Carlow landed the Lidl Division 4 league title with a one point win over Leitrim after extra-time.
Clíodhna Ní Shé’s extra-time goal proved to the decisive score of the game.
The former League of Ireland soccer player striking the ball while on the ground and her shot just squirmed under the body of Martina Gallagher.
The goal put Carlow four points ahead. Although Muireann Devaney pulled a goal back for Leitrim with the last kick of the game from a 20-metre free-kick, the time was up.
Carlow had started the brighter and enjoyed more of the ball during the opening half. However, the sides still went in level at half-time, thanks mainly to a well taken goal by Leitrim centre half-forward Leah Fox in the 26th minute.
With Ní Shé pulling the strings, Carlow raced into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead inside the opening ten minutes.
Sara Doyle put Carlow seven points to three ahead in the 25th minute. However, Leitrim showed a great fighting spirit.
Fox slotted home and then Dearbháile Beirne levelled the game going into the half-time break.
Carlow seemed to have a grip of the game when their most experienced player Edel Hayden found the net after 37 minutes.
However, five minutes later the teams were level again when Anna Devaney shot home. Doyle and Ní Shé nudged Carlow ahead once more. Muireann Devaney converted a free for Leitrim before Doyle scored again in the 56th minute.
That Leitrim grit shone through again and a points by Fox and a Devaney free in the dying seconds sent the game to extra-time, 1-11 to 2-8.
Extra-time followed a similar pattern with Carlow surging ahead through Aibha Kiernan.
However, with two remaining Leitrim were in front for the first time thanks to a delightful lobbed Laura O’Dowd goal and another Fox point.
However, a yellow card to full back Charlene Tyrrell proved costly and during her time in the sin bin.
Carlow scored 1-2 either side of the half-time break and ultimately, it was that goal by Ní Shé that settled the game.
Carlow: N Hanley; A Carroll, A Roche, S O’Neill; A Webb, N Forde, R Bermingham; R Bailey, C O’Neill; E Hayden (Beibhín Nolan 67), C Ní Shé, A Hanley; M Townsend (Brónagh Nolan 38), S Doyle, A Kiernan.
Scorers: C Ní Shé 1-6 (3fs), S Doyle 0-5, E Hayden 1-0, A Kiernan 1-1, R Bermingham 0-1
Leitrim: M Gallagher; J Maye, C Tyrrell, N Morahan; D Beirne, L Devaney, S Reynolds (S Ward 77); N Tighe (D Rooney HT), M Guckian (V Egan 49); L O’Dowd, L Fox, A Gilmartin (E Guckian 68); A Devaney (C Dolan 44), M Devaney, K Gormley (A Clancy 41).
Scorers: L Fox 1-3, M Devaney 1-2 (1-2fs), A Devaney 1-1, L O’Dowd 1-0, M Guckian 0-1f, D Beirne 0-1, K Gormley 0-1
Referee: Conor McCarthy (Cork)
