Camross get the better of Abbeyleix after extra-time to secure Division 1 final spot

Camross sealed their spot in the Division 1 final after a gruelling 80 minutes of hurling at home to Abbeyleix on Tuesday evening.

The sides had to deal with all the elements as the wind and rain swirled between the odd interval of sunshine, only adding to the tension and atmosphere in a thrilling encounter. 

CAMROSS 2-26 

ABBEYLEIX 0-30 

Abbeyleix had the upper hand in the first half and led by five points at the break but Camross took the game by the scruff of the neck in the second and raced ahead, only for Abbeyleix to rescue a draw with two injury time points. 

A Dan Delaney goal from a penalty in injury time was a big blow for the visitors  

Ciaran Collier and Tomas Keyes shone for Camross, with the former scoring 1-3 from play and the latter six points. Enda Rowland was the standout for the visitors as he pulled of several magnificent saves in addition to five trademark points from frees. 

After a bright opening few minutes for the visitors Camross battled back and the pair were level on 0-5 apiece after eight minutes. 

Abbeyleix found their groove again and raced into a three point lead thanks top Rowland, Sam Quinn and Colin Bynre. 

The sides went score for score as Dan Delaney, Tomas Keyes and Ciaran Collier saw their points matched by Eoghan Fennelly (2) and Colin Byrne. 

The visitors stepped their game up another notch approaching half time with three frees in a row – two for Fennelly and one for Rowland. Dan Delaney snuck one back before half time but Camross trailed 0-14 to 0-9. 

Camross came out reinvigorated for the second half and after some early toing and froing when the sides traded three scores each they drew level with 1-2 to no reply. 

Dan Delaney and Ciaran Collier both pointed to bring them to within a goal and that goal came moments later when Collier latched on to a long ball from Eoin Dowling and raced past his man before lacing it past Rowland for a goal. 

Colm Walsh responded with a wonder score for Abbeyleix but Collier hit back immediately and the teams traded further points with  Dan Delaney and Tomas Keyes striking for Camross in response to Aaron Brennan and Liam Doyle scores. 

Delaney and Brennan hit a further two points each as the tension started to build approaching injury time. Matthew Collier appeared to give Camross an insurance score to put them two ahead at the death, but there was more to come from Abbeyleix. 

Walsh pointed again to reduce the gap to one and after a missed 65 deep into injury time Abbeyleix got one more chance through an Enda Rowland free from his own 65 that sailed between the posts to bring the sides level on 1-21 and 0-24 and force extra time. 

Rowland drew first blood in extra time from a free, but Dan Delaney hit back within seconds. 

Liam Delaney put Camross ahead before they got a major boost when a penalty was awarded and Dan Delaney slotted it home. 

Rowland and Fennelly combined for three Abbeyleix pointed frees, but Delaney was on song once again to land a dead ball over the bar for Camross to put them two ahead at the interval. 

Fennelly put a point between the sides with a long range free to open the second half of extra time, but the next two scores went the way of the home side – one each for Dan Delaney and Tom Cuddy. 

Abbeyleix got one final chance to level the game when Rowland stepped up to take a free on the 45 with goal in mind but his dipping attempt went over the bar. 

Camross will face Clough-Ballacolla in the Division 1 final this coming Friday night.