Higgins to the fore as Wexford leave it late to crush Laois Camogie's Leinster dreams

Laois Camogie have lost the Leinster Intermediate Camogie final to Wexford after the Yellowbellies left it late to win the game thanks to their captain Nora Higgins.

The game was a great contest throughout with Laois having been ahead on four occasions in the second-half until the Wexford captain popped up to break Laois' hearts.

Wexford 0-16

Laois 0-15

Both sides took their time to get to the pitch of the game as the first five minutes flew by without a score. It would be Wexford that would raise the first white flag courtesy of Orla Redmond after six minutes. Laois finally got off the mark after 10 minutes as Alice Walsh was fouled with Aimee Collier pointing the resulting free to open Laois' account. Collier added to Laois' tally a minute later with her second free. Nora Higgins got Wexford back level with a point from a placed ball.

Aiden Lowry was then called into action moments later as Caoimhe Byrne put a long ball over the top into the path of Emma Codd. The corner-forward unleashed a shot which saw Lowry make a great save. Higgins pointed her second free as Codd had been fouled in the build-up to her strike.

Wexford added another two frees to their tally through Higgins as they led 0-5 to 0-2 after 20 minutes. Laois hit two scores on the trot to reduce the deficit with Collier pointing a free from long-range while Eimear Hassett split the posts after Laois had won the puck-out. Orla Redmond scored one of the points of the game for Wexford as she pointed the ball over her shoulder. Laois ended the half with two points from play as Eimear Hassett and Collier (free) raised white flags. Laois had the chance to go ahead before the break but Aimee Collier missed two frees as Wexford led 0-7 to 0-6 at half-time.

Higgins got the second-half's scoring underway as she got her first from play. Laois pushed ahead with the next four scores as they led for the first time after 33 minutes. nEimear Hassett and Aiva Coss got a point each from play as did Grainne Delaney. Aimee Collier pointed her fifth free soon after. Higgins and Collier (free) traded points as Laois still held a two-point advantage. Emma Codd and Collier (free) once again pointed for their sides.

With Laois leading by two points, Wexford hit three points in six minutes to push themselves ahead. Orla Redmond and two frees from Higgins saw Wexford go in front, 0-13 to 0-12, after 50 minutes. Laois' Aimee Collier pointed a free to level the game. Higgins and Grainne Delaney traded scores as the sides couldn't be separated in Tullamore. Collier's ninth free of the game looked to have been the match-winner for Laois but Wexford didn't let up and got the final two scores of the contest. Higgins was the scorer of those two points as the Wexford captain walked away with Player of the Match as well as the Leinster Intermediate Championship trophy.

Laois begin their Premier-Junior All-Ireland series next weekend against Cavan at home.