Mayo star Cora Staunton scored 1-7 on Sunday. Oliver McVeigh / SPORTSFILE
Oliver McVeigh / SPORTSFILE / SPORTSFILE
Carnacon (Mayo) 3-14
St Macartan’s (Tyrone) 0-8
Jackie Cahill reports from Fr. Hackett Park
CORA STAUNTON COLLECTED 1-7 as five-time winners Carnacon booked their place in a first All-Ireland ladies senior club final since 2013.
The Mayo and Connacht champions made a potentially tricky All-Ireland semi-final against first-time Ulster winners St Macartan’s look relatively straightforward on Sunday, in front of a big crowd at Fr. Hackett Park, Augher.
Carnacon were driven forward by their county stars as Fiona McHale delivered another powerhouse performance at midfield, while Amy Dowling scored 1-3 from play.
Carnacon, despite coughing up some chances, were generally tight and compact in a defence led by Martha Carter and Marie Corbett.
Advertisement
And wing-forwards Louise Dowling and Aoife Brennan, who scored a point each, covered every blade of grass as Carnacon set up a December 3 final clash with Cork’s Mourneabbey at Parnell Park.
It’s the first time that the clubs will have met in the senior championship – as Carnacon look to collect a first All-Ireland crown since their last win five years ago.
Oliver McVeigh / SPORTSFILE
Oliver McVeigh / SPORTSFILE / SPORTSFILE
Club captain Staunton may be Australia-bound to prepare for a professional stint with the Greater Western Sydney Giants but the decorated forward will have to put travelling plans on hold for at least another fortnight.
For St Macs, this was a bridge too far but the club managed by former Tyrone All-Ireland winner Ryan McMenamin can still reflect proudly on a landmark season.
They registered eight wides in the first half and they proved costly, as Carnacon put increased daylight between the teams as the game wore on.
At half-time, Carnacon led by 1-6 to 0-3 and the goal from McHale in the 16th minute was quite brilliant.
McHale picked up possession around midfield and drove at the heart of the St Macs defence, with team-mates making intelligent runs on either side to clear a path.
McHale’s finish was low and decisive and the St Macs luck was summed up in the 28th minute when skipper Joline Donnelly clipped a shot off the upright, across the face of goal and wide.
Indeed, St Macs went without a score from the 15th minute until five minutes into the second half, and Carnacon were well in control by then.
The second Carnacon goal arrived in the 36th minute, as a long-range free from Staunton found the net, before Dowling registered goal number three six minutes later.
From there until the finish it was simply a matter of keeping the scoreboard ticking over for Carnacon, as their goalkeeper Michelle Higgins preserved a ‘clean sheet’ with an excellent late save to keep out Lynda Donnelly.
The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Close
Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic.
Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy
here
before taking part.
Brilliant Cora Staunton inspires Carnacon to first All-Ireland final in four years
Carnacon (Mayo) 3-14
St Macartan’s (Tyrone) 0-8
Jackie Cahill reports from Fr. Hackett Park
CORA STAUNTON COLLECTED 1-7 as five-time winners Carnacon booked their place in a first All-Ireland ladies senior club final since 2013.
The Mayo and Connacht champions made a potentially tricky All-Ireland semi-final against first-time Ulster winners St Macartan’s look relatively straightforward on Sunday, in front of a big crowd at Fr. Hackett Park, Augher.
Carnacon were driven forward by their county stars as Fiona McHale delivered another powerhouse performance at midfield, while Amy Dowling scored 1-3 from play.
Carnacon, despite coughing up some chances, were generally tight and compact in a defence led by Martha Carter and Marie Corbett.
And wing-forwards Louise Dowling and Aoife Brennan, who scored a point each, covered every blade of grass as Carnacon set up a December 3 final clash with Cork’s Mourneabbey at Parnell Park.
It’s the first time that the clubs will have met in the senior championship – as Carnacon look to collect a first All-Ireland crown since their last win five years ago.
Club captain Staunton may be Australia-bound to prepare for a professional stint with the Greater Western Sydney Giants but the decorated forward will have to put travelling plans on hold for at least another fortnight.
For St Macs, this was a bridge too far but the club managed by former Tyrone All-Ireland winner Ryan McMenamin can still reflect proudly on a landmark season.
They registered eight wides in the first half and they proved costly, as Carnacon put increased daylight between the teams as the game wore on.
At half-time, Carnacon led by 1-6 to 0-3 and the goal from McHale in the 16th minute was quite brilliant.
McHale picked up possession around midfield and drove at the heart of the St Macs defence, with team-mates making intelligent runs on either side to clear a path.
McHale’s finish was low and decisive and the St Macs luck was summed up in the 28th minute when skipper Joline Donnelly clipped a shot off the upright, across the face of goal and wide.
Indeed, St Macs went without a score from the 15th minute until five minutes into the second half, and Carnacon were well in control by then.
The second Carnacon goal arrived in the 36th minute, as a long-range free from Staunton found the net, before Dowling registered goal number three six minutes later.
From there until the finish it was simply a matter of keeping the scoreboard ticking over for Carnacon, as their goalkeeper Michelle Higgins preserved a ‘clean sheet’ with an excellent late save to keep out Lynda Donnelly.
The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):
Champs again! Na Piarsaigh the kings of Munster as they lift fourth senior crown
Con O’Callaghan stars with 1-3 as Cuala make it back to 3rd successive Leinster final
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
back again Carnacon Cora Staunton Fr Hackett Park GAA St. Macartan's