Donaghmoyne 1-11 Carnacon 0-13

Donaghmoyne 1-11 Carnacon 0-13

Catriona McConnell won the battle of the gunslingers
as Donaghmoyne survived a Cora Staunton-inspired second half comeback
to claim their first ever Vhi All-Ireland club ladies senior football
title.

McConnell finished with a whopping tally of 1-9, with all bar two
points coming in the opening period, as she punished ever Carnacon
transgression with a phenomenal display of free-taking.

Her goal six minutes before half time was a cracking effort and
proved the match-winner. The full-forward took a pass from Cora
Courtney before unleashing a terrific shot to the roof of the net
and that helped the John Morrison-coached outfit into a 1-8 to 0-4
lead at the interval.

Some of her scores in this period were out of this world, although
she saved her best for the second half, with a stupendous point
over her shoulder when the Carnacon defence looked to have bottled
her up.

Carnacon looked down and out at the break but Staunton, who had
had an indifferent opening period, almost inspired them to an unlikely
victory.

The Mayo star replicated McConnell’s first half feats, providing
onlookers with an exhibition in the latter period. She added seven
points to her first half tally of three, as she ran the Donaghmoyne
defence ragged with her movement and direct running.

Staunton’s final score brought the sides level at 0-13 to 1-10,
and with eight minutes remaining and Donaghmoyne reduced to 14 following
the sin-binning of captain, Fiona Courtney, it looked like Carnacon
would go on to claim the second crown.

It was last year’s beaten finalists who prevailed, however, courtesy
of a brilliaghnnt point from midfielder Amanda Casey into the wind
and some extremely dogged defending.

Donaghmoyne: L Martin; J Geoghegan, M Grimes, N Lynch; H Kingham,
F Courtney, J Courtney; S Courtney, A Casey (0-1); L Daly, M Woods,
E Murtagh (0-1); C Courtney, C McConnell (1-9, 0-7fs), L Kingham.

Carnacon: C Brennan; N Hurst, C McGing, Michelle Corbett; Marie
Corbett, A Loftus, S McGing; C Egan, M Carter (0-2); N Tierney,
F McHale, C Connolly; M Hallinan, C Staunton (0-10, 0-6fs), M Staunton
(0-1). Subs: A Geraghty for Tierney; M Higgins for Corbett.

Referee: T Clarke (Dublin).