Antrim 1-13
Carlow 2-9
By Daire Walsh
Player of the match Lara Dahunsi said that the pain of losing last year’s final to Louth drove Antrim to success in the All-Ireland Junior Championship final at Croke Park.
Maria O’Neill’s fourth point of the game in the closing seconds clinched a 1-13 to 2-9 win over for the Saffrons just as it looked like Carlow’s second-half scoring blitz had sent the tie to a replay.
“Definitely, it was definitely a driving force,” said Dahunsi as she recalled that 2025 defeat.
“We felt that pain, we felt that hurt and it was definitely a push for us to be here now. We had a defeat last year and it hurt so much. There’s so much emotion around the stadium from the girls but it’s what we deserve.
“We put in a shift throughout the year, so many ups, so many downs. We have players who were injured who wish they were on the pitch, so just to be able to go out there and win it for them, it means so much.”
Dahunsi carried an injury into the game and was given a rousing reception when she had to go off in the closing stages of the contest.
“I had a tear on my hamstring coming from the semi-final against Sligo, so I wasn’t training there for the three weeks leading up until today,” she revealed.
“I was a bit nervous going out, but I knew it was the last game. Just give the best possible performance that I could give. When it was my time to put my hand up and for someone else to come out and finish the job, that’s what I had to do.”
O’Neill was the match-winner for Antrim as her last-gasp point earned them a record-equalling fourth All-Ireland Junior Football Championship title at the end of a dramatic battle with Carlow.
Carlow manager Ed Burke lamented their poor start, but praised his charges for the way they battled back.
“I don’t think you could ask for a worse start really, to be honest. Giving away a goal after a minute,” said Burke.
“I think after 15 minutes we kind of settled into it, we started playing football. Again, the start of the second half, it was a bit of yo-yo by both teams. I think we battled hard all the game, to get that goal even at the end and to get another opportunity. When you come to a final, they’re the ones you’ve got to take.
“I think we worked tremendously hard, but just a little bit of sloppiness. Which isn’t what we’re normally about.”
Antrim enjoyed a dream start when wing-forward Theresa Mellon found the net after she intercepted a hand pass from Carlow goalkeeper Nicole Hanley with just over a minute gone.
Carlow 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 and pulled six points clear after a 0-2 salvo courtesy of the impressive Orlaith Prenter was supplemented by single efforts from O’Neill and Áine Tubridy.
Yet Carlow were determined to leave a mark on their first ever appearance on 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.
The sides continued to trade scores after the restart before Carlow hit the front for the first time after 48 minutes when Aibha Kiernan found the net.
Despite this setback, 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 Megan Townsend sensationally got Carlow back on level terms, but there was enough time for Antrim to break from deep and O’Neill shot the winner with just 15 seconds left on the clock.
Scorers – 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.
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).
