LEINSTER JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUND 3
CARLOW 4-17 KILKENNY 0-2
CARLOW went into today’s game in Fenagh against Kilkenny knowing that they needed to win by 14 points or more to secure a place the Leinster Junior Championship final and in the end completely obliterated that target with a display full of exciting attacking football.
Carlow warm up before their game against Kilkenny in Fenagh today
Ed Burke’s team were patient and composed in the opening exchanges even though the scores didn’t flow as they would have liked despite dominating possession. With 15 minutes played, Carlow had only four points on the board but once Maeve O’Neill continued her brilliant goalscoring year with the first of the match in the 19th minute, Carlow really settled down to their task.
They finished the half with three goals in the final four minutes, O’Neill with her second goal sandwiched between two from Sara Doyle, to lead 4-8 to 0-1 at the break.
They continued to dominate in the second half and although they may have been slightly disappointed not to have added to their goal tally, another nine points was more than enough to ensure they finish in the top two in the group and they can now plan for a final against Louth in two weeks.
Carlow won this competition last year when it was only themselves and Kilkenny in it but with four teams at this level this year it has been much more competitive and this was the third game they had to play on their way to the final.
SCORERS: Carlow – S Doyle 2-2, M O’Neill 2-0, C Ní Shé 0-6 (4fs), R Sawyer 0-4, E Ware 0-2, R Bailey 0-1, R Bermingham 0-1, M Townsend 0-1
Kilkenny – S Corcoran 0-1f, M Gilsenan 0-1f
CARLOW: Nicole Hanley; Aoife Carroll, Anne Roche, Sinead McCullagh; Ruth Bermingham, Niamh Murphy, Niamh Forde; Róisín Bailey, Clíodhna Ní Shé; Megan Townsend, Bronagh Nolan, Sara Doyle; Maeve O’Neill, Rachel Sawyer, Emma Coogan. Subs: Sinead Hayden for Coogan, 39; Elaine Ware for O’Neill, 39; Tara Lyons for Nolan, 45; Katie Tunstead for McCullagh, 49; Sarah Reilly for Townsend, 54.
KILKENNY: Katie Fitzpatrick; Ríona Crowley, Ailbhe Galway, Sarah Smith; Katie Brennan, Ailish O’Neill, Amy Ring; Kelley Comerford, Ruby Roche; Ellen Lawlor, Sarah Corcoran, Hannah Talbot; Hollie Brennan, Rebecca Roche, Caitlinn Moore. Subs: Aoibhe Ryan for Brennan, h/t; Leah Brett for Crowley, h/t; Keri Hennessy for Brennan, 37; Millie Gilsenan for Talbot, 45; Laura Phelan for Roche, 53.
FULL COVERAGE OF THIS GAME IN TUESDAY’S EDITION OF THE NATIONALIST
