Laois Camogie team beaten in All-Ireland opener by Meath

Laois have been defeated in their opening game of this year’s Intermediate All-Ireland Camogie Championship after a free-scoring Meath team got the better of Noel Brennan’s side in Trim GAA today.

Meath 6-19

Laois 2-3

Laois were dealt a major blow within the first minute as Ciara Foley rattled the back of the Laois net. To their credit, Laois responded well as midfielder Aimee Collier pointed from play as well as from a 45’.

With six minutes on the clock, both sides had two scores each. However, it was Meath who had two goals to Laois’ two points as Emma O’Connell raised a second green flag for the home side.

Meath could have had many more goals with Aedín Lowry making superb saves from Aoife Minogue with Ciara Foley’s effort saved over the bar by Lowry. Laois would get the next two scores as Alice Walsh pointed after being assisted by Grainne O’Reilly.

That would be Laois’ final score of the half as Meath fired in 2-4 before the referee blew the whistle for half-time. Grace Coleman pointed two frees while Foley also scored two points from play. Dual-star Aoife Minogue raised two green flags for The Royals as they held a comfortable 4-5 to 1-3 lead at the break.

Meath started the second-half in the same fashion as the first as they fired over the first three scores of the half. Coleman pointed a free with substitute Abbye Donnelly pointing along with Amy Gaffney from play. 

Laois would get a second goal after a short puck-out from Meath saw Sophia Payne squander possession to Eimear Hasset with the full-forward setting up Andrea Scully for her second goal of the contest. Unfortunately for Laois it would be their only score of the second-half as Meath powered through to victory.

Minogue got her third goal after an attempted shot for a point dropped into the Laois net. Four more points would follow for Meath as Donnelly, O’Connell, Foley and Tracey King all raised white flags. A sixth goal was scored as substitute Donnelly made her mark as she blasted the ball into the net. She took her tally to 1-3 off the bench as she split the posts.

A further six points would be scored before the end as Meath showed their superiority. Olivia O’Halloran pointed three times while Coleman slotted over two 45’s with Rachel Moran getting the game’s final score.

Laois will play Westmeath on the weekend of June 10 with Kerry set to travel to Laois on June 24.