CARLOW advanced to the all-Ireland Junior camogie semi-final with a fine win over their northern visitors in Leinlinbridge on Saturday afternoon last.

At a glance this would look like a comprehensive enough win but key play-ers in key positions and an ability to take their chances proved vital in the end. After the defeat to Armagh spirits were low but this match gave the team a chance to turn things around as team captain, Mary Coady, explained.

“This was definitely not easy. We fought for everything out there. No match against a northern team is easy but we have had a lot of setbacks during the year. We are just getting it back together now and we were lucky to get John McDonald back to train us. It has made a huge difference.”

The opening exchanges were even enough with a Lisa Abbey point opening the scoring while Coady and Abbey, once more, had the Barrowsiders ahead by three points within the opening six minutes.

Derry had their chances but a number of good scoring opportunities were spurned which was to prove costly as the game progressed.

“If they had put those over then we could have come under pressure mentally. We got a goal and we needed something like that.”

Carlow’s goal arrived thanks to Marian Doyle but much of the credit must go to Valerie Crean who chased a lost cause to regain possession when many other players would have given up the ghost.

It took Derry all of 15 minutes to find the range and a free by midfielder, Meabh Boyle, was scant reward for their efforts. Lisa Abbey then grabbed two goals in quick succession and after the match Coady paid tribute to the entire full-forward line who accounted for 4-7 of their total.

“We had three goals by half time. Our full forward line was very strong. Every single time it went in there we posed a threat. Lisa got a couple of fantastic points as well. She is only back after a very serious injury.

“She broke her collar bone before Christmas and once she gets going then God help those that are marking her.”

The Northerners were in serious trouble by this stage but they hit back with a goal by Noilín O’Kane when she was quickest to react after the Carlow defence were caught napping.

A point by Anita McNicholl and two by Maura McAuley put a degree of respectability on the score board at half-time which saw the home side in control on a score line of 3-8 to 1-4.

An Eilis O’Neill point as early as the 34th minute confirmed the Carlow dominance and while the Northerners raised further white flags through Boyle, McNicholl and full forward, Michelle Comer, Carlow were never going to be caught.

Lisa Abbey grabbed her hat trick in the 48th minute while Maria Doyle completed a fine performance with a well struck point before making way for Christine Thompson. Carlow had the luxury of using three substitutes in the final minutes as they easily held out a tiring Derry effort.

They now progress to the all-Ireland semi-final in two weeks time against the winners of the Meath, Kildare and Roscommon group. It is a day which cannot come fast enough for the team.

“We are training twice a week. We will also have a few practice matches and we will be well prepared when the semi-final comes along. We are really looking forward to it,” said the Carlow skipper.

Scorers Carlow: Lisa Abbey 3-2, Marian Doyle 1-3, Lyndsey Condell, Mary Coady, Valerie Crean (1f) 0-2 each, Eilis O’Neill 0-1.

Derry: Noilín O’Kane 1-0, Meabh Boyle (2fs), Anita McNicholl, Maura McAuley (1f, 1 65) 0-2 each, Michelle Comer 0-1.

CARLOW: Miriam Walsh (Naomh Bríd); Pamela Whelan (Myshall), Clodagh Byrne (MLR), Tara Wilson (Myshall); Marian Hynes (Naomh Bríd), Tracey Condell (Naomh Bríd), Eileen Murphy(St Mullins); Teresa Meaney (Ballinkillen), Emma Brennan (Naomh Bríd); Mary Coady (St Mullins), Valerie Crean (Naomh Bríd), Eilis O’Neill (Naomh Bríd); Marian Doyle (Myshall), Lyndsey Condell (Naomh Bríd), Lisa Abbey(Naomh Bríd). Subs: Aoibheann Foley (Naomh Bríd) for Byrne, Christine Thompson (Naomh Bríd) for Doyle, Edel Fenlon (Myshall) for Abbey (all on 55mins).

DERRY: Ceara Boyle; Sara Louise Henry, Hannah Eastwood, Adelle Archibald; Donna Doherty, Meabh McGillian, Maureen Heneghan; Meabh Boyle, Maura McAuley; Meabh McDaid, Ashleen Gribben, Annita McNicholl; Noilín O’Kane, Michelle Comer, Niamh Archibald. Subs: Nikita Anderson for Henry (40mins).

Ref: John O’Brien (Dublin)

 

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