Carlow women book NFL playoff spot

Blending in unequal amounts the sublime and the
inept, the women’s footballers of Carlow booked
themselves a place in the playoffs of the Suzuki
National football league on Sunday .A well populated
Leighlinbridge witnessed an opening ten minutes
played at pinball pace. Opponents Westmeath drew
first blood in the third minute, turning the Carlow
defence inside out. Laura Halligan causing maximum
damage placing her low shot to the right of Carlow
captain Jenny Kelly and rattling the net. Forty
seconds later it was one apiece as the flame haired
Kelly Dalton exchanged possession with Niamh Dobbs
(Dobbs making her return to competitive action
after serious injury). The Ballinkillen starlet
blasted to the back of the Westmeath net.

County Carlow sports stars footballer of the year
Pamela Donohue worked tirelessly for the hour,
her fourth minute point giving her teammates a
lead that they would never lose. Carlow fans did
how ever endure some nervous moments, the games
final two minutes inducing finger crossing on
a large scale. Match referee Keith Tighe did a
good afternoons work, his halftime whistle saw
Carlow add a further eight scores. Three goals
and seven points seemed a fair testament to The
Barrowsiders first half efforts, Westmeath for
their part managed two goals and three before
the break – the midlanders required much less
possession to accumulate their tally. The maroon
clad women stayed on pitch for their halftime
chat. Westmeath manger Michael Delaney injected
added urgency to their second half performance
– corner forward Lena Archibald sending over three
Quick Points on the resumption of play.

Carlow stuttered back into the game Ailish Meaney
converting a close in free before Chistine Dunne
pointed when it seemed the scoring chance was
lost. Edel McCormack responded for the midlanders
reducing the margin to five points again. With
eight minutes remaining Pamela Donohue put six
points between the sides once more, but Westmeath
rallied. Aine Kinsella switched to the full back
berth as Laura Corrigan joined the contest at
midfield. Fiona Byrne filled the centre back position
as Westmeath attacked in waves .On the stroke
of fulltime the visitors got their reward a quick
free hitting the net -Carlow 3-10 Westmeath 3-07
.The Carlow insurance point came an agonising
ninety seconds later .The drama didn’t end there
though Carlow substitute Naimh o Regan turned
her marker and was hauled down for a penalty .The
confident Ailish Meaney brought her afternoons
tally to 1-3 placing her shot deftly to the bottom
right corner of the Westmeath net .A seven point
winning margin (Carlow 4-11 Westmeath 3-07 ) sees
Carlow through to the knock out stages of the
Suzuki national league.

On balance this was a good Carlow performance
however the defensive lapses allowed the midlanders
three goals that will give Carlow manager George
Coleman much to think about. Carlow’s attack will
be content with their afternoons work -Marion
Hayden worked unselfishly for the hour, Niamh
Dobbs will be happy with her tally and with further
match practice the omens are good. Dalton and
Meaney were enterprising though one wonders if
this blend of youth and experience becomes fully
integrated what a potent threat lies ahead for
championship opposition. Pamela Donohue excelled,
Fiona Byrne worked well while Ashling Nolan and
Aine Kinsella had a good afternoon at the back.
Westmeath had come to Balinaboley unbeaten in
the three previous rounds .The midlanders will
point to a tragic midweek funeral as poor preparation
for this game, their young team though has buckets
of potential with Halligan and McCormack and impressed
this writer.

Carlow: Jenny Kelly, Geogina Coleman, Margret
Doyle, Riona Griffith, Ashling Nolan, Aine Kinsella,
Amy Doyle, Pamela Donohue 0-3,Fiona Byrne 0-1,
Kelly Dalton 1-1, Christine Dunne 0-2Marion Hayden,
Niamh Dobbs 2-1,Ailish Meaney 1-3.
Subs: Laura Corrigan for Doyle, Niamh O’Regan
for Dobbs, Linda Kelly for Hayden, Maura Bambrick
for Karen Doyle. Westmeath Aine Cunningham, RuthHeduan,
Aoife McCormack, Karen Farell, Carol Finch, Lisa
Burke, Fiona Claffey, Laura Walsh, Trina Durkan,
Lucy Begly, Edel McCormack, Claire Corcoran, Lena
Archibald, Stephanie Kelly, Laura Halligan.