CARNDONAGHN WON the Under-16 Ladies ‘C’ title after overcoming Bundoran in the final today at Convoy.
Carndonagh 6-3 Bundoran 5-4
An early Niamh Callaghan free opened the scoring for the Carn girls.
Picture caption: Carndonagh celebrate after winning the final. Picture by David Doherty, via Carndonagh GAA
Carn were winning a lot of ball around the middle and were attacking well from the half back line, Jessica Clarke overturned the ball from a Bundoran attack and played a one two with Cliona Gibbons and found Megan Gallagher inside to fire to the back of the net.
Beibhinn McClure won the breaking ball from the kickout and played the ball in early to the edge of the square, the ball broke kindly and Niamh Callaghan blasted the ball to the back of the net from close range.
Carn were starting to turn the screw and Cliona Gibbons broke through to fire over a fine point on the run. Bundoran were breaking forward but they could not pierce through the Carn defence who were being very well marshalled by Caoimhe Callaghan, who was very solid at full back.
[adrotate group=”53″]A high ball was played over the top by Bundoran, Kelly Ann McLaughlin read it well and cut it out, and she then played the ball to Caoimhe Callaghan who found Jessica Clarke out on the wing.
Clarke went forward on a strong run and played the ball to Anaise Doherty who then played the ball to Bethany Moore who made no mistake in firing to the back of the net.
On the next attack Bethany broke forward again and found Cliona Gibbons on the run and the slotted over her second point of the game with a fine finish. Jade Doherty came on for Carn at half forward.
[adrotate group=”82″]Bundoran finally on the 24th minute broke the Carn deadlock with a point. Then from the resulting kick-out they won the ball and attacked the Carn defence once more and found the back of the net.
This seemed to rattle the Carn girls and Bundoran scored another goal just before the end of the half to make the half time score Carn 3-3 Bundoran 2-1. Carn were playing into a strong breeze in the second half, and were finding it hard to create scoring chances early on.
It was Bundoran who were first out of the blocks with a goal in their first attack. From their next attack they went into the lead for the first time when the finished to the net.
Emma Doherty, Demi Donaghy and Eimear O’Donnell came on for Carn to add some fresh legs, as there was some signs of tiredness starting to creep in.
[adrotate group=”81″]Clarke led as a captain should and drove the team forward. She found Cliona Gibbons on the run who then played the ball to Megan Gallagher who finished well to the back of the net for her second goal of the day and put Carn back in front once again.
But this Bundoran team were not going to give up that easy and came straight back at Carn with two quick fire points and then a goal to open up a three point lead.
They were throwing everything at Carn but each time they found it nearly impossible to get past Caoimhe Callaghan.
As Carn were breaking out of defence after another turnover, one of the Bundoran girls fell awkwardly on to her shoulder and the game was stopped for a period of time.
[adrotate group=”85″]As the game resumed with just four minutes remaining, Bundoran attacked and fired over a point to open up a four point lead.
But these Carn girls had put in too much work to let this get in their way, Jessica Clarke broke forward to find Anaise Doherty who then played the ball to Bethany Moore out on the right, Bethany played the ball to Niamh Callaghan who headed straight for goal, but she was upended.
Callaghan played a quick free to Cliona Gibbons who unleashed an unstoppable shot to the back of the net from 20 yards to bring Carn back to within a point with time almost up.
From the kick-out, Rory Doherty won the ball out on the right and she played the ball to Clara McLaughlin who found Cliona Gibbons on the run, she waved her way through the Bundoran defence any drove another shot goal bound.
The ball came of the underside of the cross bar and was cleared to safety. Carn attacked once more, the ball was played in by Niamh Callaghan, the goalkeeper dropped the ball and there was a scramble, Megan Gallagher drove the ball over the line to the Carn girls delight, but this was short lived as the ref disallowed the goal for a foul on the keeper.
[adrotate group=”38″]Carn were pushing everyone forward and would not let Bundoran out, and the pressure finally paid off with Niamh Callaghan firing to the back of the net with time almost up.
There were stars all over the field, every girl playing their part in this excellent win: Caoimhe Callaghan, was a rock at full back, Anaise Doherty covering every inch of sod on the pitch, Cliona Gibbons scoring and setting up some fine scores from centre half forward, but captain fantastic was Jessica Clarke who was always looking for the ball turning over possession and driving the team forward at every opportunity, even when things were going against the team which is a real sign of character.
Carndonagh: Teagan McDaid, Kelly Ann McLaughlin, Caoimhe Callaghan, Elaine McLaughlin, Jessica Clarke, Clara McLaughlin, Beibhinn McClure, Anaise Doherty, Roisin Toland, Bethany Moore, Cliona Gibbons, Lisa Maria McLaughlin, Rory Doherty, Megan Gallagher, Niamh Callaghan. Subs: Karla Kelly, Rhianna Gallagher, Laura Doherty, Demi Donaghy, Emma Doherty, Jade Doherty, Emer Doherty, Laura Mc Laughlin, Eimer O’Donnell, Tara Farren.
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