Laois Minor Camogie team lose out to strong Roscommon outfit in All-Ireland final

Laois met Roscommon in the All-Ireland Minor ‘B’ Camogie final in Birr on Sunday afternoon. Laois as an outfit that outfit were firing on all cylinders heading into this clash, but Roscommon proved to be a step too far for Niall Cuddy’s team here.

Laois looked dangerous in the early doors here but their failure to convert goal chances would prove costly. Susie Delaney delivered a delightful pass from a sideline ball into O’Keeffe, but the corner-forward couldn’t connect with the sliotar and the chance went.

Roscommon 1-14

Laois 1-5

Three minutes later and Laois had another goal opportunity. Midfielder Lucy Conroy cut in from the side, but the angle proved to be too tight for her and the match remained scoreless.

Roscommon took advantage of Laois’ inaccuracy up front to take the lead in this final. Siofra Hession was excellent for the Rossies throughout, as she placed over a free to register the first score on the board.

Ava Mulry then landed another free for Roscommon from the opposite side to put them two to the good. At the fifteenth-minute mark, Roscommon went three ahead after Hannah Murray sliced over their first from play.

Laois looked on the ropes for a while after those two early missed goal chances, but they did battle back well in the second quarter. Eimear Hassett, who was spectacular for her club St Brigid’s last season at adult level, got them up and running here with a pointed free.

Soon after Hassett doubled Laois’ tally. She crashed over a monster free from outside the 65’, and suddenly there was just the minimum separating the sides in Birr.

Laois had chances to tie the game at this stage, but some wayward shooting meant Roscommon remained in front. Ava Mulry and Eimear Hassett exchanged frees before Roscommon scored a crucial goal towards the end of the first half.

Roscommon centre-forward Hazel Kelly picked out Ava Mulry across the square and Mulry crashed a strike into the bottom left corner of the net. Laois goalkeeper Mia Henderson stood no chance, as her team now trailed by four points.

Laois were working hard as a unit though and did get a boost before half-time by registering the final score. Hassett picked off another point from a free to leave Laois trailing 0-4 to 1-4 at the interval after a back-and-forth first half.

While Niall Cuddy’s squad would have felt they were in a decent position at this stage, Roscommon began the second half on fire to leave Laois stunned. Siofra Hession took control of the contest by landing two points from placed balls in the opening four minutes of the half.

Roscommon went six ahead after Hazel Kelly showed a serious turn of pace and struck over. Laois struggled to deal with the intensity that Roscommon brought to the third quarter of this one.

Hazel Kelly added another score to her tally after Laois failed to clear their line at the back. With fifteen minutes remaining, Laois required something special to overturn this seven-point deficit over a strong Roscommon force.

They did have another goal chance that could have swung the momentum. Caoimhe Cuddy managed to carve out room inside, but her effort was spectacularly saved by Roscommon number one, Andrea Fallon.

That proved a pivotal moment, as Roscommon went down the other end to register two more points and put the game beyond their opponents. Siofra Hession swung over a free before the same player scored from play from the next possession.

The difference was now nine points and the wind seemed to have gone out of the Laois sails. However, to their credit, they did manage to grab a consolation goal that sparked the game into life for a brief period.

Centre-forward Aoife Daly drove right through the heart of the Roscommon rearguard. That directness was rewarded after Daly drilled a shot into the net, with Roscommon’s goalkeeper Andrea Fallon finally beaten.

Laois needed two more green flags if they were to pull off a mini miracle in Birr but it wasn’t to be. Roscommon showed their composure in the end, with Siofra Hession scoring three points in the last five minutes to help them secure victory.