St Brigid's make Carnacon work hard to retain their title

DON'T BE fooled by the scoreline. This wasn't as straightforward as it suggests and, for 50 minutes at Claremorris, St Brigid's made it tough for the Mayo champions. But in the final ten minutes, Carnacon's class shone through and they lifted the Connacht club title for the 12th time in the last 13 years with 11 points to spare over their Roscommon counterparts. For long periods of the first half, it was nip and tuck as each team had an extra defender, resulting in a ping-pong sequence. St Brigid's elected to play Claire Grehan as a sweeper in front of Cora Staunton, with Catherine Galvin coming back from full-forward to mark Michelle McGing. While it worked to an extent, and denied Carnacon scoring opportunities, it thwarted the Kiltoom side's efforts to get scores for themselves. The fact that the Roscommon champions went in scoreless at half-time, and that Carnacon didn't score from play in the opening period, gives a good indication of the story of this final. St. Brigid's, under the management of former Mayo star Diane O'Hora, will look back on missed opportunities at crucial stages as they kicked five wides in the opening half . They also landed countless shots into the arms of Michelle Higgins in the Carnacon goal throughout. The sin-binning of sweeper Claire Grehan on 43 minutes was crucial as it opened the game up for Carnacon and when she was back on, the lead was too big at 0-13 to 0-2. Goalkeeper and captain Sarah Finnerty impressed for the visitors while the aforementioned Grehan, Rebecca Joyce and Cliodhna McHugh tried hardest out the field. Carnacon's management trio of Jimmy Corbett, Beatrice Casey and Michael McHale will be delighted their side came through this tough test with a real team effort. The fact that Cora Staunton was double marked meant the Lakesiders needed others to step up, and they duly did. Michelle Higgins dealt with every aerial threat that came her way while Sharon McGing played her free role to perfection. Up front, Michelle McGing and this writer's player of the match, Doireann Hughes, were superb. While Cora Staunton was double-teamed the former Athlone IT student upped her work-rate hugely and still managed to sneak in some scores - nine in fact, although seven of those came from frees. The only flaw to this win was a red card to Sharon McGing three minutes before the end after referee John Niland adjudged her to have struck out at St Brigid's Cliodhna McHugh. She will now more than likely miss their All-Ireland semi-final against the Ulster champions in three weeks' time. The game started in a flurry with two points coming in as many minutes from Cora Staunton (free) and Doireann Hughes. Fiona McHale could have had a goal on six minutes but had to settle for a point after a fantastic save form Sarah Finnerty denied the Carnacon captain. An 18-minute scoreless period followed to stem the Carnacon tide. Another Cora Staunton free and a Michelle McGing point crucially gave the hosts a five point lead at half-time. St Brigid's - wearing their predominantly white change strip having posed for their team photo in their green and red jerseys - needed to attack more in the second period to try and get on the scoreboard. However, it was Carnacon who came running out of the traps fastest. They hit four points without reply in twelve minutes; Natasha Beegan and Cora Staunton (three) raising the white flags for the home side. The South Roscommon ladies finally got off the mark with two frees from Rebecca Joyce on 46 and 48 minutes. However, with Claire Grehan sin-binned Carnacon made their numerical advantage count with another five consecutive points; Staunton (three frees), Erina Flannery and Michelle McGing splitting the posts. St Brigid's doubled their tally after two further frees late on from Rebecca Joyce and Cliodhna McHugh but it was Cora Staunton who had the final say and gave this reporter a 'Player of the Match' headache when she kicked the point of the day prior to the final whistle. Carnacon Michelle Higgins; Nicola Hurst, Noelle Tierney, Sharon McGing; Michelle Corbett, Aoife Loftus, Caroline McGing; Claire Egan, Martha Carter; Michelle McGing (0-2), Fiona McHale (0-1), Natasha Beegan (0-1); Doireann Hughes (0-1), Cora Staunton (0-9, 7 frees), Aoife Brennan. Subs used: Erica Flannery (0-1) for Brennan, Aisling Lydon for C McGing. St Brigid's Sarah Finnerty; Aisling McHugh, Fiona Gavin, Emer Kelly; Claire Kelly, Claire Grehan, Chrissie O'Malley; Claire Shanagher, Michelle Walsh; Rebecca Joyce (0-3, 3 frees), Catherine Kilcommins, Jenny Conlon; Aine O'Brien, Catherine Galvin, Cliodhna McHugh (0-1, free). Subs: used: Laura Harrision for O'Malley, Michelle Kelly for Harrision, Aoife Cunningham for Conlon, Grainne Cunniffe for E Kelly. Referee: J Niland (Sligo).