LFA Womens Inter League Shield Final

Carlow Football League 3 ( Catherine Dempsey, Essmay Mannix, Niamh Power )

Combined Counties Football League 3 ( Amy Matthews, Ali Lenehan x2 )

( Carlow won 4 – 2 on pens )

This match saw two sides throw everything into this game only for the dreaded penalty shootout to decide proceedings for the second game in a row. Carlow raced into an early lead when Catherine Dempsey scored and their lead was doubled when Captain Essmay Mannix rounded keeper Hazel Bracken before shooting from an acute angle following a lovely pass from Elaine Weir for Carlow. Combined Counties kept battling but were unable to break through the rearguard of Carlow for the first half, Going into the half time break two nil down. John O’Dea gave his troops a stern talk and ten minutes later they pulled a goal back through a stunning free from Amy Matthews whose shot looped over Megan Walsh. Thirteen minutes later this match was all square as the Combined Counties piled the pressure on Carlow, Amy Matthews tried her luck from long range again but it deflected of her team mate Ali Lenehan and into the far corner of Walsh’s net. Both Leagues went for it and it was end to end and Niamh Power grabbed Carlows third goal with twelve minutes remaining to give them a slender lead. Combined Counties went for broke and through everything at Carlow and equalised through Ali Lenehan once more , Sending this tie straight to penalties where it was Carlow who held their nerve and win the LFA Womens Inter League Shield 4 – 2 on penalties