St Joseph's avenge 2023 County Final loss to be crowned Laois LGFA Intermediate champions

St Joseph's are the 2024 LOETB Laois LGFA Intermediate champions after a defeating Killeshin in the final in Laois Hire O'Moore Park on Saturday afternoon.

Ava Shanahan was in superb form in the goals for St Joseph's as she saved a penalty and denied Mia Branagan when she was through on goals.

St Joseph's 3-7

Graiguecullen 1-11

St Joseph's and Laois Ladies star Emily Lacey was credited with the opening score of the contest as she showed blistering pace to break through the Graiguecullen defence and raise the game's first white flag. Graiguecullen were struggling in the early stages of the game to get past a resolute St Joseph's team who were defending with plenty of players behind the ball. St Joseph's good start was made even better with six minutes on the clock as Lacey was fouled in the square. Aoife Kealy stepped up and struck the ball into the top corner.

Kathlyn Timmons, daughter of Laois footballer Mark Timmons, was fouled for a free which Lauren Walsh slotted over for their opening score. Graiguecullen's Shayna Howe then denied a certain goal from Emma O'Flaherty as she made a great block to put the ball out for a 45'. St Joseph's second point of the contest was a well-worked team move which saw Lacey and Lilly Hooney combine to set Niamh Crosby up for an easy score in front of the posts. Crosby took her tally to two points soon after with a free.

Graiguecullen seemed to kick into gear for the final 10 minutes of the half as they themselves right back into the game. A quick free found Mia Branagan in space and she drilled the ball past Ava Shanahan to cut the deficit to two points. St Joseph's got the three points back instantly as they worked the ball up from the kick-out to raise a second green flag. Anna Moore found Crosby, who in turn played it to Kealy and she drilled the ball past Laura Byrne for her second goal.

The final three minutes of the half were frantic to say the least with Graiguecullen scoring two points and missing a penalty. Ella Byrne and Walsh pointed a free each while Timmons saw her penalty saved by Shanahan after being fouled in the square. A goal separated the sides at the break, St Joseph's 2-3 to Graiguecullen's 1-3 with it all to play for in the second-half.

 St Joseph's got off to the perfect start on the resumption as Abby O'Brien got their third goal of the contest as she reacted quickest to a spilled ball in the Graiguecullen defence. Graiguecullen replied with two scores on the trot from Byrne and a third from Lauren Walsh. Lacey and Branagan then traded scores with four points between the sides. That lead grew to six shortly after as Lacey played a free short and got it back to split the posts. Crosby took her tally to three points with a second free.

Shanahan was performing superbly in the St Joseph's goal as she saved one-on-one from Branagan who was being fouled in the process of shooting. Walsh pointed the resulting free with Lilly Hooney replying down the other end to leave five points between the sides with five minutes to play. Graiguecullen would finish the game with 14 players as Georgina Donovan was shown a yellow card. Graiguecullen went in search of scores to level the game but could only manage two points from Branagan and Walsh as St Joseph's were crowned Intermediate champions.