Laois Camogie Croke Park bound as they dismantle Kerry in Tullamore

The Laois Camogie team are heading to Croke Park yet again as Laois defeated Kerry by seven points in Glenisk O’Connor Park on Saturday afternoon.

Laois had led by a point at half-time and should have been further ahead with the chances they had created. Kerry hit Laois for a goal at the start of each half, but yet again, this Laois team showed immense bottle to get over the line and book a Croke Park date on Sunday, August 9.

Laois got off to a disastrous start as Kerry raised a green flag inside the first 60 seconds. Amy O’Sullivan took a shot at the posts, but it dropped short and fell onto the hurl of Jackie Horgan. Kerry dominated the next few minutes and went 1-3 to no score ahead after seven minutes. Patrice Diggin, O’Sullivan and a Diggin (free) all split the posts before Laois finally got off the mark after 10 minutes, having hit three wides up to that point. Laois’ first score came from Grainne Delaney.

By the time Kerry scored again, Laois had brought the game back level as they completely took over. Kaylee O’Keeffe missed a big goal chance for Laois after a great pass across from Susie Delaney. O’Keeffe made up for her miss a few minutes later when she scored a point. Aimee Collier, Grainne Delaney and a great point that ended with Sarah Creagh after good work from Jade Bergin and Kirsten Keenan.

Six points to 1-3 it stood after 24 minutes. Kerry finally ended their 18-minute period without a score when Diggin scored a free. Laois would go into the dressing rooms leading at half-time as Collier and Clodagh Tynan scored a free each. 0-8 to 1-4 to Laois at half-time.

Just like they had done in the first half, Kerry rattled the back of the Laois net within a minute of the restart. This time it was Kate Lynch who got the goal, and suddenly Laois were chasing the game again. Catherine Kirby and Collier scored points in reply for Laois with Horgan and Diggin (free) doing likewise for Kerry. The Kingdom went three points up with 42 minutes played and remarkably, Laois held them scoreless for the remainder of the contest.

Collier fired over four frees to put Laois back in front before Creagh saw them into a two-point lead. An eighth point from Collier looked to have sealed Laois’ place at Croke Park, but they weren’t done there as they finished with another 1-1. O’Keeffe got the point before Eimear Hassett got the ball from Grainne Delaney to send the big Laois crowd into raptures.

Laois will face Antrim on Sunday, August 9, in the All-Ireland Intermediate final.

FINAL SCORE

Laois 1-17

Kerry 2-7

SCORERS – Laois: Aimee Collier 0-8 (0-6 frees 0-1 65), Eimear Hassett 1-0, Sarah Creagh, Kaylee O’Keeffe, and Grainne Delaney 0-2 each, Catherine Kirby, Clodagh Tynan (free), and Susie Delaney 0-1 each. Kerry: Patrice Diggin 0-5 (0-4 frees), Jackie Horgan 1-1, Kate Lynch 1-0, Amy O’Sullivan 0-1.

LAOIS: Aedin Lowry (Camross); Laura Finlay (St Brigid's), Aoife Finlay (St Brigid's), Karla Whelan (Naomh Eamonn); Lucy Conroy (O'Moore's), Clodagh Tynan (St Brigid's), Rachael Deegan (The Harps); Sarah Creagh (St Brigid's), Jade Bergin (The Harps); Kaylee O'Keeffe (St Lazarian's), Grainne Delaney (Camross), Catherine Kirby (The Harps); Kristen Keenan (Camross), Aimee Collier (Camross), Susie Delaney (Boherlahan-Dualla). Subs: Amy Lacey (The Harps) for Deegan (39 mins), Aisling O’Dea (St Brigid’s) for Kirby (50 mins), Eimear Hassett (St Brigid’s) for Keenan (57 mins)

KERRY: Aoife Fitzgerald; Rachel McCarthy, Sara Murphy, Michelle Costello; Aoife Behan, Niamh Leen, Ellen O’Donoghue; Patrice Diggin, Caoimhe Spilane; Laura Collins, Roisin Quinn, Ruth O’Connor; Kate Lynch, Jackie Horgan, Amy O’Sullivan. Subs: Norette Casey for O’Connor (42 mins), AnneMarie Leen for Behan (49 mins), Shannon Collins for O’Sullivan (54 mins)

Referee: Karol Collins (Galway)