Carnew prove too good for gallant Aughrim side
WHEN these two sides met earlier in the year in their championship encounter the Carnew girls had a comfortable win over their opponents from the Granite City.
When they met again on Sunday last, October 20, in the final of the U-14 camogie league, played at the Arklow Rocks GAA pitch, the Aughrim girls were determined not to let the Carnew ladies get the run on them again.
For more than 20 minutes Aughrim succeeded in keeping Carnew scoreless as they led themselves with points scored by Emma Keenan after five minutes and another from a free by the sweet striking Ciara Connolly.
A great battle was fought through the first half between Ciara Wafer at centre back for Carnew and Ciara Connolly for Aughrim. Both were great strikers of the ball but the determined Carnew girl was hard to pass.
Ciara O’Byrne and Holly Byrne were marshalling the Aughrim defence well, but they were coming under increasing pressure as the half progressed. Katie Wafer and Erin Callaghan at midfield were ensuring that lots of ball was flowing towards the Aughrim goal.
The Aughrim full backs Leah O’Hare, Ciara O’Byrne and Niamh Whelan together with an alert Bea Clancy in goal, did very well to keep a clean sheet.
However, the dam burst after 23 minutes when full forward Emma Kelly netted to give Carnew the lead. Two minutes later she got another and the Emmets finished the half with a flourish when ciotóg Tara Doran got two quick goals to leave her team ahead by 4-0 to 0-2 at the break.
Aughrim steadied the ship again for the third quarter. With midfielders Ciara O’Brien and
Aoife Campbell battling strongly and a determined half-back trio Chloe Sheehy, Holly Byrne and Rebecca McCarthy, they managed to keep the Emmets scoreless, but they were having no great success up front against a miserly Carnew defence.
Hannah Mulroe, Eimear Kinnear and Emma Kinsella were repelling anything coming their way. Eventually Emma Kelly broke through again and notched 2-2 again in the final quarter. Julie Rawson finished the Carnew scoring with a goal just before the final whistle.
Aughrim finished strongly with a Sarah Downes goal and further points from a Ciara Connolly free and a Holly Byrne ‘45’.
While both sides had some fine skillful players, the Emmets had the better spread of good ball strikers which made a huge difference as the game progressed, Aughrim fought hard but the Carnew girls were very deserving winners on a final score of 7-2 to 1-4.
Wicklow Camogie Cathaoirleach Ivor Lehane presented the league trophy to captain Ciara Wafer.
Scorers - Carnew Emmets: Emma Kelly 4-2, Tara Doran 2-0, Julie Rawson 1-0.
Aughrim: Sarah Downes 1-0, Ciara Connolly 0-2, Emma Keenan and Holly Byrne 0-1 each.
CARNEW EMMETS: Aoife Callaghan; Hannah Mulroe, Emma Kinnear, Emma Kinsella; Grace Cosgrave, Ciara Wafer, Aoife Molloy; Katie Wafer, Erin Callaghan; Ciara Kennedy, Tara Doran, Cara Molloy; Chloe Massey, Emma Kelly, Abbie Kavanagh. Subs: Molly Gregan, Aoife Wafer, Julie Rawson, Laura Mulroe, Hannah Lyons.
AUGHRIM: Bea Clancy: Leah O’Hare, Ciara O’Byrne, Niamh Whelan; Chloe Sheehy, Holly Byrne, Rebecca McCarthy; Ciara O’Brien, Aoife Campbell; Willow Jordan, Ciara Connolly, Emma Keenan, Holy Wilson, Hannah Alexander, Sophie McCarthy. Sub: Sarah Downes and Aimee Clancy.