County champions Camross get their season back on track with victory over Castletown in the Laois SHC
The 2023 champions had their goalie to thank in the end
Camross have gotten their 2024 Senior Hurling Championship campaign back on track as they had four points to spare over Castletown in Laois Hire O'Moore Park this afternoon.
Both sides came into the game knowing anything but a win could spell an end to their year as Camross had lost out to Rathdowney-Errill and Portlaoise had beaten Castletown.
Camross 1-17
Castletown 1-13
Camross got off the better start as they scored the first two points. Zane Keenan pointed from a 65' and a free after Liam Delaney was fouled. Castletown's Martin Phelan raised their first white flag before Camross had a great chance for a goal. Mark Dowling's effort looked to be destined for the Castletown net but his effort hit the posts and went wide. Tadhg Cuddy slotted over a free to level the game after 10 minutes.
Arien Delaney's side then hit the next three scores on the trot courtesy of two points from Eoghan Cuddy and John Gaughan. Castletown had a chance to raise a white flag in the middle of those scores but Tadhg Cuddy missed a 65' after Gearoid Burke had misplaced his pass back to Tadhg Doran. Another mistake in the Camross defence was punished this time around as Cathal Cuddy's attempted clearance landed straight to Jack Breen and he raised a white flag.
Ciaran Collier struck the ball over the black spot in what was an instant reply to Breen's point. Tadhg Cuddy got his first from play just before the break as Camross led 0-7 to 0-5. Camross had a goal chance courtesy of Oisin Bennett after he had won the ball high up the field but Castletown keeper Gearoid Gaughan saved his shot to end the half.
The opening score of the second-half saw the game's first goal as Camross' Keenan rifled the ball into the back of the net from a 21-yard free. Eoghan Cuddy followed up with a fourth point of the contest with Keenan taking his tally to 1-3, all from placed balls. Keenan pointed another free while midfielder Liam Delaney scored from play to give Camross a nine-point lead. Conor Doran got a point back for Castletown but it's goals that they needed.
Darragh Drennan pointed having come on for Oisin Bennett as Camross had full control of the contest both in terms of possession and the score line with 15 minutes to play. Castletown captain Shane Phelan cut the gap to eight before Tadhg Cuddy made it a five-point game as he blasted the ball beyond Tadhg Doran in the Camross net, 1-12 to 1-7 with 13 minutes to play. Martin Phelan and Andrew Mortimer traded points soon after and likewise with Camross' Drennan and Castletown's Breen.
Eoghan Cuddy had a huge goal chance in the 53rd minute but his shot was saved by the legs of Gearoid Gaughan. Keenan stepped up and slotted over the resulting 65'. Dylan Conroy pointed to leave five between the sides with five minutes left on the clock. Castletown were awarded a free just outside the 21-yard line and brought forward Gearoid Gaughan from the goals. His free was saved but he ended up getting the ball back to point from play. Tadhg Doran made a superb save as he rushed out on Dylan Conroy to deny a certain goal. Shane Phelan scored the resulting 65' to leave three between the sides as injury time approached.
Doran proved to be Camross' hero in the end as he made another excellent save from Joseph Phelan. James Cuddy and Breen traded scores but it was Drennan who got the final score of the game as Camross won by four points in the end.
The result means that Castletown's season has probably come to an end as both Portlaoise and Camross have the head-to-head advantage on David Cuddy's side.