CARLOW U-18 Camogie team made the long journey to Drogheda for the first round of the All Ireland Minor Camogie Championship on Wednesday last. It proved to be a fruitful trip in that the visitors won the match but told the management team of Liam Dunne, Jack Barcoe, Brendan Kehoe and Valerie Crean little of the strength of character of the team such was the margin of victory. Bigger challenges will have to be overcome v Meath, Kildare and Westmeath if Carlow hope to win this title.

As the score suggests Carlow dominated all over the field from the first whistle as Lorraine Bible (0-1), Eleanor Treacy (1-0) and Collette Malone (0-1) had their team 1-2 to 0-0 up after ten minutes.

Louth replied with a pointed free by Denise Mernagh midway into the half. Sarah Jane Burke (0-1), Margaret Murphy (0-1f), Katie O'Byrne (1-0), and Susan Williams (0-1) added scores at will to build a 2-9 to 0-1 lead at half time.

The pattern continued in the second half as all five Carlow subs, Michelle Kelly, Michelle Nolan, Cloe Kenny, Maria Carroll and Ann Murphy were used. Midfielders Margaret Murphy and Lorrainne Bible got in on the act as each added further scores.

The Carlow backs, particularly the halfbacks of Emma Kelly, Kate Nolan and Shauna Barcoe were solid all through. Niamh Curran in goal was confident with a number of situations. Full backs Maria Kehoe, Amy Skelton and Jillian English repelled the few Louth threats.

Carlow will be happy to have won this first round match but must up their game for the next round v Meath at home on Wednesday next.

Comment: It is unfair to ask any team particularly an underage team to travel long distances and a timescale of eight hours to play a match mid week. Surely there is enough goodwill in Camogie and GAA circles to provide a suitable pitch at a halfway venue for a game of this kind. CARLOW suffered another heavy defeat in the Junior Camogie Championship on Saturday last. Pride in the jersey was at stake as these players, some of them played minor on the previous Wednesday, struggle but are determined to keep the "flagship team" afloat. What a pity that all clubs and players have not rallied to the call to join the "County" and promote the game of Camogie particularly when it is strong at juvenile level.

As for the game itself Armagh started like a train and had three goals on the board by centre forward Ciara Donnelly and full forward Collette McSorley before the Carlow girls caught their breath and were 3-2 to 00 up halfway into the first half. A goalmouth scramble resulted in a goal credited to Niamh Quirke. A number of good saves by goalie Valerie Crean and tight back-line work by Pamela Whelan, Eilish O'Neill and Marian Doyle kept Armagh at bay. Points by Ciara Quirke and Ciara Mullins left the half time score Armagh 3-4 Carlow 1-2.

The second half started briskly as Carlow upped their game and matched Armagh everywhere except on the scoreboard. McSorley and Ciara Quirke traded points and looked as if Carlow were in the game. However, Armagh had a succession of six points without reply and the game was lost for Carlow.