Carnacon ladies conquer all again

Carnacon ladies conquer all again


Mike Finnerty

AS most of the country was settling down to watch the Late Late Show last Friday night week, the lady footballers of Carnacon were on the road again, taking care of business, marching on to another milestone victory.
Shortly before 10.30pm, under the floodlights at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence outside Ballyhaunis, the unstoppable machine that has been assembled by Jimmy Corbett and Beatrice Casey were crowned Mayo senior ladies club champions for the 14th time.
This latest success now means they have only been bested once inside the county boundaries since 1999, and it’s fair to say that Carnacon have ruled Mayo with an iron fist since.
It’s been pretty much the same story in Connacht where they have 14 of the last 16 provincial championships.
They are the untouchables when it comes to ladies football.
And with most of the usual suspects back on board again for another shot at the All-Ireland club title, including Cora who scored 4-12 in her latest County Final run-out, Carnacon are bound to be in the shake-up yet again this winter.
Unfortunately, this latest renewal of the Mayo showpiece followed the recent pattern of senior deciders as Carnacon crushed their gallant opponents, Castlebar, ruthlessly.
By all accounts the Mitchels spared no effort in attempting to give Carnacon a game, but the final scoreline of 7-16 to 2-1 speaks volumes for the gap between the champions and all the rest.
Less than 48 hours later Carnacon returned to the Centre of Excellence and dispatched the Roscommon champions, Strokestown, by 35 points, scoring 9-18 in the process.
Last Sunday it was St Nathy’s from Sligo that felt the wrath of the West Mayo outfit, being gunned down by 5-27 to 0-4.
In truth, the championship-proper only really starts for Carnacon now, and it will be interesting to see how they fare out against better opposition without their injured taliswoman, Claire Egan.
But we certainly wouldn’t be betting against last year’s runners-up bouncing back to win their fifth All-Ireland club title. They are women on a mission it seems.
PS: Castlebar had seven sets of sisters, including three sets of twins, togged out for the recent County Senior Final.
Surely, that has to be a record?!