Carn have the edge in thrilling shootout
Carramore NS who were narrowly defeated by Carn NS in the Division 5 Girls final.
In a game that kept supporters on the edge of their seats, Carn National School edged out Carramore in a gripping Division 5 final that went right down to the wire.
Both sides produced patches of superb football, but Carn’s sharp finishing and leadership in key moments saw them claim the title.
The game started at a lightning pace. Katelyn Maloney opened the scoring with a free for Carramore but Carn responded quickly. Lily McAndrew made her mark early with a goal and a point inside two minutes. The end-to-end nature of the game continued as McAndrew and Aoife Tansey exchanged points. In the fourth minute, Maloney levelled matters when she reacted fastest to Tansey’s saved shot and slotted home.
The sides continued to trade scores, with McAndrew and Ellie Keating pointing for Carn, while Maloney responded with two for Carramore. Carn, however, finished the half stronger. Caoimhe Finnerty palmed the ball into the net in the eighth minute, quickly followed by a McAndrew point. Though Maloney replied with a score, Carn struck again, this time through Erin McDonnell after a brilliant assist from McAndrew. At the interval, Carn led 3-5 to 1-4.
The second-half delivered more drama. McAndrew and Maloney each pointed before McAndrew added another and struck her second goal of the game. But Carramore weren’t finished. Maloney pointed again, and then Aoife Tansey raised a green flag. A brilliant combination between Maloney, Tansey and Grace Doyle led to Doyle firing home another goal just seven minutes into the half.
McAndrew responded with a point for Carn but Tansey hit the net again to level the game. With pressure mounting, Carn held their nerve. Caoimhe Finnerty pointed twice in quick succession to restore the lead. Though the sides traded late scores, Carn’s defence stood strong to protect their narrow lead and secure the Division 5 crown.
