Historic first as Clough/Ballacolla crowned Laois Junior Camogie champions against St Brigid's

Clough/Ballacolla have been crowned the 2026 Laois Junior Camogie champions following a superb game between themselves and St Brigid’s in Saturday’s final at Laois Hire O’Moore Park.

The victors, appearing in their third final in four years, put their county final heartache of 2023 and 2025 behind them to win the club’s first adult championship in just their 10th year of existence.

Clough/Ballacolla got off to a flying start as they scored 1-1 inside the first four minutes. Sarah Bergin scored the first point of the 2026 Laois Camogie Junior final before a shot from Fiona O’Grady dropped short and deceived goalkeeper Anna Cribbin, who lost sight of the ball with the sun shining straight into her face.

St Brigid’s first score came from a free struck by Eimear Guidera. Cribbin was then called into action to deny Clough/Ballacolla a second goal as she got her hurl down low to deny Bergin. Chloe Boyhan scored her first point shortly afterwards to put Clough/Ballacolla five points ahead after eight minutes. Guidera responded with two frees to leave just O’Grady’s goal between the sides midway through the half.

Clough/Ballacolla’s lead was increased to six points with 19 minutes on the clock as Sarah Delaney pulled on a loose ball in the square to raise her side’s second green flag. St Brigid’s were right back in the game approaching half-time as they fired in 1-2 without reply to get back to within a point.

Enya Carroll was the goalscorer, with her shot nestling in the top corner of the Clough/Ballacolla net. Guidera, from a free, and Terea Bourke added the points for St Brigid’s.

Clough/Ballacolla restored their advantage just before half-time as Chloe Boyhan added their third goal with a superb finish low and hard past Cribbin. Clough/Ballacolla went into the dressing rooms leading 3-3 to 1-5 at half-time.

The champions got off to the perfect start when the game resumed as Boyhan squared the ball to Jade Carroll, who pulled across the ball and it flew into the net. Guidera added another two points to her name for St Brigid’s first scores of the second half. Boyhan replied down the other end with two frees to leave Clough/Ballacolla seven points ahead with 20 minutes to play.

Guidera, who had a great game in midfield and finished with 1-8, pointed yet again, while Shauna Walsh got a point from the bench. Sarah Delaney finished with 1-1 as she raised a white flag to go with her goal in the first half. St Brigid’s got back within three points with seven minutes to go as Guidera scored a screamer of a goal.

Boyhan pointed two more frees with Guidera getting one more down the other end to leave four points between them with two minutes of the game left. St Brigid’s threw everything at Clough/Ballacolla and did get a third goal late on as Guidera’s 45 was flicked into the net by Maggie Fitzpatrick. The final whistle sounded soon after to spark wild celebrations among the Clough/Ballacolla contingent as they won their first-ever adult championship and will now represent Laois in the Leinster Club Championship.

FINAL SCORE

Clough/Ballacolla 4-8

St Brigid’s 3-10

SCORERS- Clough/Ballacolla: Chloe Boyhan 1-6 (0-4 frees), Sarah Delaney 1-1, Fiona O’Grade and Jade Carroll 1-0 each, Sarah Bergin 0-1. St Brigid’s: Eimear Guidera 1-8 (0-6 frees), Enya Carroll and Maggie Fitzpatrick 1-0 each, Teresa Bourke and Shauna Walsh 0-1 each.

CLOUGH/BALLACOLLA: Tara Delaney; Laura Dooley Kirwan, Ellen Hennessy, Eimear McEvoy; Aine Duggan, Marian Ferns, Caoimhe Cassin; Maeve Hennessy, Molly Cassin; Chloe Boyhan, Paige Hyland, Fiona O’Grady; Jade Carroll, Sarah Bergin, Sarah Delaney. Subs: Rachel Hyland for M Cassin (45 mins), Caoimhe Coffey for C Cassin (51 mins, inj).

ST BRIGID’S: Anna Cribbin; Hannah Fitzpatrick, Denise Healy, Bríd Lowry; Caragh Finlay, Ava Dowling, Ellen Meagher; Eimear Guidera, Cesira Healy; Teresa Burke, Niamh Coss, EmmaJane Coss; Emily McCane, Aisling Henderson, Enya Carroll. Subs: Shauna Walsh for McCane (37 mins), Eva Carroll for Henderson (44 mins), Evelyn Aylward for Carroll (54 mins), Maggie Fitzpatrick for N Coss (55 mins).

Referee: Gerry Williams (Mountrath)