Very Ireland National Camogie League Division 3A final: Armagh 0-7 Carlow 0-8
ARMAGH lost another national final in Darver at the weekend, their fourth in three seasons. This one was definitely the one that got away.
It took a shot from Eve Sinnott in the third minute of added time to deny them this time. The substitute’s shot just about made it over Ciarraí Devlin’s cross-bar after she took a great high catch from a Katie Nolan pass.
But there was still a chance for Armagh to snatch a draw. However Corrina Doyle’s effort just went to the left of the post.
In a low-scoring encounter, both teams had a few near misses. But Armagh’s will be sorely-felt.
They were quite dominant for long periods of the game keeping Carlow scoreless. In fact it took 20 minutes for Carlow to open their account and then, after Sinnott had opened the second half scoring, the mid-landers went a further 25 minutes without a score.
Armagh never really took full advantage.
They hit the opening two points through Leanne Donnelly and Eimear Smyth inside five minutes, but didn’t score again until Jenny Curry’s effort from distance a couple of minutes before the short whistle.
Carlow, with five points in the last ten minutes of the half, including three from Eleanor Tracey, led by 0-5 to 0-3 at the interval.
Although Even Sinnott came off the bench to open the second half scoring, Armagh hit the next four points to take the lead. Corrina Doyle scored the first within 15 seconds of coming on to the pitch in the 42nd minute. Then Rachel Merry exploded into life with three points inside five minutes.
But the women in orange couldn’t cement their lead and the concession of a rather soft 45 was punished in the 58th minute by Eleanor Tracey – and that set up the scene for a late Carlow smash and grab.
Armagh: C Devlin, S Woods, T Maguire, N Woods, A Crilly, A Harvey, C Crilly, K Comiskey, L Donnelly (0-1), J Curry (0-1), M McGuigan, E McKee, R Merry (0-3, 1 free), E Smyth (0-1), É Lennon.
Subs: C Doyle (0-1) for K Comiskey (42), G McCann for S Woods (45), S Quinn for É Lennon (49),
Carlow: C Kavanagh, R Breen, M Nolan, G Doyle, A Breen, K Nolan capt., K Garry-Murphy, C Coady, T Wilson, R Kelly, E Byrne (0-1), E Tracey (0-4, 2 frees), B Nolan, C Quirke (0-1), E Cody.
Subs: E Sinnott (0-2) for E Cody (12), C Jordan for E Byrne (HT), C Kavanagh for R Kelly (56),
Referee: Paul O’Neill (Antrim)
