County champions Camross into the semi-finals of Laois SHC after defeating The Harps

Camross have teed up another date with Clough-Ballacolla in the semi-finals of the Laois Shopping Centre Senior Hurling Championship as they got past the challenge of The Harps in Sunday's second quarter-final.

Camross 2-18

The Harps 1-16

The reigning county champions got off to the best possible start as they had 2-1 under their belts in the opening five minutes. Gearoid Burke pointed the opening score, quickly followed by Liam Delaney putting Darren Drennan in for goal while Mossy Keyes made a run from midfield and buried the ball past Peter Walsh. 

Eoghan Murphy and Mossy Keyes (free) traded scores before Cody Comerford and Liam Delaney pointed their first scores of the contest for their respective sides followed by a second from Burke. James Duggan and Eoghan Doheny narrowed the gap to two goals before Keyes converted his second from a placed ball.

The Harps had racked up seven wides by the 18th minute allowing Camross to stay in control. Keyes from a placed ball and Burke earned their third points of the game whilst Duggan and John Brophy replied up the other end. A Keyes free and Ciaran Flynn pointing from play concluded the first half with Camross leading by seven at the break. 

The second half started with two scores from each side. Podge Delaney and Ciaran Comerford pointed frees while Eoghan Cuddy and Keyes raised white flags from play. The Harps scored two points without reply courtesy of Ciaran Flynn and Ciaran Comerford (free). Eoin Gaughan and Ciaran Comerford (free) traded scores as Camross still led by five points. Zane Keenan came off the bench and scored straight away. Ciaran Comerford continued to point frees as he scored another two.

Arien Delaney's side hit the front and scored three points unanswered in a five-minute spell to leave seven points between the teams. Mossy Keyes scored two frees with a Mark Dowling point sandwiched in between. Ciaran Comerford (free) and Mossy Keyes traded scores yet again but The Harps knew they needed goals and fast.

Ciaran Comerford's seventh free of the game put two goals between the teams with five minutes left on the clock. The Harps managed to get one goal in the 61st minute as Podge Delaney drilled home a 21-yard free but Camross finished with two more scores courtesy of Darren Drennan and Zane Keenan.

Camross will play Clough-Ballacolla and Rathdowney-Errill are to face Abbeyleix in what is a repeat of the 2023 Laois SHC semi-finals.