League final beckons for Laois Camogie team after victory over Roscommon

The Laois Camogie team secured their place in the Very National League Division 3A final with a dominant victory over Roscommon in Mountmellick on Saturday afternoon.

The O'Moore women knew that a win over The Rossies would see them into their second successive Division 3A decider having lost to Armagh in the 2024 final in Abbotstown.

Very National Camogie League Division 3A Round 4

Laois 2-10
Roscommon 0-7

With the wind at their backs, Laois made a blistering start, racing into a 1-7 to 0-0 lead before Roscommon could register a score. Eimear Hassett opened the scoring within 30 seconds, followed quickly by a Grainne Delaney point. A well-worked team goal highlighted the hosts’ early dominance as Camross' Kirsten Keenan linked up with clubmate Aimee Collier, who played in Susie Delaney, and she coolly rounded the goalkeeper before finishing to the net.

Collier soon added to her tally with a fine point over her shoulder, before converting a 45’ soon after. Keenan and Clodagh Tynan (free) also got on the score sheet while Delaney raised a second white flag to extend the lead.

Roscommon responded well, hitting three points in as many minutes through an Orla Connolly free, followed by efforts from Tara Naughton and Rachel Fitzmaurice. The sides then traded four scores, with Collier and Susie Delaney adding to Laois' tally, while Sinead Mannion and Naughton kept Roscommon in touch. At the break, Laois held a comfortable 1-9 to 0-5 advantage.

As the weather worsened in the second-half, scoring opportunities became scarce, but Laois landed a decisive blow just a minute after the restart with their second goal, effectively killing off the contest. This was another superb team score, Susie Delaney played a ball into the corner and Collier turned her marker before squaring the ball to Eimear Hassett and she made no mistake from close-range.

Roscommon did manage to add two more points, with Naughton scoring from play and Connolly converting a second free. However, Susie Delaney had the final say, slotting over the last point of the game as Laois closed out a 2-10 to 0-7 victory.

With their final league fixture against Wicklow next weekend, Laois can now turn their focus to the Division 3A final, where their opponents are yet to be confirmed.

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SCORERS — Laois: Susie Delaney 1-2, Eimear Hassett 1-1, Aimee Collier 0-3 (0-1 45’), Grainne Delaney 0-2, Kirsten Keenan and Clodagh Tynan (free) 0-1 each. Roscommon: Tara Naughton 0-3, Orla Connolly 0-2fs, Sinead Mannion and Rachel Fitzmaurice 0-1 each.

LAOIS: Grace Foxe (St. Lazarian’s); Laura Finlay (St Brigid’s), Ellen Conroy (O’Moore’s), Fiona Scully (Camross); Sinead Slevin (Banrion Gaels), Clodagh Tynan (St Brigid’s), Alice Walsh (The Harps); Lynda Keyes (Camross), Liadan C-Fennell (O’Moore’s); Kaylee O’Keefe (Abbeyleix), Kirsten Keenan (Camross), Grainne Delaney (Camross); Eimear Hassett (St Brigid’s), Aimee Collier (Camross), Susie Delaney (Portlaoise). Subs: Alannah Tynan (St Brigid’s) for Collier (38 mins) and Kayla Dwyer (The Harps) for Slevin (60 mins).

ROSCOMMON: Andrea Fallon; Michella Rogers, Shauna McDermott, Aideen O’Brian; Hannah Murray, Rachel Fitzmaurice, Erin McDermott; Sally Bolger, Orla Connolly; Sinead Mannion, Mairead Lohan, Tara Naughton; Celine Gacquin, Sarah Dooley, Oonagh Kelly.

Referee: Karol Collins (Galway)