Carnacon look to Staunton

ALL-IRELAND WOMEN'S FOOTBALL CLUB FINAL/Carnacon 2-12 Na Fianna 2-4:A TALLY of 1-9 from star attacker Cora Staunton helped Carnacon of Mayo win the senior title for a fourth time at Ballymahon, Co Longford yesterday.

Trailing only when Orlagh Egan got the game’s first score for Dublin’s Na Fianna in the fourth minute, Carnacon led 1-7 to 0-2 at the interval, Staunton setting up Aoife Brennan for their early goal.

Staunton and Ciara McDermott exchanged points upon the resumption before Staunton availed of good work by Caroline McGing to fire home Carnacon’s second goal to make it 2-8 to 0-3.

Na Fianna battled back and they were given some hope in the 43rd minute as Egan nipped in to touch the ball home from close range.

The corner-forward then added a point before the second goal, when Laura Walsh got her fist to a Mary Nevin delivery.

Carnacon looked to have cleared the ball off the line, but referee Michael John O’Keeffe awarded the goal after consultation with his umpires.

That helped the Dublin champions reduce the deficit to 2-8 to 2-4 after 47 minutes. That was to prove to be their last score, however, Staunton responding with four late points to ensure the Mayo champions would not be denied.

CARNACON: M Higgins; N Hurst, N Tierney, S McGing; M Corbett, C McGing, A Loftus; C Egan, M Carter; M McGing, F McHale (0-3), D Hughes; N Beegan, C Staunton (1-9, four frees), A Brennan (1-0).

NA FIANNA: S Turnbull; E Cassidy, L O’Sullivan, S Quinn; A Cushen, B O’Donnell, C O’Hara; A O’Donnell (0-1), C McDermott (0-1); M Nevin, N Doherty, L Walsh (1-0); M O’Gorman, B Finlay, O Egan (1-2). Subs: N Stapleton for O’Gorman (26 mins), L Collins for Cushen (40), A Nolan for Nevin (56).

Referee: MJ O’Keeffe (Cork).