Carlow 0-14
Kerry 0-3
Carlow had too much artillery for Kerry as they bounced back from last year’s final defeat to garner the Liberty Insurance All-Ireland junior A title.
Limerick broke their hearts last year but on this occasion Mark Brennan’s side made no mistake, as they always held the upper hand.
Brennan, who captained Carlow hurlers to a Christy Ring Cup final success, has worked the oracle with the county camogie team this year and their fitness was very much in evidence in the second half.
This was a meeting between the Division 3 and Division 4 league champions and as expected, it was the team operating at the higher level in the league that held the upper hand.
Kerry more than held their own in the first half though and while their three points came from Sara Murphy frees, they would have been in a stronger position but for the excellent defensive work of Áine Ryan, Gráinne Nolan and Kate Nolan.
Carlow led by 0-5 to 0-3 at the interval but were on the back foot immediately from the throw-in. Crucially though, goalkeeper Niamh Doyle made an important save and from that juncture, Carlow held the upper hand.
Eleanor Treacy, Michelle Nolan and Ciara Quirke racked up points as Carlow eventually pulled clear for a deserved victory.
SCORERS – CARLOW: E Treacy 0-4(fs); M Nolan, C Quirke 0-3 each; L Abbey 0-2; M Doyle, T Meaney 0-1 each
KERRY: S Murphy 0-3(fs)
CARLOW: N Doyle, G Nolan, N Quirke, A Ryan, B Nolan, K Nolan, E Brennan, L Abbey, E Treacy, M Doyle, L Bible, T Meaney, M Nolan, C Quirke, A Ruschitzko. Subs: N Canavan for N Quirke, S Kavanagh for Abbey, O McDonald for Ruschitzko
KERRY: M O’Carroll, A Behan, J Horgan, A Maunsell, S Murphy, AM Leen, M Costello, J Fitzell, A Fitzgerald, E Ryall, O Young, N Leen, L Collins, P Diggin, A O’Connor
REFEREE: R McNicholas (Galway)
