Carnacon edge out Inch again
And, it wasn’t merely because the outcome was the same as last year’s decider, more the fact that the East Cork side lost a title they looked strongly placed to win when they went into a nine-point lead early in the second half.
That happened when Amy O’Shea set up Claire Keohane for a perfectly taken goal but, remarkably, it marked their last score of the game. And, while the significant wind advantage the Mayo side enjoyed in the second half was crucial in boosting their challenge, the really critical factor was the timing of their first goal, from Natasha Beegan. Coming just two minutes after the Cork goal, it resulted from goalkeeper Mary Hayes attempting a short kick-out.
Inch Rovers’ defensive work in the first half, achieved through Ciara Walsh’s tenacity and the support of team-mates including inspiring Cork captain Angela Walsh from centre-back, was one of the reasons they established such a lead. Also they had a strong midfield, where camogie star Orla Cotter did some good work and a speedy attack in which the crafty Mary O’Connor exerted a strong influence at centre-forward.
Angela Walsh and O’Connor were involved in the move which saw Horan goal in the fourth minute and in another four minutes they were four points clear and looking good. While they were to create a succession of scoring chances, Carnacon’s attack — and Cora Staunton in particular — saw little of the ball. However, she was unlucky to see a powerful shot come back off the crossbar in the 14th minute.
With Staunton hitting Carnacon’s only two wides in first-half injury time, the Cork champions turned over leading 1-6 to 0-3.
The two early goals got the second half off to a dramatic start and Inch Rovers initially coped well with the pressure built up by a more confident Carnacon after one of only two Staunton scores from play reduced their lead from nine points to five by the 34th minute. It was to be another 15 minutes before the holders went into the lead for the first time.
In the interim period, Horan again promised a goal after a strong run and team captain Anne Marie Walsh had a very good spell on the right wing. But, it was more a case of damage limitation as Carnacon increased the tempo, achieved a vital grip at half-back and, just like Cork did in the first half, they turned over a lot of ball, which allowed them to keep building attacks.
Fiona McHale was outstanding in the role of play-maker, deservedly winning the ‘player of the final’ award and strongly supported by team captain Michelle McGing and Noelle Tierney, who did some valuable work in defence after an early move from corner-forward.
Staunton, at important stages, fully exploited free opportunities from a variety of distances and when corner-forward Joan Hallinan went through for their second goal in the 49th minute, the champions were ideally set up to win. Despite the best efforts of Angela Walsh and others, Inch Rovers’ hopes faded when they failed to get scores from the handful of decent attacking moves they mounted.
Scorers for Carnacon – C. Staunton 0-11 (0-9 frees); N. Beegan and J. Hallinan 1-0 each.
Inch Rovers: J. Horan 1-1; C. Keohane 1-0; M. O’Connor 0-3 (0-2 frees); A. Walsh and A. O’Shea (free) 0-1 each.
CARNACON: C. Brennan; N. Hurst, C. McGing, A. Lydon; M. Corbett, A. Loftus, S. McGing; C. Egan, M. Carter; N. Beegan, F. McHale, M. McGing (capt.); J. Hallinan, C. Staunton, N. Tierney.
Subs: A. Brennan for Lydon (15); N. Moylette for Brennan (52).
INCH ROVERS: M. Hayes; M. Kennedy, C. Walsh, S. Smiddy; J. Duffy, Angela Walsh, E. Ryan; O. Cotter, Annie Walsh; J. O’Shea, M. O’Connor, Anne Marie Walsh (capt.); J. Horan, A. O’Shea, C. Keohane.
Subs: K. Harrington for Ryan (46); S. Harrington J. O’Shea (62).
Referee: Brendan Gallagher (Tyrone).
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