Longford ladies conquer Carlow in quest to qualify for the All-Ireland semi-finals

Longford . . . 2-6     Carlow . . . 1-5 

In bouncing back from the heavy defeat against Antrim in the opening round, the Longford ladies produced a much improved display to conquer Carlow in the make or break match at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Sunday last. 

Showing a lot of character, the girls are now in a strong position in the quest to qualify for the All-Ireland Junior Championship semi-finals and will be heading to London next weekend in a confident frame of mind for the Round 3 clash at McGovern Park in Ruislip.

London were hammered by both Carlow and Antrim and are highly unlikely to trouble Longford on  Saturday evening (throw-in 6pm) in the bid to clinch the second spot in Group 2 under the driving force of their manager Brian Farrell from Ardagh. 

It will then all boil down to the remaining group fixture between Carlow and the already qualified Antrim at Netwatch Cullen Park on Sunday June 29 but Longford are looking good to reach the last four.

Minus a few regulars, the home county got off to a great start against Carlow with a point and a goal from the always dangerous full-forward Clodagh Lohan in the first few minutes but managed just one more score during the remainder of the first half 

That came from a free converted by Lauren McGuire in the 22nd minute to leave Longford leading by 1-2 to 0-2 at the break. 

Carlow got right back into contention with a goal from a Cliodna Ni She penalty as a Longford defender was penalised for a foul with six minutes gone in the second half and the visitors hit the front with a point from the same player.

That was really putting it up to Longford who refused to panic and got a decisive second goal midway through the second half when Kamille Burke finished the ball to the net: 2-2 to 1-3. 

Carlow were rattled as Longford pushed on to add another four points to their winning tally through Burke and McGuire (3) and the highlight of this significant success was the outstanding performance from resilient defender Funmi Talabi.   

LONGFORD: Aoife Cooney (Clonguish); Grace Kenny (Longford Slashers), Funmi Talabi (Mostrim), Ailbhe Brady (Mostrim); Caoimhe McCormack (Carrickedmond), Eimear O’Brien (Longford Slashers), Ella Duggan (Clonguish); Mairead Victory (Mostrim), Aoife O’Brien (Longford Slashers), Shauna Hagan (Dromard), Katie Crawford (Carrickedmond), Ella O’Reilly (Mullinalaghta);  Kamille Burke (Clonguish, 1-1), Clodagh Lohan (Longford Slashers, 1-1), Lauren McGuire (Carrickedmond, 0-4, 3 frees).

Subs:- Ciara Mulligan (Carrickedmond) for Eimear O’Brien; Petrina Carrigy (St Brigid’s Gaels Ardagh) for Ella O’Reilly. 

CARLOW: Nicole Hanley;  Sinead McCullagh, Anne Roche, Katie Tunstead; Tara Lyons, Beibhin Nolan, Ruth Bermingham; Roisin Bailey (0-1), Sinead Hayden; Bronagh Nolan, Edel Hayden, Sarah Nolan; Aoibhin Webb,  Cliodna Ni She (1-4, goal from penalty, 3 frees), Kate Burke. 

Subs:- Ella Molloy for Kate Burke; Aibha Kiernan for Bronagh Nolan; Elaine Ware for Sarah Nolan.