Staunton fires Carnaconto

All-Ireland Women's Football Senior club final/Carnacon 2-14 Inch Rovers 1-6: Cora Staunton scored 1-11 as Mayo champions Carnacon…

All-Ireland Women's Football Senior club final/Carnacon 2-14 Inch Rovers 1-6:Cora Staunton scored 1-11 as Mayo champions Carnacon made up for last year's All-Ireland senior club final heartbreak by overpowering Inch Rovers of Cork in a one-sided affair at Banagher, Co Offaly yesterday.

Inch simply had no answer to Staunton's brilliance, as Carnacon's physical edge set the platform for the Mayo superstar to notch 1-4 from play.

Staunton's well-taken goal helped Carnacon lead 1-6 to 0-3 at half-time, but Inch were offered hope when a goal from the hard-working Amy O'Shea cut the gap to two points early in the second half.

However, the Mayo team's experience and strength showed thereafter, with Fiona McHale's goal 15 minutes from the final whistle ending the game as a contest.

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Claire Egan and Martha Carter gave Carnacon the midfield edge, while Sharon and Caroline McGing led a tight defence and Michelle McGing and McHale caused problems up front.

Inch were hit by the withdrawal of star midfielder Orla Cotter before the game through injury, and were already missing former All Star Mary O'Connor. O'Shea, Jill Horan and Angela Walsh worked hard for them, but they ended up outclassed by a Carnacon side backboned by county stars.

Earlier in the day, a dramatic late comeback saw Cork's Mourneabbey deny long-time leaders Glen of Derry - 1-14 to 1-13 - in the All-Ireland intermediate decider at Banagher.

A fortuitous goal from midfielder Michelle McAteer midway through the second half put the Derry side 1-12 to 1-7 in front as they built on a 0-9 to 1-5 half-time advantage.

But Mourneabbey, who fielded five Cork All-Ireland minor winners, belied their youth to calmly fight back and outscore Glen 0-7 to 0-1 in the final quarter and claim the crown.

SCORERS

SENIOR FINAL - Carnacon: C Staunton 1-11, seven frees; F McHale 1-1; J O'Hara, C Egan 0-1 each. Inch Rovers: A O'Shea 1-2; C Keohane 0-2; J Duffy, C Egan 0-1 each.

INTERMEDIATE FINAL - Mourneabbey: K O'Brien 1-3; J McCarthy 0-3, free; S Forde, Ciara O'Sullivan, R O'Sullivan 0-2 each, S O'Callaghan, L Harrington 0-1 each. Glen: K Conway 0-4, one free; MJ Wall 0-4, one free; M McAteer 1-1; U Mullan 0-2; D McMaster, C Kielt 0-1 each.