Collier to the fore as Laois Camogie defeat Derry in Abbeyleix

Laois have earned their first win of this year’s Division 2A campaign with an impressive eight-point win against Derry in Abbeyleix on Saturday afternoon. 

Aimee Collier was once again outstanding, finishing with 1-10, but her all-around play was very good, too. 

Collier wasn't the only one to play an outstanding role as Susie Delaney, Kaylee O'Keeffe and Rachel Deegan also had fine games to lead Laois to their first victory. 

In very wet, mucky conditions, it was the away side that scored the first point from Amy McKenna, and it was the only time they would lead in the contest. Laois responded well with two points from Collier, along with Catherine Kirby, to put the home side in the lead. 

Both sides would then trade points on two occasions, with Collier and Susie Delaney pointing for Laois, while Carla Collins and Aoife Shaw hit back for Derry. Laois were dominating possession, and they would get in for their first goal of the game. It was Collier yet again, who ran at the heart of the defence and blasted it into the top corner of the net. 

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Derry did reply with a point from Shaw, but Laois would finish the first half the stronger and ultimately it was the winning of the game.  Susie Delaney grabbed the second goal after brilliant work from Collier, who squared it to Delaney, and she made no mistake in finding the net. 

Collier hit a brace of frees just before the break, while Amy McKenna would get the last score of the half to leave the scores at 2-7 to 0-5 in favour of the home side. 

Derry came out of the blocks with an intent to get straight back into the game. They would strike for their goal within two minutes of the restart.  Laois goalie Aedin Lowry was blocked down by Amy McKenna, and the ball found its way into the net. They then hit two more points from Sinead Mellon and a Carla Collins 65, with the momentum now in Derry's favour. 

Laois settled though and showed great character after the early blow; Collier broke the momentum and hit two more frees to open up a five-point gap.  Collins grabbed another 65, but Laois were now starting to get a foothold on the game once more. 

Collier, who was unstoppable, was fouled time after time, and she punished the Derry side as she was awesome from dead balls. She added another point while substitute Amy Daly made an impact and scored a fine effort to put Laois ahead 2-11 to 1-8 with 12 minutes left. Derry went on the offensive and did look for a goal to get them back into the contest, but the Laois defence stood firm.  Collins added yet another 65 to cut the deficit, but the game belonged to Laois. They finished off the game stronger. 

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Collier landed her last two frees of the game, while Sarah Creagh hit the last score of the game to round off a brilliant performance from the Laois side. 

Laois travel to Meath on Saturday, February 28, looking to continue their unbeaten start.

SCORERS - Laois: Aimee Collier 1-10 (0-10 frees), Susie Delaney 1-1, Catherine Kirby, Amy Daly, Sarah Creagh 0-1 each. Derry: Amy McKenna 1-4 (0-3 65's), Carla Collins, Aoife Shaw 0-2 each, Sinead Mellon 0-1

LAOIS: Aedin Lowry (Camross); Laura Finlay (St Brigid’s), Ellen Conroy (O’Moore’s), Fiona Scully (Camross); Rachel Deegan (The Harps), Clodagh Tynan (St Brigid’s), Sarah Creagh (St Brigid’s); Jade Bergin (The Harps), Lucy Conroy (O’Moore’s); Kaylee O’Keeffe (Abbeyleix), Aoife Finlay (St Brigid’s), Susie Delaney (Portlaoise); Kirsten Keenan (Camross), Aimee Collier (Camross), Catherine Kirby (The Harps). Subs: Amy Daly (St Brigid’s) for Bergin (42), Eimear Hassett (St Brigid's) for Kirby (53)

DERRY: Niamh Gribbin; Eabha Mullen, Paige Bell, Eimear McCloskey; Aoife McGuckian, Niamh Quinn, Emma Wilson; Sinead Mellon, Rachel McAllister; Cliodhna Ni Mhianain, Aoife Shaw, Clare Gunning; Shauna McGrath, Carla Collins, Amy McKenna. Subs: Sinead McGill for McGuckian (35)

REFEREE: Michael Ryan (Tipperary)