Carnacon have blazed an impressive trail in the world of Ladies GAA over the past ten years – winning four All-Ireland club titles in that period – but today in Ballinamore their attempt to land back-to-back national titles came up short as they lost out in this year’s final to Monaghan and Ulster champions Donaghmoyne on a 1-12 to 1-5 scoreline. A match report on the final from The Score is available here.
A strong rivalry has developed between the two clubs over the past decade, with the Monaghan girls coming out on top the last time they clashed at the final stage – back in 2006 – while Carnacon prevailed when the clubs met at the penultimate stage in both 2008 and again last year. A good background piece on this year’s final from this week’s Connaught Telegraph is here.
From the sounds of it, the outcome of today’s match – which was played in fairly miserable conditions – was never really in doubt, with Donaghmoyne on top pretty much throughout. They led by two points at the break and kept the Mayo girls scoreless for long periods in both halves, with Carnacon’s talisman Cora Staunton was restricted to a single point from play. Carnacon really needed a bigger return from Cora to carry the day but it wasn’t to be on this occasion. Hard luck to them – there will, I’m sure, be other days for this storied Mayo club.
Nothing against Ballinamore but one of thought a more prestigious venue for the ladies club final. The men will have it on St Patricks day in Croke park. The women shuffle up to Leitrim in murky December… doesn’t seem right to me. Very sorry to see them lose. They have consistently flown the flag for the county and invariably come out as winners, likewise at county level. Hope the male infection and rot is not spreading to them on final day.