Laois Minor Camogie team beaten in Leinster decider by Meath

Meath have been crowned Leinster Minor ‘B’ champions after defeating Laois in Abbottstown this afternoon.

Laois recovered well having gone six points down in the second-half, only to see their efforts come up short.

Meath 1-11

Laois 1-9

Both sides took a few minutes to get their hands on the ball and it was Meath who got the game’s first score as Katie Connolly pointed a free. Meath were attaching with intent from the word go as they were then awarded a penalty after Mia Henderson fouled Laura Kelly in the square. Midfielder Aoife Carey stepped up to blast the ball beyond Henderson in the Laois goal.

Meath tacked on a further three scores as Connolly scored from play as well as pointing a free. Carey then set up midfielder partner Kerrie Cole to spilt the posts. Meath holding an early 1-5 to score lead. Laois got their first score of the contest as Aoife Daly pointed in the 15th minute. Full-forward Susie Delaney went on a superb run before getting Laois’ second score on the bounce.

The girls from Laois got themselves right back into the game as Kaylah O’Meara raised a green flag for her side. Meath ended the half with three unanswered scores as Connolly, Carey and Anne Kane all put the sliotar over the black spot. Meath leading 1-7 to 1-2 at the break.

Laois began the second-half with their tails up as they cut Meath’s lead to two points with three scores without reply. Delaney pointed a free while Eimear Hassett got two super scores from play. Meath were awarded a second penalty, but on this occasion, Henderson stood tall and saved the ball, which in turn went over the bar. Jorja Keogh added another score for Meath as Laois trailed by four.

Cole and a free from Connolly looked to have put the game beyond the Laois’ girls but to their credit they have everything as they fired over four unanswered scores to leave the game in the melting pot late on. Daly got her second point of the game while Delaney pointed two more frees before Amy Lacey made it a two-point game. Laois went in search of a goal but to no avail. Meath winning out 1-11 to 1-9 to take the Leinster crown.

Laois play Roscommon in the first group game of the upcoming All-Ireland Minor series next weekend.

SCORERS— Laois: Susie Delaney 0-4 (0-3 frees), Kaylah O'Meara 1-0, Eimear Hassett and Aoife Daly 0-2 each, Amy Lacey 0-1. Meath: Katie Connolly 0-5 (0-3 frees), Aoife Carey 1-2 (1-0 pen), Kerrie Cole 0-2 , Anne Kane and Jorja Keogh 0-1 each

LAOIS: Mia Henderson (The Harps); Ava Guilfoyle (Camross), Annabelle Ryan (Camross), Aoibhean Dalton (Naomh Eamann); Katelyn Shore (Naomh Eamann), Amy Lacey (The Harps), Aoife Gee (The Harps); Caoimhe Cuddy (Naomh Eamann), Lucy Conroy (O’Moores); Aoife Daly (Camross), Tara Lowry (Camross), Catherine Kirby (The Harps); Kaylah O’Meara (St. Lazarians), Susie Delaney (Portlaoise), Eimear Hassett (St. Brigid’s). 

Subs:Aoibheann Stynes (Banrion Gaels) for Kirby (35 mins- blood sub, returned on 37 mins), Aoibheann Stynes for O'Meara (47 mins), Cesira Healy (St Brigid's) for Cuddy (51 mins) 

MEATH: Sarah Pierse; Sarah Brien, Gracie Grehan, Alannah Brady; Róisín Heaney, Grace Connolly, Michelle Brien; Kerrie Cole, Aoife Carey; Jorja Keogh, Katie Connolly, Anne Kane; Emma O’Neill, Laura Kelly, Ella O’Brien. 

Subs: Órlaith Reilly for O'Neil (HT), Saoirse Delaney for Brady (41 mins), Izzy Kinsella for Kane (43 mins)

Referee: Liz Dempsey (Kilkenny)