MARIA O’NEILL WAS the match-winner at Croke Park as her last-gasp point earned Antrim a record-equalling fourth TG4 All-Ireland junior football championship title at the end of a dramatic battle with Carlow.
It was rough justice on Carlow, who had just drawn level through a goal from Megan Townsend moments before Antrim attacked and pointed courtesy of O’Neill.
Returning to GAA HQ after losing out to Louth in last year’s junior final, Antrim enjoyed a dream start when wing-forward Theresa Mellon intercepted a hand pass from Carlow netminder Nicole Hanley with just over a minute gone and proceeded to hammer the ball home for a breakthrough goal.
The Ulster side increased their advantage when Orlaith Prenter kicked a fine point from play, but Carlow finally got up and running when the ever-reliable Clíodhna Ní Shé struck over a brace of scores.
Antrim were proving to be extremely efficient in attack, however, and pulled six points clear after a two-point salvo courtesy of the impressive Prenter was supplemented by single efforts from O’Neill (who led the way in the race for the ZuCar Golden Boot award heading into this fixture) and Áine Tubridy.
Carlow's Megan Townsend is tackled by Maeve Blaney of Antrim. Grace Halton / INPHO
Grace Halton / INPHO / INPHO
Yet Carlow were determined to leave a mark on their first-ever appearance on the All-Ireland finals day and, following three successful frees by Ní Shé, Sara Doyle also kicked an excellent point on the run to leave the Barrowsiders just two adrift at 1-5 to 0-6 at the interval.
Ní Shé’s sixth of the day reduced the gap to the bare minimum after the restart, before Antrim finally brought a barren scoring spell to an end when Prenter split the posts on the turn in the 37th minute.
The excellent inside forward and team captain Bronagh Devlin went on contribute further points for the Saffrons, but after Aoibhín Webb and Aibha Kiernan had kept Carlow in touch, the latter rifled the ball to the net on 48 minutes to give the Barrowsiders the lead for the very first time.
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Antrim's Theresa Mellon celebrates after the game. Grace Halton / INPHO
Grace Halton / INPHO / INPHO
Dejected Carlow players after the game. Grace Halton / INPHO
Grace Halton / INPHO / INPHO
Despite this set-back, Antrim turned things around and were on course to prevail when Prenter, O’Neill (two) and Aoibheann Monaghan all found the range during a strong scoring blitz.
The prospect of a replay loomed large when a 59th minute goal by substitute Townsend sensationally got Carlow back on level terms, but there was enough time remaining for Antrim to forge a breakaway attack and O’Neill was in the right place to knock over a decisive score with just 15 seconds left on the clock.
Scorers for Antrim: O Prenter 0-6 (1f), M O’Neill 0-4 (2f), T Mellon 1-0, A Tubridy, B Devlin, A Monaghan 0-1 each.
Scorers for Carlow: C Ní Shé 0-6 (5f), A Kiernan 1-1, M Townsend 1-0, A Webb, S Doyle 0-1 each.
Antrim
A Devlin; E Kearns, M Blaney, M Mulholland; L Agnew, D Coleman, C McKenna; L Dahunsi, Á Tubridy; T Mellon, B Devlin, A Davidson; EL McAreavey, M O’Neill, O Prenter.
Subs: A Monaghan for Davidson (38), H Donaghy for Tubridy (48), A Taggart for Dahunsi (56), C Taggart for Agnew (59).
Carlow
N Hanley; A Carroll, A Roche, S O’Neill; A Webb, N Forde, R Bermingham; R Bailey, C O’Neill; E Hayden, C Ní Shé, A Hanley; Bronagh Nolan, S Doyle, A Kiernan.
Subs: M Townsend for Hayden (36), M Healy for C O’Neill (40), Béibhín Nolan for Bermingham (48-49), C O’Neill for Bronagh Nolan (53).
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O'Neill point delivers All-Ireland glory for Antrim against Carlow
Antrim 1-13
Carlow 2-9
MARIA O’NEILL WAS the match-winner at Croke Park as her last-gasp point earned Antrim a record-equalling fourth TG4 All-Ireland junior football championship title at the end of a dramatic battle with Carlow.
It was rough justice on Carlow, who had just drawn level through a goal from Megan Townsend moments before Antrim attacked and pointed courtesy of O’Neill.
Returning to GAA HQ after losing out to Louth in last year’s junior final, Antrim enjoyed a dream start when wing-forward Theresa Mellon intercepted a hand pass from Carlow netminder Nicole Hanley with just over a minute gone and proceeded to hammer the ball home for a breakthrough goal.
The Ulster side increased their advantage when Orlaith Prenter kicked a fine point from play, but Carlow finally got up and running when the ever-reliable Clíodhna Ní Shé struck over a brace of scores.
Antrim were proving to be extremely efficient in attack, however, and pulled six points clear after a two-point salvo courtesy of the impressive Prenter was supplemented by single efforts from O’Neill (who led the way in the race for the ZuCar Golden Boot award heading into this fixture) and Áine Tubridy.
Yet Carlow were determined to leave a mark on their first-ever appearance on the All-Ireland finals day and, following three successful frees by Ní Shé, Sara Doyle also kicked an excellent point on the run to leave the Barrowsiders just two adrift at 1-5 to 0-6 at the interval.
Ní Shé’s sixth of the day reduced the gap to the bare minimum after the restart, before Antrim finally brought a barren scoring spell to an end when Prenter split the posts on the turn in the 37th minute.
The excellent inside forward and team captain Bronagh Devlin went on contribute further points for the Saffrons, but after Aoibhín Webb and Aibha Kiernan had kept Carlow in touch, the latter rifled the ball to the net on 48 minutes to give the Barrowsiders the lead for the very first time.
Despite this set-back, Antrim turned things around and were on course to prevail when Prenter, O’Neill (two) and Aoibheann Monaghan all found the range during a strong scoring blitz.
The prospect of a replay loomed large when a 59th minute goal by substitute Townsend sensationally got Carlow back on level terms, but there was enough time remaining for Antrim to forge a breakaway attack and O’Neill was in the right place to knock over a decisive score with just 15 seconds left on the clock.
Scorers for Antrim: O Prenter 0-6 (1f), M O’Neill 0-4 (2f), T Mellon 1-0, A Tubridy, B Devlin, A Monaghan 0-1 each.
Scorers for Carlow: C Ní Shé 0-6 (5f), A Kiernan 1-1, M Townsend 1-0, A Webb, S Doyle 0-1 each.
Antrim
A Devlin; E Kearns, M Blaney, M Mulholland; L Agnew, D Coleman, C McKenna; L Dahunsi, Á Tubridy; T Mellon, B Devlin, A Davidson; EL McAreavey, M O’Neill, O Prenter.
Subs: A Monaghan for Davidson (38), H Donaghy for Tubridy (48), A Taggart for Dahunsi (56), C Taggart for Agnew (59).
Carlow
N Hanley; A Carroll, A Roche, S O’Neill; A Webb, N Forde, R Bermingham; R Bailey, C O’Neill; E Hayden, C Ní Shé, A Hanley; Bronagh Nolan, S Doyle, A Kiernan.
Subs: M Townsend for Hayden (36), M Healy for C O’Neill (40), Béibhín Nolan for Bermingham (48-49), C O’Neill for Bronagh Nolan (53).
Referee: Conor McCarthy (Cork).
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Antrim Carlow junior final Ladies Football