Carlow 4-11
Offaly 2-8

by Kieran Murphy

Carlow clinched promotion when they out-fought and out-battled a tough opposition in this Lidl National Football League Division 4 semi-final in Portarlington.

The eventual winners drew first blood when Sara Doyle raised a white flag but Nicole Buckley levelled when running at the Carlow defence she found space to shoot over the black spot.

Five minutes in, Caoimhe O’Neill scored the first Carlow goal and Clíodhna Ní Shé followed up with a two-point free. The Carlow defence was sticky forcing their rivals to shoot hurriedly and by the break the Offaly wide count had gone out to six.

In the meantime, Carlow tacked on two goals with Aibha Kiernan scoring her first on eight minutes. Carlow continued to press and the same player was on hand to touch home after a good move down the left from the edge of the small square. The Offaly goal came when Carlow lost possession in the small square and Caoimhe Lynam was on hand to shoot home. At the interval Carlow led 3-7 to 1-2.

Offaly were always going to hit back and with the wind in their favour they pounced on a Carlow error and Lynam scored her second goal on 33 minutes.

For Carlow Bronagh Nolan and Edel Hayden both landed points which would have had a settling effect on their side.

When Ní Shé missed an easy free it brought Offaly on to their opponents. The midlanders came every so close to getting back into the game when Buckley broke through but Carlow keeper, Nicole Hanley, dived to her left to smother the shot.

The Barrowsiders just had that bit in hand on their rivals and Aoibhinn Webb’s point acted as an insurance point which put them seven clear. Lynam added a free to the Offaly total but Carlow had the last say when Ní Shé converted a penalty with the last action of the game.

Scorers - Carlow: C Ní Shé 1-4 (1-0 pen1-2pf 2fs), A Kiernan 2-0, S O’Neill 1-0, Bronagh Nolan 0-2, E Hayden 0-2, R Bailey 0-1, M Townsend 0-1, A Webb 0-

1 (f).

Offaly: C Lynam 2-4 (3fs), M Mann 0-2, N Buckley 0-1, E Hand 0-1 (f)

Carlow: N Hanley; A Carroll, A Roche, S O’Neill; A Webb, N Forde, R Bermingham; R Bailey, C O’Neill; E Hayden, C Ní Shé, A Hanley; M Townsend, S Doyle, A Kiernan. Subs: B Nolan for Bermingham (h/t), K Burke for Hayden (44).

Offaly: L Dunne; S McGuinness, F Dempsey, N Buckley; M Rouse, E Maher, A Grehan; R Ennis, R Mealiff; F McDermott, M Byrne, E Hand; C Lynam, S Doyle, M Mann. Subs: A Dolan for Maher (h/t), T Tyrell for Grehan (44), B McDermott for Doyle (55), E Kelly for Doyle (55).

Referee: A Gallagher (Meath).

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