Fermanagh storm to victory over Carlow in All-Ireland group

Carlow 3-04 Fermanagh 1-16

Fermanagh made it two wins from two in their All-Ireland Junior Championship group as a comprehensive first-half performance saw them take a 1-13 to 1-01 lead into the changing rooms at half-time against Carlow before eventually recording a 1-16 to 3-04 win.

Carlow inflicted a devastating blow on CJ McGourty’s side in this year’s Division Four league semi-final but a blistering beginning at Netwatch Cullen Park saw the Erne side storm into an early advantage despite the three-hour trip.

Bláithín Bogue opened the scoring after just 15 seconds when she ran in from midfield to clip the ball over the bar.

Eimear Smyth pointed from play and a free kick in the second and third minutes with Niamh McManus then making it 0-04 to 0-00 on six minutes.

Carlow would hit back with a goal a moment later as Rachel Sawyer was played through on goal and she fired past goalkeeper Megan Maguire off her left foot.

Bogue added her second point and Smyth almost opened the Erne goal scoring when she rounded goalkeeper Nicole Hanley but dragged the shot wide.

Smyth, Lisa Maguire, Joanne Doonan and Aoife McCabe then all landed points with Fermanagh in complete control.

McManus almost found a goal but her shot came off the crossbar. McCabe pointed again with Smyth then finding the net as she cut back twice with Hanley off her line before rolling the ball into the bottom right corner.

Smyth and Bogue split the posts in the final few minutes of the half with the hosts eventually responding through a Cliodhna Ni Shé free kick to leave 12 points between the sides at the interval.

The home side hit the first two scores when the game restarted. Sinead Hayden drove in a goal from range and Sawyer added her second score with a brilliant effort over her shoulder on the turn.

Danielle McBrien would hit the away side’s next three points over 14 minutes as Ni Shé tagged on her second free of the contest in between.

With the hard work done in the first-half, it was just about keeping Carlow at arm’s length in the second 30 minutes and the Erne side managed to do so, however, like Sligo in Donagh the week before, Carlow finished with scores late on.

Sawyer brought her tally to 1-02 and substitute Siofra O’Neill converted a third goal at the second attempt after a good initial save from Maguire but Fermanagh held on to exact revenge for their loss in Dundalk at the end of March.

Carlow: Nicole Hanley, Aoife Carroll, Anne Roche, Sinead McCullagh, Ruth Birmingham ©, Niamh Murphy, Niamh Forde, Edel Hayden, Roisin Bailey, Sinead Hayden (1-0), Rachel Sawyer (1-02), Leah Mullins, Ella Molloy, Emma Coogan, Cliodhna Ni She (0-02, 2F).

Subs: Bronagh Nolan for Hayden (53), Elaine Ware for Molloy (55), Siofra O’Neill (1-00) for Bailey (56).

Fermanagh: Megan Maguire, Ciara Clarke, Molly McGloin, Eimear Keenan, Shannan McQuade ©, Courtney Murphy, Lisa Maguire (0-01), Brenda Bannon, Cadhla-Cara Bogue, Danielle Maguire (0-04), Joanne Doonan (0-01), Aoife McCabe (0-02), Bláithín Bogue (0-03), Eimear Smyth (1-04), Niamh McManus (0-01).

Subs: Bronagh Smyth for McManus (50), Roisin O’Reilly for L Maguire (55), Caoimhe Gallagher for Bannon (55).