Carlow 2-12
Longford 0-8

by Deniese O’Flaherty

A superb second half of football saw Carlow claim the TG4 Leinster junior title at Cedral St. Conleth’s Park, Newbridge on Saturday.

Trailing by two at the break Carlow turned the game around with a Sara Doyle penalty in the 35th minute. They add the championship to the Lidl Division 4 league title they won last month.

Carlow made a fine start to the game. In the third minute Longford full-back Leanne Keegan put in a fantastic block on Sara Doyle’s shot. Minutes later the evergreen Edel Hayden found the back of the net with a fine strike.

Michelle Farrell got Longford’s first point in the 10th minute but that was cancelled out by a Doyle point. Longford then got a hold of the game and while Carlow had chances the Longford defence were brilliant.

Farrell kicked a point while two from Aoife Darcy (one free) drew Longford level in the 19th minute. They took the lead for the first time in the 19th minute with a terrific point from Katie Crawford. Kamille Burke added a point to give Longford a 0-6 to 1-1.

Carlow turned the game in their advantage inside the opening six minutes of the second half. Kate Burke was fouled and Doyle put away the penalty in the 35th minute to edge Carlow back in front. One minute later there were three between the sides.

Doyle was in impressive form for Carlow and in the 44th minute they had extended their lead to six points with a fine point from 16 year old substitute Maria Healy.

Longford’s first score of the second half had come from a Darcy free in the 43rd minute. They got a second in the 49th minute through Farrell to put six between the sides. Carlow though, were able to go down the field and get a fine score through Hayden.

Carlow were relentless and kept the scoreboard ticking over. Aibha Kiernan, Doyle and Roisin Bailey all added points to stretch their lead to 10 points in the 58th minute. Doyle was unlucky not to get a second goal in the 59th minute when her powerful shot came off the crossbar.

Scorers - Carlow: S Doyle 1-5 (1-0pen, 1f), E Hayden 1-1, R Bailey 0-2, A Kiernan, Bronagh Nolan, K Burke, M Healy 0-1 each.

Longford: M Farrell, A Darcy (2f) 0-3 each, K Crawford, K Burke 0-1 each.

CARLOW: N Hanley; A Carroll, A Roche, S O'Neill; A Webb, N Forde, R Bermingham; R Bailey, K Burke; E Hayden, Bronagh Nolan, A Hanley; M Townsend, S Doyle, A Kiernan. Subs: M Healy for Townsend (39), S Nolan for Burke (50), Beibhin Nolan for Hayden (56).

LONGFORD: A Cooney; A Scanlon, L Keegan, E Doris; S Dawson, E Bleakley, E Farrell; S Gallagher (capt.), S Hagan; H Burke, M Farrell, A Nolan; K Crawford, K Burke, A Darcy. Subs: F Talabi for Hagan (16), Z Drake for Nolan (47), R Fallon for Talabi (53), K Kilduff for Doris (58).

REFEREE: E O’Neill (Laois).

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