CAMOGIE: ALL-IRELAND JUNIOR A CHAMPIONSHIP
Quirke and Murphy power solid victory
CARLOW…………………………………………………………. 3-9
DUBLIN……………………………………………………………. 1-4
By Daire Walsh
CAPTAIN Eileen Murphy and elusive half-forward Ciara Quirke were in excellent form at O’Toole Park on Sunday afternoon as Carlow produced an exceptional second-half performance to see off the challenge of Dublin in Group 1 of the Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Junior A camogie championship.
With a grand total of 3-6 between them, the dynamic attacking duo of Murphy and Quirke were a real thorn in the side of the Metropolitans, and having secured a hard-fought victory away to Kerry the previous week, Seamus Kelly’s charges have comfortably booked their place in the knock-out stages of the competition.
However, it wasn’t all plain sailing for the visitors, and with just three minutes gone, Dublin gained an early ascendancy when half-forward Lynn Devoy’s strike from distance deceived netminder Mary Coady, and floated into the back of the Carlow net.
A well-struck 45 by midfielder Clare Graham added handsomely to the Dublin advantage, before the Barrowsiders finally opened their account courtesy of a neat point from Myshall’s Ali Ruschitzko.
A pointed Quirke free in response to a similar Dublin effort from the lively Graham ensured that Carlow were well in contention playing against a stiff breeze, before wing-back Eimear Byrne’s superb long-delivery was flicked to net by a waiting Murphy nine minutes before the break.
The confidence levels of Carlow were significantly boosted as a result of this score, and thanks to a brace of Quirke points, they brought a pivotal 1-4 to 1-2 lead into the second period.
The action upon the resumption proved to be rather scrappy initially, and with Quirke coming up short from a couple of set-piece situations, there was no alteration to the scoreboard in the opening 12 minutes after the restart.
The Carlow attack finally kicked into gear, though, and in a five-minute period between the 43rd and 48th minutes, they produced significant daylight in the contest.
Graham (free) and Laura Keoghan did raise white flags for Dublin in this juncture, but with a stunning Quirke goal 17 minutes from time followed by Murphy’s second major two minutes later, Carlow were firmly in the driving seat.
A magnificent long-range free from Byrne subsequently increased their lead to seven, and despite coming under some pressure in the closing stages, late points by Quirke (0-2), substitute Michelle Nolan and St Mullins’ Murphy helped Carlow to ease their way towards a deserved triumph.
DUBLIN: Ashling Spillane; Christina O’Reilly, Maggie McIntyre, Mags O’Sullivan; Jillian Pouch, Aoife Tobin, Siofra Walsh; Clare Graham (0-3, 0-2 frees, 1 ‘45’), Orla Ryan; Lynn Devoy (1-0), Rachel O’Connor, Laura Keoghan (0-1); Amy Keoghan, Paula Malcolmson, Jenny Kearns. Subs: Tino Kelly for Tobin (36 mins), Dianamh Greene for Kearns (36 mins), Clodagh Rogers for Malcolmson (47 mins), Sharon O’Connor for Keoghan (49 mins).
CARLOW: Mary Coady; Shannon Kavanagh, Lisa Abbey, Katie Barcoe; Eimear Byrne (0-1, free), Kate Nolan, Pamela Whelan; Ciara Mullins, Breege Nolan; Ciara Quirke (1-5, 0-2 frees), Marian Doyle, Eleanor Treacy; Ali Ruschitzko (0-1), Eileen Murphy (2-1), Aine Ryan.
Subs: Michelle Nolan (0-1) for Ryan (16 mins), Tara Wilson for B Nolan (37 mins), Niamh Doyle for Treacy (45 mins), Margaret Coady for Whelan (53 mins), Casey Tobin for Ruschitzko (57 mins).
Referee: Philip McDonald (Cavan).