Laois Camogie on the brink of All-Ireland quarter-finals after Meath victory
The Laois camogie team’s remarkable season continued on Saturday afternoon with a hard-earned two-point victory over Meath in Laois Hire O’Moore Park.
The win leaves Laois on the brink of qualifying for the knockout stages, which is quite the achievement for this side, who were only crowned Premier Junior champions last August.
They had to dig deep once again and not for the first time this season, they showed unbelievable resilience to get over the line. They had led by four points at the break, but Meath came roaring back, and with two minutes to go, Meath pulled it back to a single point.
Yet again, Laois showed so much composure and survived a late onslaught from Meath to get over the line for a vital victory. Once again, Aimee Collier and Clodagh Tynan were outstanding, but in truth, everyone played a part, especially in the second period when Meath threw everything at them.
It was the home side that got off to a brilliant start through captain Aimee Collier from a 45, she then doubled that lead with a brilliant free as Laois were in control in the early stages. It got better for the home side as Kirsten Keenan was taken down off the ball and the referee awarded Laois a penalty.
Collier stepped up and found the back of the net to give Laois a five-point lead with ten minutes on the clock. Meath finally responded through the brilliant Roisin Heaney to get Meath up and running. Kaylee O'Keeffe responded for Laois with a great point as Laois were winning all the dirty ball around the middle. Aoife Carey would get the next point of the game for Meath, before Laois would strike another 1-1 without reply.
First, Grainne Delaney fired a point for Laois, then smart thinking from Collier, who took a free short and found Kirsten Keenan, who found the back of the net and Laois looked comfortable leading 2-4 to 0-2.
Meath responded empathically as they hit the last four points of the half to get them back into the contest. Carey got a brace while Heaney and Aoife Minogue got the other as Laois led 2-4 to 0-6 at the break.
Collier got the scoring underway again with a free, but Meath came roaring back once again. Ellen Burke got a brilliant goal while Emma Regan also got a point to close the gap to one point. The momentum was all with Meath, but Laois showed character and resilience to hit the next three points through Collier, who got two and Kirsten Keenan got the other to establish a four-point lead once more.
Heaney and Susie Delaney traded points as Meath went in search of goals, but Aedin Lowry was at her best to deny Aoife Minogue after her brilliant effort. Laois had chances of another goal themselves, but Susie Delaney and Kirsten Keenan were denied by a brilliant double save from the Meath keeper.
Collier got her final point as the game was nearing an end and Laois looked like they were going to ease to victory. But Meath's championship was on the line and they came fighting back once more with a free from Aoife Carey, and it was game on soon after that as Meath hit for their second goal with a brilliant flick from Abbye Donnolly after a long-range free dropped short.
There were two minutes of added time announced, and Laois saw it out brilliantly. Grainne Delaney would get a vital score to see Laois over the line. Meath threw everything at the Laois defence, but they stood strong and hung on for another victory.
Laois travel to Mullingar on Saturday to face Mullingar in their final group game.
FINAL SCORE
Laois 2-11
Meath 2-9
SCORERS - Laois: Aimee Collier 1-6 (one penalty, three frees, one 45), Kirsten Keenan 1-1, Grainne Delaney 0-2, Susie Delaney and Kaylee O'Keefe 0-1 each. Meath: Aoife Carey 0-4 (one free), Roisin Heaney 0-3 (two frees), Ellen Burke and Abbye Donnolly 1-0 each, Aoife Minogue and Emma Regan 0-1 each.
LAOIS: Aedin Lowry (Camross); Laura Finlay (St Brigid’s), Ellen Conroy (O’Moore’s), Aoife Carroll (St Brigid’s); Rachael Deegan (The Harps), Clodagh Tynan (St Brigid’s), Sarah Creagh (St Brigid’s); Jade Bergin (The Harps), Aoife Finlay (St Brigid’s); Lucy Conroy (O’Moore’s), Grainne Delaney (Camross), Kaylee O’Keeffe (St Lazarian’s); Susie Delaney (Boherlahan Dualla), Aimee Collier (Camross), Kirtsen Keenan (Camross). Subs: Karla Whelan (Naomh Eamonn) for Carroll (36 mins), Amy Lacey (The Harps) for O'Keefe (57 mins).
MEATH: Maggie Randle; Sophia Payne, Maeve Clince, Rachel Moran; Blathnaid Hughes, Leah Devine, Rachel O'Neil; Ellen Burke, Emma Regan; Aoife Carey, Roisin Heaney, Aoife Minogue; Olivia O'Halloran, Ciara Foley, Ella O'Brien. Subs: Abbye Donnolly for O'Neil (HT), Anna Kane for Foley (44 mins).
REFEREE: Mike Ryan (Tipperary)