St Conleth's crowned Laois LGFA Division 1 champions after extra time epic against Timahoe

St Conleth's were crowned the LOETB Laois LGFA Division 1 champions after narrowly beating Timahoe by a point in a game for the ages in Ratheniska on Saturday evening.

It will live long in the memory as one of the finest finals seen in recent years, with St Conleth's edging an extraordinary contest thanks to the final kick of extra time. Aoibhe Byron was the match-winner, calmly converting a free with the last play to seal a dramatic victory, but there were heroes all over the pitch in a game that swung wildly from start to finish.

Timahoe opened the scoring through the influential Mo Nerney, but St Conleth's responded impressively. Byron and Aoife Cummins pointed before Laura Carroll burst through several defenders to score the first of her four goals. Mary Cotter soon added a second goal as St Conleth's took control. Timahoe fought back through Katie Donoghue's goal and point, but Carroll continued to torment the defence, adding another goal and a point. Nerney and Donoghue kept Timahoe in touch, yet St Conleth's still led 3-6 to 1-6 at half-time.

The second half exploded into life as Timahoe overturned a six-point deficit inside four minutes. Sarah Quigley ignited the comeback before Nerney blasted a free to the roof of the net and Niamh Dundon struck another goal. Further scores from Donoghue and Nerney put Timahoe three points ahead.

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Nerney, Donoghue and Orla Hennessy stretched the advantage to five, but St Conleth's were far from finished. Byron netted to spark another revival before Carroll completed her hat-trick to edge her side back in front with five minutes remaining.

The closing stages were every bit as dramatic. Nerney levelled, Byron restored the lead, and Nerney then kicked two superb points that appeared to have won it for Timahoe. However, a costly infringement for not having four players back handed Byron a late free, which she converted to force extra time at 5-10 to 3-16.

Carroll's fourth goal, along with points from Byron and Maire Byrne, gave St Conleth's the initiative in extra time, but Timahoe refused to yield. Dundon struck another goal before Nerney added two late frees, the second after Claire O'Connell brilliantly denied her a certain goal, to leave the sides level once again.

There was still one final twist. Deep into added time, St Conleth's won a free and Byron held her nerve to split the posts with the final kick, bringing the curtain down on an unforgettable final and securing a remarkable victory for her side.

FINAL SCORE

St Conleth’s 6-14

Timahoe 4-19

SCORERS - St Conleth's: Laura Carroll 4-2, Aoibhe Byron 1-9 (0-6 frees), Mary Cotter 1-0, Aoife Cummins, Shifra Havil and Maire Byrne 0-1 each. Timahoe: Mo Nerney 1-11 (1-6 frees), Katie Donoghue 1-5 (0-4 frees), Niamh Dundon 2-0, Sarah Quigley, Orla Hennessy and Sarah Larkin 0-1 each

ST CONLETH'S: Claire O'Connell; Roisin McCourt, Ruanne Hunt, Mary Cotter; Aoife Cummins, Melissa Donnelly, Becky Fenlon; Maire Byrne, Aimee Kelly; Blathnaid Kehoe, Claire Fox, Laura Carroll; Niamh Cullen, Aoibhe Byron, Shifra Havill. Subs: Eva Galvin for Kehoe (HT), Emma Lawlor for Hunt (41 mins), Sinead Coffey for Fox and Kim Webster for Cullen (both 52 mins), Ola Haastrup for McCourt (54 mins)

TIMAHOE: Emma Brophy; Heather Bennett, Aisling Quigley, Lilly Hooney; Niamh Kehoe, Sarah Larkin, Jenny Murphy; Aoife Gorman, Sarah Quigley; Maureen Young, Orla Hennessy, Katie Donoghue; Mo Nerney, Niamh Dundon, Keelin Moore. Subs: Sinead Goode for Young (53 mins), Kiera Gorman for Hennessy (74 mins)

REFEREE: Kevin Phelan