VHI Healthcare All-Ireland Club Final Roundup

Ladies Football Roundup
By Cóilín DuffyCora Staunton kicked 11 points as Carnacon captured back-to-back VHI Healthcare All-Ireland Senior Ladies Club Football Championship titles thanks to a 2-11 to 2-6 victory over Inch Rovers at O’Connor Park, Tullamore on Sunday

The Mayo club overcame a 1-6 to 0-3 interval deficit to finish five-point winners and deny Cork side Inch Rovers of All-Ireland silverware in a repeat pairing of last years final.

Inch Rovers dominated possession in the opening half and were fully deserving of their six-point interval lead but could have led by more at half-time, but for some wasteful shooting in front of the posts, with six first half wides.

Their first half goal came just after eight minutes, when Jill Horan was on hand to crash the ball to the back of the Carnacon net, to get her side off to a positive start.

Mary O’Connor (3), Amy O’Shea, Angela Walsh and Jessica O’Shea all contributed first half points, with Cora Staunton keeping Carnacon in touch on the score-sheet, amassing all of her sides three points before the interval.

Inch Rovers continued strongly on the restart, as they opened up a nine-point lead within 30 seconds of the throw-in.

It was the perfect start to the second half for the Cork side with Amy O’Shea picking out Claire Keohane inside, as Keohane finished the ball to the net, for a second goal for her side to give them a 2-6 to 0-3 lead.

However Inch Rovers failed to score for the remainder of the game, as a determined Carnacon weren’t keen to lose their crown and dug deep until the finish to carve out victory.

Staunton settled her side with a fifth minute point, one of eight second half scores from the TG4 All-Star, but it was two goals in the closing 30 minutes which proved vital.

An eager Carnacon attack capitalised on a poor kick-out from Mary Hayes, with Joan Hallanan capitalising and lobbing the Inch Rovers goalkeeper to send the ball to the net, while Natasha Beagan was also on target for a vital three-pointer.

A strong wind assistance greatly aided Carnacon in the second half, as Inch Rovers had no answer to a determined and dogged second half display by Jimmy Corbett’s charges.

After the game Carnacon captain Michelle McGing accepted the Dolores Tyrrell Memorial Cup from Ladies Football Association President Geraldine Giles, with Fiona McHale receiving the Player of the Match award.

Carnacon scorers: Cora Staunton 0-11 (8f); Natasha Beagan, Joan Hallinan 1-0 each.

Inch Rovers scorers: Mary O’Connor 0-3 (2f); Jill Horan, Claire Keohane 1-0 each; Amy O’Shea, Angela Walsh, Jessica O’Shea 0-1 each.