TG4 LEINSTER JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

Carlow 5-20

Kilkenny 0-6

By Daire Walsh

Cliodhna Ní Shé and Sara Doyle struck a combined 3-9 at Laois Hire O’Moore Park on Sunday as Carlow collected their fifth TG4 Leinster Junior Championship crown with a convincing victory over Kilkenny.

Benefiting from three competitive games in the group stages of the TG4 Leinster Intermediate Championship, Carlow were on top of proceedings throughout with Ní Shé (2-3) and Doyle (1-6) in fine scoring form.

This was the first final to take place at this grade since 2019, when Louth got the better of Carlow at Netwatch Cullen Park. While the Barrowsiders fell behind to an early free from Kilkenny centre-forward Kate Furlong, Ed Burke’s charges subsequently assumed control of the contest.

Supplementing points from Edel Hayden, Sara Doyle (two) and Roisin Bailey, full-forward Ní Shé bagged a 2-1 salvo to move Carlow 10 points clear with as many minutes played.

Furlong interrupted this scoring sequence with another place-ball effort on 14 minutes, before Carlow reinforced their authority through back-to-back contributions by Edel Hayden and Sinead Hayden. Tara McGrath kicked a fine point from play for Kilkenny (who returned to the inter-county grade this year after a previous absence), but their neighbours remained firmly in the ascendancy.

Despite having a goal disallowed, Sara Doyle knocked over a brace of scores to ensure Carlow brought a commanding 2-10 to 0-3 cushion into the break.

A second point courtesy of Eire Og’s Edel Hayden increased their lead on the resumption, in advance of a quickfire 1-1 from St Brigid’s Clonmore attacker Doyle. This further underlined the quality that exists within this Carlow team as did unanswered points by Ella Molloy and Sinead Hayden.

Their corner-forward Emma Coogan also rattled the net in the 37th-minute, in between Kilkenny efforts from Sofia Kerr and Emily Smith, while victorious team captain Ruth Bermingham capped a fine individual display by raising a white flag on the third-quarter mark.

Ní Shé, Bailey and Doyle all added to their personal tallies in the closing moments and even though Furlong bagged her third point for Kilkenny, a 1-1 haul by substitute Bronagh Nolan preceded a final minute score from full-back Anne Roche as Carlow triumphed in clinical style.

Scorers - Carlow: C Ní Shé 2-3 (0-1f), S Doyle 1-6, B Nolan 1-1, E Coogan 1-0, R Bailey 0-3, E Hayden, S Hayden 0-2 each, A Roche, R Bermingham, E Molloy 0-1 each. Kilkenny: K Furlong 0-3 (3f), E Smith, S Kerr, T McGrath 0-1 each.

CARLOW: N Hanley; A Carroll, A Roche, M Doyle; R Bermingham, N Murphy, S McCullagh; E Hayden, R Bailey; N Forde, S Doyle, E Molloy; E Coogan, C Ní Shé, S Hayden.

Subs: A Hanley for Molloy, O Fitzpatrick for E Hayden (both 39), B Nolan for Forde, K Collins for S Hayden (both 43), J Sawyer for Coogan (47).

KILKENNY: N Sheehy; A Galwey, A Egan, E Collins; E Smith, E Coady, S Smith; E McCarthy, H Moore; S Kerr, K Furlong, C Moore; L Phelan, K Ryan, T McGrath.

Subs: N Gillen for Sheehy, S O’Gorman for Phelan (both 39), N Ward for Ryan, S Coady for McGrath, B Lomax for Collins (all 50).

Referee: A Gallagher (Dublin).

Photo Credit: Maurice Grehan