Camross cruise past Abbeyleix St Lazarian’s to claim first Senior title since 2018

Camross are the Laois Senior Hurling champions after a superb first-half performance saw them on their way to victory over Abbeyleix St Lazarian’s in today’s Senior Hurling decider.

It’s Camross’ first Senior title since 2018 while Abbeyleix’s wait for a Senior Championship will go into its 75th year. Tomás ‘Mossy’ Keyes was immense for David Cuddy’s men.

Camross 4-18

Abbeyleix St Lazarian’s 0-14

The game bursted into life as Mossy Keyes rattled the back of Enda Rowland’s net within the first 50 seconds. Camross’ first score from play came after four minutes as half-forward Liam Delaney put the ball between the posts. Abbeyleix’s nerves were evident as they hit a handful of wides in the opening exchanges.

Eoin Gaughan raised a white flag from half-back as Camross held a 1-2 to no score advantage with five minutes on the clock. Colin Byrne finally got Abbeyleix off the mark after six minutes before Camross fired in their second goal. Mark Dowling passing the ball off to Mossy who made no mistake with his finish into the top corner of the Abbeyleix net. Tom Cuddy added to Camross’ advantage with a fine score from play.

Abbeyleix’s Liam Delaney and Camross’ Andrew Collier traded scores before Mossy completed a superb 15-minute hat-trick with a stunning finish past Rowland. Mossy added to his three goals with his first point from play. Zane Keenan tapped over a free as the game looked to be getting away from PJ Peacock and his Abbeyleix side. Liam Doyle and Fennelly (free) got two scores back for Abbeyleix.

Mossy took his individual scoring to 3-2 as he put the sliotar over the black spot. Dowling looked to have put the game to bed before the end of the half-time as he rifled the ball into the net off the underside of the crossbar. Fennelly pointed a free before the end of the half as Camross held a 4-7 to 0-6 advantage at the break.

Fennelly got the ball rolling in the second-half as he got the first two scores, one from play and one from a free. Mossy Keyes got Camross’ first score of the second period as he took his tally to 3-3 while Ciaran Collier opened his account with another point for David Cuddy’s men. Colin Byrne left four goals between the sides as he split the posts for the second time.

Mossy Keyes had the game of his life as the young forward added another two points to his name. Ciaran Byrne got a point back for PJ Peacock’s men before Camross substitute Odhrán Phelan raised a white flag in reply.

Fennelly pointed another free for Abbeyleix with Ciaran Byrne also getting a point of his own from play. Ciaran Collier replied for Camross with his second score of the game. Dan Delaney (free) and Tom Cuddy pointed two more scores for Camross while Ciaran Byrne pointed his third of the contest. Mossy Keyes was involved yet again with his fifth point to add to his first-half hat-trick. Two more frees were scored, one from Fennelly and the other from Dan Delaney. Oisin Bennett got the final score of the game as Camross lifted the Bob O’Keefe cup for the 27th time.