Abbeyleix into third final of 2023 following victory over Camross

Abbeyleix are through to the final of the 2023 Laois U-20 hurling championship, after an incredible comeback win against Camross on Sunday afternoon. It will mark a third county final for the club, who reached the decider in both the senior and minor championships last month.

Camross led by six points at half time, but Abbeyleix - led by Cormac Byrne, Shaun Fitzpatrick and Eli Quinn - battled back in the second half and produced a dramatic win. Ben Deegan was fantastic all game for Camross and had a chance to force the tie into extra time, but his 61st-minute penalty was brilliantly saved by Lee Cole to give Abbeyleix the win.

Abbeyleix St Lazarian’s 1-16 

Camross 1-13 

Camross reached the semi-finals by topping Group A on scoring difference ahead of The Harps, while Abbeyleix finished second in Group B behind Clough-Ballacolla.

Ben Deegan, James Cuddy and Finn Lalor had Camross four points up inside the opening ten minutes. But Cormac Byrne landed three in a row to bring Abbeyleix right into the game.

The sides traded scores for ten minutes, with the game's first goal coming five minutes before half time. James Cuddy found the net for Camross, rewarding a great run through from Ryan Cuddy. Camross added another pair of points to lead at half time by 1-9 to 0-6.

But Abbeyleix were level just four minutes after the restart. Cormac Byrne landed a point within the first minute followed by Shaun Fitzpatrick raising a green flag 90 seconds into the half. 

Byrne then slotted two quick frees to bring the sides level. Ben Deegan brought Camross back in front temporarily, but Eli Quinn levelled the game from inside his own half before Shaun Fitzpatrick landed two points in as many minutes. 

But Camross were not out of the game and got themselves level with five minutes left on the clock. Byrne nudged Abbeyleix back in front before a pair of long-range frees from Quinn made it a three-point game heading into injury time. 

The tension was palpable in the Centre of Excellence when Camross were awarded a penalty on 61 minutes. But Deegan could not convert his shot, as Lee Cole's acrobatic save secured a place in the final for Abbeyleix.

They will now play The Harps on Friday evening, in what is a repeat of the Minor Hurling final.