Late Carlow goal shatters Laois Camogie's Leinster Championship dream

Laois' spirited second-half comeback came undone in the dying moments as Carlow snatched victory with a dramatic injury-time goal to claim the Leinster Intermediate Camogie Championship title in Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday afternoon.

With the skorts or shorts debate in full swing, the teams appeared for the warm-up in shorts before the officials discussed the matter with both captains and the teams reconvened in the dressing rooms before reappearing in skorts so that the contest could get underway.

Carlow 2-9

Laois 1-8

Carlow dominated for the majority of the contest and held a lead from the 10th minute until a late Laois surge culminated in them edging ahead in the 53rd minute.

Just as it appeared that Laois were getting a grip of the contest and going to battle to a late win, Aoife Treacy’s long-range free somehow found its way to the net, silencing the travelling support and swinging the game back in Carlow’s favour. 

Carlow had made the stronger start, dominating territory in the early stages and pressing high, though they had only a Leah Ryan point to show for it initially.

Aimee Collier slotted a well-taken 45 to draw Laois level, but Ryan soon rattled the net with a superb finish from a tight angle to give Carlow the advantage once again.

Laois responded well. Kaylee O’Keeffe and Susie Delaney both raised white flags, the latter firing over a fine effort from the left sideline. The first of a number of chances at goal that Laois left behind came moments later when a shot from Aoife Collier was brilliantly stopped on the line by Ciara Kavanagh.

Eleanor Treacy, whose free-taking would prove pivotal, ended a ten-minute scoreless spell for Carlow with an impressive strike from the 65-metre line. Delaney replied for Laois after Keenan was hauled down, but Treacy continued to punish Laois from placed balls and added another before Sarah Sheehan capitalised on a misjudged clearance to send Carlow three clear.

The remainder of the first half was scrappy, with both sides guilty of errors and missed opportunities and Carlow went into the interval 1-4 to 0-4 in front.

Laois came out with renewed energy after the break and created an early goal chance, with Collier flashing a shot narrowly wide. Treacy was on target again from a placed ball to stretch the Carlow lead, but Collier responded with a sharp solo run and tidy finish from the right wing.

Treacy, consistent as ever, replied again, this time from just inside her own 65, though Laois continued to create chances, and when Liadan C-Fennell broke the Carlow line with a surging run, Collier’s shot grazed just over the bar.

Carlow hit back through Eve Sinnott, but Laois were beginning to gain some momentum and the breakthrough came when O’Keeffe burst through the heart of the defence and unselfishly laid off to Keenan, who buried the chance with a composed finish.

Collier levelled the tie with a long-range free before Grainne Delaney edged Laois in front for the first time with a pinpoint strike from the wing.

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Carlow weren’t quite dead and buried, however, as Aoife Treacy brought the sides level once more, and in injury time, her long-range free somehow evaded everyone in the square and nestled in the back of the net to break Laois' hearts. She added a final point shortly after to seal a 2-9 to 1-9 win for the hosts, capping off a dramatic and hard-fought final.

Laois will get their Glen Dimplex Premier Junior Championship campaign underway this Saturday, May 24, against Wicklow in Laois Hire O’Moore Park from 2pm.

SCORERS – Carlow: Eleanor Treacy 1-5 (all frees), Leah Ryan 1-1, Sarah Sheehan, Eve Sinnott  0-1. Laois: Aimee Collier 0-5 (two frees, one 45), Kirsten Keenan 1-0, Susie Delaney, Kaylee O’Keeffe, Grainne Delaney.

CARLOW: Catherine Kavanagh; Gillian Doyle, Rachel Breen, Niamh Canavan; Aibha Kiernan, Michelle Nolan, Mairead O’Shea; Eleanor Treacy, Caoimhe Coady; Eve Sinnott, Sarah Sheehan, Holly Wall; Caoimhe Jordan, Ciara Kavanagh, Leah Ryan. Subs: Aimie Nolan for M Nolan (29, inj), Eibhe Lawlor for Wall (45), Kate Doyle for Kavanagh (51).

LAOIS: Aedin Lowry (Camross); Sarah Creagh (St Brigid’s), Ellen Conroy (O’Moore’s), Fiona Scully (Camross); Shona Jones (St Brigid’s), Clodagh Tynan (St Brigid’s), Alice Walsh (The Harps); Grainne Delaney (Camross), Liadan C-Fennell (O’Moore’s); Alanna Tynan (St Brigid’s), Kirsten Keenan (Camross), Kaylee O’Keeffe (St Lazarian’s); Eimear Hassett (St Brigid’s), Aimee Collier (Camross), Susie Delaney (Portlaoise). Subs: Lynda Keyes (Camross) for A Tynan (ht).

REFEREE: Martin Molloy (Wicklow)