The ultimate heartbreak for Carlow
Carlow's Aoife Carroll and Sara Doyle console each other after the game as Nicole Hanley watches on Photo: ©INPHO/Ben Brady
Is there a better way to win an All-Ireland title than in Croke Park? Is there a worse way? When the hooter went, there was only a point between the two sides. The winner came in the dying seconds from Antrim full-forward, Maria O’Neill. Her strike had her side in ecstasy with Carlow left distraught and wondering what might have been.
How it came to a one point game is down to Carlow’s resilience and a willingness to give their all after a disastrous start. One minute in, an Antrim attack into the Hill 16 end of the ground broke down and Carlow goalkeeper, Nicole Hanley, took control. Her attempted pass to a defender was intercepted by Theresa Mellon who had the easiest task when stroking the ball into an unguarded net.
Carlow did well to only concede one point in the eight minutes after the concession. An Orlaith Prenter point stretched the lead but two Clíodhna Ní Shé points, one from play and the other from a free for a breach, eased Carlow into the game.
Yet by the 18th minute, Antrim had stretched their lead to 1-5 to 0-2 with their marquee players, Prenter, Aine Tubridy and Maria O’Neill all raising white flags.
At this stage Carlow dug deep drawing a succession of frees. Ní Shé landed three in a row and when Sarah Doyle ran at the defence she created the space and time to find the posts.
Hanley in the Carlow goal recovered well from the early concession when making a point blank save and a rattled Antrim side missed a free which was all but a gimme.
From a fraught position where they had fallen six points behind midway through the half now Carlow only trailed 1-5 to 0-6.
Antrim created another goal chance early in the second half but Lara Dahunsi blazed wide. Another Ní Shé free left the minimum between the sides.
After a barren spell where Antrim didn’t score, they tacked on two points through Prenter from a narrow angle on the left and one from a placed ball. As both sides raised the ante, Aoibhín Webb found the posts but this was cancelled out by an Antrim point from Bronagh Devlin.
Carlow created a goal chance but Ní Shé had her effort blocked and Maria Healy hit the rebound wide. Chances were coming for each side now. Aine Tubridy was put clear but Hanley was out quickly to force a hurried shot from the Antrim midfielder which went wide.
The excitement reached fever pitch when a passing movement put in Aibha Kiernan who didn’t miss from inside the big square. Carlow were now a point up with 12 minutes to go.
It was here where Antrim showed what experience and being in such a position before can help. Having lost to Louth at this stage last year, they were determined not to leave this one behind them.
There was no sense of panic as Prenter equalised from play. If Carlow had reason to be aggrieved then possibly at this stage they could have put their hands up when a number of crucial refereeing decisions went against them.
Anne Roche was pinged for what looked to be a harsh free for overcarrying in front of her own posts. O’Neill didn’t look a gift horse in the mouth as she pointed with ease.
Shortly afterwards, as Antrim attacked down the right, a Carlow defender was pinged. Not quite an easy point but O’Neill didn’t miss. When the Antrim substitute, Aoibheann Monaghan, pointed her side were three clear. Carlow needed a goal.
They took route one passing the ball through the hands up the middle. When Maria Healy took control she could well have gone herself but spotting Megan Townsend free on the right, her off-load was perfect. The substitute didn’t have much time and showing remarkable composure her rocket flashed to the left-hand corner of the net. The sides were level.
Now Carlow had the momentum. There was less than two minutes to go. The Barrowsiders won crucial ball but it was here where clear heads were required. Carlow won a free outside the arc. Even David Clifford, the week before, struggled into the slight breeze which was blowing. Ní Shé went for the score but her shot dropped short.
Carlow were not done yet. Again, they won possession. This time they cleverly worked the ball closer to goal. In hindsight now, they would probably have tried to work it in even a little further. The chance did present itself but Sarah Doyle’s effort dropped under the crossbar and into the keeper’s hands.
Antrim went for the jugular from there. That required composure. They initially went right then transferred the ball left. Space opened up and O’Neill, despite the despairing last ditch tackle from a Carlow player, had the time to stroke the ball from inside the arc.
There was time for no more. The deed was done. Antrim are All-Ireland champions. Carlow were undone. The margins were so tight. It was a hard one to take.
O Prenter 0-6 (2f), M O’Neill 0-4, T Mellon 1-0, B Devlin, A Monaghan, A Tubridy (f), 0-1 each.
C Ní Shé 0-6 (5f), A Kiernan 1-1, M Townsend 1-0, A Webb, S Doyle 0-1each.
Aine Devlin; Emily Kearns, Maeve Blaney, Maeve Mulholland; Laura Agnew, Duana Coleman, Carla McKenna; Lara Dahunsi, Aine Tubridy; Theresa Mellon, Bronagh Devlin, Alyssa Davidson; Emma Louise McAreavey, Maria O’Neill, Orlaith Prenter.
Aoibheann Monaghan for Davidson (38), Hanna Donaghy for Tubridy (49), Aoife Taggart for Dahunsi (50).
Nicole Hanley; Aoife Carroll, Anne Roche, Siofra O’Neill; Aoibhín Webb, Niamh Forde, Ruth Bermingham; Roisin Bailey, Caoimhe O’Neill; Edel Hayden, Clíodhna Ní Shé, Amy Hanley; Bronagh Nolan, Sarah Doyle, Aibha Kiernan.
Megan Townsend for Hayden (37), Maria Healy for C O’Neill (40), O’Neill for Nolan (53).
Conor McCarthy (Cork).
