All-Ireland B minor camogie semi-final
Armagh 4-12
Carlow 2-13
The Carlow minor camogie team
While defeat may have been Carlow’s lot on Sunday at the Meath Centre of Excellence in this minor B All-Ireland camogie semi-final, they can look to the future with much optimism.
The five-point margin flatters as the game could have gone any way. It was only in the final minutes that the Northerners finally found the momentum to achieve their success.
The sides were level at 0-3 in what was a cracking game and a Carlow goal looked to have given them a platform to build up a first half lead. Armagh replied hitting 1-2 without reply and a second goal saw them ease into a four-point lead. Another three-pointer put the Saffrons six clear but Carlow hit back with a point to leave the eventual winners 3-6 to 1-7 ahead at the break.
A powerful start to the second half where Carlow scored 1-3 saw the sides go level after 34 minutes. With 14 minutes left to play the Leinster side led 2-12 to 3-8 as the game hung on a knife-edge.
It was tit for tat. One big moment had the potential to swing the game either way. The chance fell to Armagh and their fourth goal on 58 minutes finally broke the Carlow resistance.
It was a bitter pill to swallow but with disappointment came the knowledge that Carlow can mix it with anybody at this level. On another day, that three-pointer could have been Carlow’s. So near. Beaten but unbowed.
Coming out of underage come eight players who will be looking to ply their trade at intermediate level next season.
Niamh Cox, Caoimhe Foley, Jackie Prendergast, Leah Ryan, Niamh Tracey, Sarah Sheehan, Aoibhinn Dowling, Clodagh Lawler – eight players who now move on from the minor grade who hope to represent Carlow into the future
CARLOW: Aoibhinn Dowling; Niamh Tracey, India Mernagh, Moya O’Toole; Sarah Joyce, Niamh Cox, Clodagh Lawler (1-3), Molly Kavanagh (0-1), Roisin Collins, Abhainn Coady (0-3), Sarah Sheehan (1-3) Leah Ryan (0-3), Jackie Prendergast, Caoimhe Foley, Ella Nolan. Subs: Grainne Thompson, Anna Mulhall, Lilly Jones, Keira Doyle, Kate Culleton, Mia O’Neill, Simona Noreikaite, Martha Dolan, Maura Kavanagh, Caoimhe Byrne.
