Second-half surge delivers All-Ireland Premier Junior title for Laois Camogie against Armagh

The Laois Camogie team are All-Ireland Premier Junior champions after a superb third-quarter saw them past Armagh in this year's final in Croke Park on Sunday afternoon.

The sides had gone in level at the break, but a spell of 1-6 without reply midway through the second-half was the difference between the sides in the end.

Laois 2-15

Armagh 0-12

Laois Camogie were back at Croke Park, a year on from losing the All-Ireland final against Tipperary. This time, they were up against Armagh, a side they beat en route to getting back to Croker. Laois couldn't have dreamt of getting off to a better start as they raised a green flag inside 60 seconds. Laois attacked Armagh from the off and the 2 Delaney's combined as Susie turned her marker before playing the ball to Grainne and she smashed the ball into the top-corner.

Susie Delaney was also the creator of Laois' first point as she set up Eimear Hassett. Armagh began to grow into the contest as they hit four scores without reply. Rachael Merry was the scorer for three of those points, two from frees, while Niamh Forker had a point sandwiched in between. Aimee Collier's free in the 16th minute pushed Laois in front again, their first score in 12 minutes, which showed how dominant Armagh were. 

Armagh raised three more white flags without reply, courtesy of two more Merry frees and a point from play from Sinead Quinn. Amid those Armagh scores, Laois almost had a second goal, but Hassett's shot hit the woodwork and went wide. Laois got on top again near the end of the half as captain Clodagh Tynan, Collier (free) and Grainne Delaney split the posts to nudge Laois ahead with two minutes added on. Merry's fifth point of the half saw the sides go in level at the break, 1-5 to 0-8.

Armagh came out after the break and got the first two scores from Quinn and Corinna Doyle. The next 20 minutes were the ones that secured the All-Ireland title for the O'Moore County as they scored 1-6 without reply. Collier pointed two frees while Kaylee O'Keeffe, Lucy Conroy, Susie Delaney and Grainne Delaney got the other points. Laois' second goal came from substitute Amy Daly after being set up by Laois' first goal-scorer Grainne Delaney.

Merry pointed two frees to break a 22-minute period without a score for Armagh. Laois finished the game with four more points to win by nine points in the end. Collier pointed two frees and one from play while O'Keeffe got her second point of the contest.

It brings to an end what has been an incredible year for Laois Camogie. They were crowned Division 3A champions, lost the Leinster final and are now All-Ireland champions.