saw Laois keep the home side which was enough to hold out for the narrow win.
A Collier 1-3 (1f), G Delaney 1-2, K O’Keeffe 0-2, S Delaney, E Hassett, A Finlay, A O’Dea 0-1 each.
A Coady 1-2, C Kavanagh 1-1, A Nolan 0-3, S Sheehan 0-1, R Joyce 0-1, C Jordan 0-1.
Aedín Lowry; Laura Finlay, Ellen Conroy, Fiona Scully; Aoife Finlay, Clodagh Tynan, Sarah Creagh; Sarah Fleming, Lucy Conroy; Kaylee O’Keeffe, Kirsten Keenan, Grainne Delaney; Susie Delaney, Aimee Collier, Aisling O’Dea. Subs: Eimear Hassett for Keenan (52), Amy Lacey for Conroy (54), Catherine Kirby for Creagh (62).
Emily O’Hara; Niamh Canavan, Michelle Nolan, Gillian Doyle; Rachel Breen, Rebecca Kelly, Caoimhe Coady; Eleanor Treacy, Eve Sinnott; Ciara Kavanagh, Aimee Nolan; Molly Kavanagh; Sarah Sheehan, Roisin Joyce, Caoimhe Jordan. Subs: Abhainn Coady for Treacy (52), Clodagh Lawler for Joyce (52), Sarah Joyce for C Coady (54), Aoibhinn Doyle for O’Hara (54), Martha Dolan for Nolan (55), Niamh Minchin for Sinnott (55), Niamh Ahearne for Canavan (57), Rhiannon Kenny for M Kavanagh (57).
Karol Collins (Galway).
