Skort controversy can't stop Laois Camogs on route to Leinster final

Laois Camogie’s Leinster Intermediate semi-final victory against Kilkenny in Freshford began with controversy, as the start of the game was delayed by ten minutes due to a protest over playing attire. It’s the second time that this has happened over the Bank Holiday weekend, as Dublin and Kilkenny did likewise on Saturday.

The Laois players initially took to the field wearing shorts instead of the traditional skorts, in a stand against what many view as an outdated requirement in the women’s game.

Laois 2-12

Kilkenny 0-17

Match referee Simon Redmond instructed the Laois team that they would have to change into skorts or the fixture would be abandoned. Following the intervention, the players complied to ensure the game could proceed, but the incident is likely to reignite debate around dress codes in camogie.

Laois’ Aimee Collier pointed the game’s first score with Kilkenny’s Amy Cody replying for the home side. Susie Delaney pushed Laois in front, but Kilkenny took control and scored seven points without reply. Rachel Dowling pointed two frees and one from play while Emma Mulhall raised two white flags from play. Lauren Rohan and Tara McGrath also chipped in with a point each for The Cats.

Clodagh Tynan broke Kilkenny’s scoring run before Dowling pointed a fourth point, a third free. Laois began to find their feet as they fired over three scores on the trot. Kaylee O’Keeffe, Collier (free) and Clodagh Tynan got the points for Laois. The half ended with Ellen Gunner and Keara Ryan getting points for Kilkenny as The Cats led 0-11 to 0-6 at the break.

Collier scored the first point of the second-half for Laois, but Dowling kept the scoreboard ticking for Kilkennt with a 45’. Liadan C-Fennell and another free from Collier cut Kilkenny’s lead to three points. Their advantage would be increased yet again as Mulhall got her third point of the game. Alanna Tynan, who came into the starting 15 in place of Grainne Delaney, reduced Kilkenny’s lead to a single point as she rattled the back of the net. Clodagh Tynan levelled the sides with a free.

Laois went ahead for the first time since Susie Delaney’s point early on when Collier scored a point before raising Laois’ second green flag. Dowling replied with two points for Kilkenny, but Laois still held a two-point advantage, which Eimear Hassett pushed out to three with a score from play.

Kilkenny went in search of scores to level the game, but could only manage two more points from Gunner and Dowling (free) to see Laois into the Leinster final by a single point.

They will play Carlow in the Leinster final on Saturday, May 17 after they beat Dublin 1-16 to 2-11.

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SCORERS — Laois: Aimee Collier 1-5 (0-3 frees), Alanna Tynan 1-1, Clodagh Tynan 0-2 (0-1 free), Susie Delaney, Kaylee O’Keefe, Liadan C-Fennell, and Eimear Hassett 0-1 each. Kilkenny: Rachel Dowling 0-8 (0-4 frees, 0-1 45’), Emma Mulhall 0-3, Ellen Gunner 0-2, Amy Cody, Lauren Ronan, Tara McGrath, and Keara Ryan 0-1 each.

LAOIS: Aedin Lowry (Camross); Laura Finlay (St Brigid’s) Ellen Conroy (O’Moore’s), Fiona Scully (Camross); Shona Jones (St Brigid’s), Clodagh Tynan (St Brigid’s), Sarah Creagh (St Brigid’s); Alice Walsh (The Harps), Liadan C-Fennell (O’Moore’s); Sinead Slevin (Banrion Gaels), Kaylee O’Keeffe (St Lazarian’s), Alanna Tynan (St Brigid’s); Eimear Hassett (St Brigid’s), Aimee Collier (Camross), Susie Delaney (Portlaoise). Subs: Aoife Gee (The Harps) for Sinead Slevin (21 mins).

KILKENNY: Rachel Moloney; Laoise Nolan, Rachel Whelan, Sofia Kerr; Tara McGrath, Caoimhe Carroll, Laura Phelan; Ciara O’Keeffe, Keara Ryan; Emma Mulhall, Rachel Dowling, Ellen Gunner; Lauren Ronan, Amy Cody, Amy Brennan. Subs: Muireann Gannon for O’Keeffe (48 mins) and Katie Ryan for Cody (50 mins).

Referee: Simon Redmond (Dublin)