Collier to the fore as Laois Camogie secure All-Ireland semi-final spot with victory over Tyrone

The Laois Camogie team have booked their place in the All-Ireland semi-finals after a convincing eight-point win over Tyrone on Saturday afternoon in Killyclogher.

Leading the charge once again was Aimee Collier, who delivered a standout performance, finishing with 1-10 to her name.

Laois 2-19

Tyrone 2-11

Tyrone made the brighter start, registering early points through Grainne McDonald and Nicola McKiver. But Laois hit back in style with a well-worked team goal. Ellen Conroy launched an attack from deep, finding Susie Delaney, who was fouled. Clodagh Tynan took the resulting free and picked out Collier, who fired to the net to give Laois the lead.

Collier added a 45’ before Laura Finlay set up Kaylee O’Keeffe for a tidy point. Tyrone responded with a free from Reagan Fay, but Laois struck for a second goal shortly after. Collier’s relentless pressure forced a turnover, and she quickly fed Kirsten Keenan, who finished calmly to the net.

The sides then exchanged four points, with Tyrone’s Catherine Moohan and Aine Cunningham on target, while O’Keeffe and Collier kept the scoreboard ticking for Laois. Another Collier free took her tally to 1-3 before McKiver struck back with a goal for Tyrone to narrow the gap. Cunningham followed up with a point to reduce Laois’ lead to two, but Collier had the final say of the half, pointing to give Laois a 2-6 to 1-6 advantage at the break.

Keenan opened the second-half scoring with a point, quickly answered by Cunningham at the other end. But Laois then began to stretch their lead again. Collier (free), O’Keeffe and Eimear Hassett all found the target to push them six clear.

Tyrone stayed in touch with back-to-back scores from Rachel O’Neill and Roisin McErlean (free), but Laois continued to control proceedings. Delaney and McErlean exchanged points before Laois pushed for the finish line with a trio of white flags, Collier pointing from play and a 45’, while Sarah Creagh stormed forward from defence to add another.

Tyrone hit back with a point straight from the puck-out courtesy of McErlean, but Laois had too much in reserve. Collier added two more frees and Delaney chipped in with her second point of the day. Although McErlean managed to strike for a late goal, it wasn’t enough to trouble the outcome as Laois comfortably sealed their semi-final spot.

Next up for Pat Collier and Rob Jones’ side is their final group game against Armagh, which takes place on Saturday, July 5.

SCORERS — Laois: Aimee Collier 1-10 (0-7fs, 0-2 45’), Kirsten Keenan 1-1, Kaylee O’Keeffe 0-3, Susie Delaney 0-2, Eimear Hassett and Sarah Creagh 0-1 each. Tyrone: Roisin McErlean 1-3 (0-2fs), Nicola McKiver 1-1, Aine Cunningham 0-3, Reagan Fay 0-2 (0-1f), Catherine Moohan and Grainne McDonald 0-1 each. 

LAOIS: Grace Fox (St. Lazarian’s); 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); Alanna Tynan (St Brigid’s), Alice Walsh (The Harps); Kaylee O’Keeffe (St. Lazarian’s), Susie Delaney (Portlaoise), Kirsten Keenan (Camross); Amy Daly (St Brigid’s), Aimee Collier (Camross), Eimear Hassett (St Brigid’s). Subs: Lynda Keyes (Camross) for Hassett and Aoibheann Stynes (Banrion Gaels) for O’Keeffe (40m), Meadhbh Bolger (The Harps) for Scully and Sinead Slevin (Banrion Gaels) for Jones (56m). 

TYRONE: Eimear Colton; Mairead Donnelly, Bronagh Moohan, Grainne Cassidy; Aine Cunningham, Meaghan Clarke, Aoife McDonald; Reagan Fay, Rachel O’Neill; Grainne McDonald, Grainne Rafferty, Beth Jones; Catherine Moohan, Nicola McKiver, Niamh Clarke. Subs: Roisin McErlean for M. Clarke (37m), Siobhan Donnelly for McKiver (49m), Roise Kerr for M. Donnelly (58m). 

Referee: Simon Redmond (Dublin)