Crucial goals the decisive factor in Longford’s defeat against Carlow

A couple of crucial goals proved to be the decisive factor for Carlow in their hard earned win over Longford in the opening round of the Ladies Football Leinster Junior Championship at Emmet Park in Killoe on Saturday last.  

Carlow . . . 2-10     Longford . . . 0-9

The narrow margin of just two points (1-4 to 0-5) separated the sides at the break and Longford could have been in front after failing to convert a penalty on the stroke of half-time

Katie Crawford was fouled to leave Michelle Farrell with a glorious chance of scoring a goal in stoppage time but the Colmcille player was denied as her penalty kick was very well saved by the Carlow keeper Nicole Hanley.

That was a major setback for the home county in their determined bid to cause a significant upset against the newly crowned National League Division 4 champions who were finding it difficult to break through the resolute opposing defence.

Losing the injured Michelle Farrell in the early stages of the second half was another blow for Longford but the gap was still just a slender two points (1-6 to 0-7) when Shauna Hagan landed a superb strike in the 46th minute.

Moments later, a well-worked Carlow ended in another goal for Aibha Kiernan and that killer score gave the visitors the space and confidence to consolidate their grip on the game with their eventual winning margin a fairly comfortable seven points. 

It was a gutsy display from Longford (managed by Kildare native Dave Lambert) who are now facing a  must win match away to Offaly in Daingean this Saturday (throw-in 2pm) to keep alive their hopes of reaching the final of the stand alone Leinster Championship with the All-Ireland Junior Series still to come. 

Complete outsiders going on current form, this was a spirited performance from Longford who were competitive for most of the game but their hopes were dashed when confident Carlow scored their second goal in the 47th minute to put some daylight between the sides.

Aibha Kiernan finished the ball to the net and also raised the other green flag midway through the first half at a stage when the teams were deadlocked at 0-3 apiece. 

Kamille Burke opened the Longford account in the 7th minute with Clonguish colleague Aoife Darcy converting a couple of frees. 

While Cliodhna Ni She extended the Carlow advantage with a point from play, Katie Crawford almost got in for a goal chance as Longford hit back with a brace of scores from Darcy (free) and wing back Sorcha Dawson (a fine effort). 

Then came the penalty miss with the last kick of the first half but Carlow (who were guilty of some poor finishing throughout the lively encounter) stepped up another gear in the second half to outscore Longford by 1-6 to 0-4. 

A strong finish yielded four points in a row through defender Ruth Bermingham, Aibha Kiernan and the impressive Roisin Bailey (2) while the prolific Aoife Darcy kicked a consolation point (play) for the gallant losers in stoppage time and ended up with 0-6 (5 frees).  

LONGFORD: Aoife Cooney (Clonguish); Aisling Scanlon (Mullinalaghta), Leanne Keegan (St Brigid’s Gaels Ardagh), Emma Doris (Killoe); Sorcha Dawson (Ballymore, 0-1), Emma Bleakley (Dromard), Emma Farrell (St Brigid’s Gaels); Sian Gallagher (St Brigid’s Gaels), Shauna Hagan (Dromard, 0-1); Aoife Nolan (Rathcline), Michelle Farrell (Colmcille), Hannah Burke (Clonguish); Katie Crawford (Carrickemond), Kamille Burke (Clonguish, 0-1), Aoife Darcy (Clonguish, 0-6, 5 frees).

Subs:- Lauren McGuire (Carrickedmond) for A Nolan (half-time); Funmi Talabi (Mostrim) for M Farrell (injured, 35 mins); Amy Creegan (Ballymore) for A Scanlon (48 mins); Rachel Fallon (St Brigid’s Gaels) for E Doris (56 mins); Casey McNamara (Carrickedmond) for H Burke (stoppage time). 

CARLOW: Nicole Hanley; Aoife Carroll, Anne Roche, Siofra O’Neill; Aoibhin Webb, Niamh Forde, Ruth Bermingham 0-1); Roisin Bailey (0-2), Caoimhe O’Neill; Edel Hayden, Cliodhna Ni She (0-4, 3 frees), Amy Hanley; Megan Townsend, Bronagh Nolan (0-2), Aibha Kiernan (2-1), 

Subs:- Sara Doyle for M Townsend (half-time); Niamh Murphy for E Hayden (injured, 48 mins).

Referee: Angela Gallagher (Dublin).