Brave Laois Ladies bounce back to triumph over Tyrone in tight Division 2 encounter

Following a big defeat away to Westmeath last weekend where they shipped seven goals, the Laois Ladies returned to action in Crettyard on Sunday afternoon. Tyrone were their opposition this time around, a team whom Laois defeated en route to All-Ireland Intermediate glory last season.

Laois looked to be in trouble for much of the first half in this game too. Tyrone enjoyed an eight-point advantage after thirty-one minutes of action where they dictated the tempo.

However, the Laois Ladies struck for two quick-fire goals before half-time through Eva Galvin and Erone Fitzpatrick which would prove crucial. Mo Nerney scored a third after the break as well, as Laois took the lead and didn’t look back after that.

Laois 3-8

Tyrone 3-7

There was one name on the Tyrone team that stood out to all in attendance in Crettyard on Sunday afternoon. Maria Canavan, niece of the Tyrone football legend Peter Canavan, started at corner-forward and opened the scoring with a free.

Tyrone enjoyed the elements of a very strong wind for the first half and appeared to be making positive use of it. Chloe McCaffrey doubled the away side’s advantage, as Laois fired a few wides down the opposite end of the field.

The Ulster side then struck for the first goal of the game. Laois full-back Clodagh Dunne was forced to haul down Tyrone midfielder Emma Jane Gervin in the square. Maria Canavan stepped up, and although Canavan didn’t fully connect with the spot-kick, the ball did trickle past Naoimi Luttrell in the Laois net.

Laois desperately required a score to settle themselves down. Sarsfields footballer, Laura Marie Maher, managed to get them on the scoreboard after Maher broke through the centre and split the posts.

However, Tyrone landed another blow soon after. Maria Canavan once more worked her magic, as she curled an outrageous ball over the top of the Laois defence into Grainne Rafferty. The Tyrone centre-forward latched on and drilled the ball past Naoimi Luttrell again.

Grainne Moran replied for Laois with a superb outside of the boot point. While Niamh Hughes hit back for Tyrone down the other end, Grainne Moran turned Tyrone over in their own half to set up a score for Mo Nerney.

Niamh Hughes and Maria Canavan tagged on further scores for Tyrone, as they now enjoyed an eight-point cushion approaching half-time. However, Laois’ perseverance finally paid off when they got in for two goals near the end of the half.

Laois wing-back, Laura Nerney, found a gap through the heart of the Tyrone defence but her shot came back off the top of the crossbar. However, the rebound fell kindly for Eva Galvin, who made no mistake with a ruthless finish to the goals.

While Canavan responded for Tyrone with a point, Laois marched up the field to fire in their second goal just before the whistle. This time Eva Galvin turned provider, as found Erone Fitzpatrick and the Park-Ratheniska footballer crashed another into the roof of the Tyrone net.

Laois trailed 2-3 to 2-6 at this stage. With a strong wind behind them for the second half to come though, you felt there was more goals in the side.

They levelled proceedings upon the restart as well as they worked a third goal. Eva Galvin, Erone Fitzpatrick and Laura Marie Maher were all involved in a move which resulted in Mo Nerney palming home to an empty net.

From the next possession, Erone Fitzpatrick curled over a classy effort to put Laois ahead for the very first time in the match. Donie Brennan’s charges went two points to the good then minutes later when Mo Nerney swung over another score.

Canavan registered Tyrone’s opening point of the second half before they almost got in for a goal. Niamh Hughes rode a few challenges but her rasping effort was expertly stopped by Naoimi Luttrell in the Laois net.

Teenage talent Katie Donoghue then landed a free between the posts before Mo Nerney made it a three-point game with less than ten minutes of normal time remaining. When Erone Fitzpatrick fired over another with just a minute of regulation time left, this one looked over.

Tyrone refused to throw in the towel though and Chloe McCaffrey placed home a penalty in injury-time. However, much to the Laois relief, referee Angela Gallagher blew the whistle for full-time and didn’t allow Tyrone to search for an equaliser.