Laois Camogie hold on against Carlow to record second win in Division 2

Laois have their second win in this year's Centra Division 2 Camogie Leagues after they had to withstand a second half comeback from Carlow in Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday afternoon.

The O'Moore County came into the game looking to bounce back from last weekend's defeat to Meath, and they did so as they had two points to spare over their neighbours.

Carlow would be considered a bogey team for Laois over the last few years, having lost them in 2024 and in 2025.

Laois' talliswoman Aimee Collier opened the scoring inside 90 seconds from a free, which she was fouled for herself. Laois' second point was a Camross combination as Grainne Delaney set up Collier to point. Carlow's first point came after five minutes as Caoimhe Jordan split the uprights. Laois were dominating the early passages and would soon lead 0-5 to 0-1 after 10 minutes as Sarah Creagh played a great ball to Susie Delaney before the latter set up her namesake for Laois' fourth point. Susie Delaney was electric in the corner, and she got another assist as she played a pass for half-back Aoife Finlay to raise a white flag.

Carlow replied with two points on the trot from the hurls of Ciara Kavanagh and Roisin Joyce. The next seven minutes were probably the winning of the game for Laois as they scored 2-2 without reply. Laois' first goal was a well-worked score as the two Delaneys, Susie and Grainne, combined to send Collier through on goals before the Camross forward smashed the ball into the top corner. Grainne Delaney and Collier added a point each to their names before the former got Laois' second goal with a superb finish after a great cross-field pass by Kirsten Keenan.

The half ended with Carlow's Sarah Sheehan getting their fourth point. Laois went down the tunnel in Carlow with a healthy lead, 2-7 to 0-4 in favour of the 2025 All-Ireland Premier Junior Camogie champions.

Aisling O'Dea became Laois' fifth scorer when she got the second half underway to push Laois further ahead. 12 minutes went by without a score before Carlow's Aimie Nolan scored two points in a row. Laois would soon go 2-9 to 0-6 ahead after 47 minutes before Carlow rallied and got back within a single point thanks to goals from Ciara Kavanagh and Abhainn Coady, while Coady and Nolan fired over a point each.

Laois' backs were to the wall now, and it looked like Carlow might catch Laois on the hop again, just like they did in the Leinster final in 2025. However, Laois responded well and scored two insurance points from Eimear Hassett and Aisling O'Dea. Carlow's Coady had made it a one-point game before O'Dea pointed.

With two points separating the sides, Carlow had one last chance of getting a goal when they were awarded a free on the 65, which they dropped into the square. Laois came out with the ball in hand before referee Karol Collins blew the full-time whistle.

Laois have a two-week break before their last game against Westmeath on Saturday, March 21.

Final Score

Laois 2-11

Carlow 2-9

SCORERS- Laois: Aimee Collier 1-3 (0-2 frees), Grainne Delaney 1-2, Aisling O'Dea 0-3, Aoife Finlay, Eimear Hassett and Susie Delaney 0-1 each. Carlow: Abhainn Coady 1-2, Ciara Kavanagh 1-1, Aimie Nolan 0-3, Caoimhe Jordan, Roisin Joyce and Sarah Sheehan 0-1 each.

LAOIS: Aedin Lowry (Camross); Laura Finlay (St Brigid’s), Ellen Conroy (O’Moore’s), Fiona Scully (Camross); Aoife Finlay (The Harps), Clodagh Tynan (St Brigid’s), Sarah Creagh (St Brigid’s); Sarah Fleming (Portlaoise), Lucy Conroy (O’Moore’s); Kaylee O’Keeffe (Abbeyleix), Kirsten Keenan (Camross), Grainne Delaney (Camross); Susie Delaney (Portlaoise), Aimee Collier (Camross), Aisling O’Dea (St Brigid’s). SUBS: Eimear Hassett (St Brigid's) for Keenan (47 mins), Amy Lacey (The Harps) for L Conroy (52 mins), Catherine Kirby (The Harps) for Creagh (60 mins)

CARLOW: Emily O’Hara; Gillian Doyle, Michelle Nolan, Rachel Breen; Caoimhe Cuddy, Rebecca Kelly, Niamh Canavan; Molly Kavanagh, Eleanor Tracey; Eve Sinnott, Roisin Joyce, Sarah Sheehan; Caoimhe Jordan, Aimie Nolan, Ciara Kavanagh. SUBS: Abhainn Coady for Joyce and Clodagh Lawler for Treacy (Both 47 mins), Sarah Joyce for Coady and Aoibhinn Doyle for O'Hara (Both 50 mins), Niamh Minchin for Sinnott (51 mins), Niamh Ahearne for Canavan and Rhiannon Kenny for M Kavanagh (Both 54 mins)

Referee: Karol Collins (Galway)