In what will go down as an historic day for the GAA in Carlow, Carlow have been crowned 2016 All-Ireland Premier Junior Champions.
Trailing Armagh by a single point at the break, the introduction of 16 year old Rachel Sawyer of Naomh Brid turned the game on its head for Carlow with Mark Brennan’s side running away with it at the end on a 4-10 to 2-07 scoreline.
SCENES! pic.twitter.com/qz2rnbqL91
— KCLR 96FM (@kclr96fm) September 11, 2016
Joint captains Teresa Meaney and Marian Doyle were presented with the Kay Mills Cup by Camogie Assoication President Catherine Neary, just 12 months after annexing the Junior A title, and having performed so well in Division 2 of the National League this year, will be sure to ruffle plenty of feathers in the Intermediate grade next year.
The game was delicately poised at half time, with favourites Armagh leading by 1-5 to 1-4 at half time after Quirke’s 13th minute goal had been answered two minutes later by a similar scored from Colette McSorley.
Quirke applied the finishing touch for another goal almost immediately after the resumption but it was Sawyer that really took the game by the scruff of the neck as the spaces began to open up.
Firsty, the Naomh Brid teenager, who entered the fray just before the break, slotted a point after beating three Armagh defenders and despite being fouled twice – referee Andrew Larkin awarding a judicious advantage.
There was an element of luck to her 45th minute goal as she raced away from Hannah McGeown and shot for point.
Armagh goalie Bronagh Mone attempted to kill the sliotar on her hurley but to her horror, dropped it behind the line and Carlow had opened up a five-point lead.
To their credit, Armagh hit back with what – without any patronising – is surely the best goal seen at GAA headquarters this year, and one of the best for many seasons, in any code.
A delivery from wide in the right appeared to be drifting wide but while facing the endline, Ciara Donnelly craned her neck behind her, kept her eye on the ball and as it cleared her left shoulder, doubled off her left side to direct it sensationally into the far corner of the net.
It was a two-point game once more but Carlow showed their mettle by keeping Armagh scoreless form the remaining 18 minutes (including three of injury time).
They had three points immediately from Sawyer, Quirke and Eleanor Treacy to negate Donnelly’s superlative effort.
In the 56th minute Quirke won a dirty ball, gathered possession, swivelled and launched a rocket to the roof of the Armagh net to put the issue beyond doubt.
Standout score of the game goes to Rachel Sawyer, for a go-ahead goal for Carlow, seeking a point from the corner and dropping the ball under the bar to draw comparisons from Brendan Hennessy on commentary to the legend of Kilkenny’s DJ Carey in similar settings.
We’ll have more from Croke Park, analysis and post match interviews available online after the games this evening.
For now, the Kathleen Mills cup is heading back to Reddy’s in Carlow this evening!
Armagh Scorers
Ciara Donnelly 1-06, Colette McSorley 1-00, Rachel Merry 0-01
Carlow Scorers
Eleanor Treacy 0-06, Ciara Quirke 3-02, Rachel Sawyer 1-02
CARLOW: N Doyle, G Nolan, N Quirke, A Ryan, T Wilson, K Nolan, B Nolan, C Mullins, T Meaney, Marian Doyle, E Brennan, E Treacy, A Ruschitzko, M Nolan, C Quirke. Subs: R Sawyer for Ruschitzko (29), A Dowling for M Nolan (55), N Canavan for B Nolan (59), A Murphy for A Ryan (60), Mairéad Doyle for G Nolan (60+1)
ARMAGH: B Mone, H McGeown, N Conway, C McKinley, N Markey, G Kelly, E Hayes, B Murray, L McGoldrick, R Merry, M McArdle, C Donnelly, C McSorley, C Hill, L Donnelly Subs: C Casey for Conway (45), S Woods for McGeown (48), S Molloy for Markey (54), A McAlinden for L Donnelly (59)
WHAT A DAY!! Follow Me Up To Carlow rings out around Croke Park as @camogiecarlow have done it!!! pic.twitter.com/oBWF5QaKoP
— KCLR 96FM (@kclr96fm) September 11, 2016
About 2 seconds later, Rachel Sawyer had the ball in the back of the net for @CamogieCarlow pic.twitter.com/IudkPt5E7I
— KCLR 96FM (@kclr96fm) September 11, 2016
Big Congrats to #Carlow Camogie team! All-Ireland champions. Enjoy the celebrations.. pic.twitter.com/bVKg8dMk6x
— Des Cahill (@sportsdes) September 11, 2016
Congrats to @CamogieCarlow on a fantastic win! Ye have made the county proud. Amazing achievement and your efforts have been rewarded! ❤💚💛
— Éire Óg CLG Carlow (@Eireogcarlow) September 11, 2016
WHAT a performance, on the biggest stage ! #carlowrising Huge congrats to all #allirelandchamps 🇬🇳🏆🇬🇳@CamogieCarlow
— Carlow GAA (@Carlow_GAA) September 11, 2016
Comhghairdeas Ceatharlach. Congratulations to Carlow who have won the All-Ireland Junior championship 4-10 to 2-7. Hard luck @Armaghcamogie
— Armagh_GAA (@Armagh_GAA) September 11, 2016
Incredible, CARLOW are All Ireland Champions. There's a sentence I'm proud to type. Massive congratulations to @CamogieCarlow #honCarlow
— TullysBarCarlow (@TullysBarCarlow) September 11, 2016
Well done @CamogieCarlow. Bringing super colour to @CrokePark #Carlow pic.twitter.com/fGlWRi1oL3
— Aoife Lane (@aoifemlane) September 11, 2016
Additional reporting Daragh O’Conchuir
