Camross secure SHC semi-final spot with victory over Abbeyleix St Lazarian’s

Camross are straight through to the Senior Hurling Championship semi finals after overcoming a valiant Abbeyleix effort in O’Moore Park on Sunday afternoon. 

The win makes it two from two for Camross and neither Castletown or Abbeyleix can go ahead of them in Group B, regardless of the outcome of their Round 3 clash next week. 

CAMROSS 2-19 

ABBEYLEIX 1-18 

Tomas Keyes was on fire for Camross once again, finishing with 1-5 from play which bring his championship total to 3-10 this year. 

The first half was a very tight affair as Abbeyleix were quick off the jump, but they couldn’t quite shake Camross off their tails. Eoghan Fennelly put in an exquisite display of shooting, hitting six points in the opening 30 minutes. 

A late rally from Camross and goal for Keyes before half time gave Camross a crucial three point lead at the break. 

Abbeyleix came out firing early in the second half, outscoring Camross by five points to one in the opening seen minutes. 

Unshaken by the rally, Camross regrouped and hit back with four of their own before Keyes won a penalty that Dan Delaney slotted home to give them a healthy lead which the never looked like losing late in the day. 

Eoghan Fennelly (2) and Liam Doyle struck early for Abbeyleix in reply to a Dan Delany free to give The Fung the lead. 

Robert Tyrrell produced tow magnificent points for Camross as they started to find their feet but Abbeyleix kept coming forward and Fennelly slotted two more. 

Keyes got off the mark with a point on 11 minutes, showing magnificent pace to break away but Liam Delaney hit back immediately. 

Keyes and Dan Delaney struck twice to level for Camross on 20 minutes. 

Abbeyleix upped the intensity and hit Camross for three in a row straight away, two great scores from play by Fennelly and one for Colin Byrne to go three ahead. 

Camross came back with a vengeance, scoring 1-4 to no reply. 

Odhran Phelan kicked off the run with a point before Tomas Keyes latched onto a ball from Mark Dowling and hammered it home. 

Delaney and Eoin Gaughan added frees for Camross before Keyes brought his first half tally to 1-3 with a point. 

Liam Delaney responded with one before half time but Abbeyleix trailed by a goal. 

Eoghan Fennelly burst the second half into life with two early scores for Abbeyleix. Dan Delaney stemmed the flow with a free but Abbeyleix hit back with three more to go into the lead, two more for Fennelly and a fantastic effort from Ross Coffey. 

The next 20 minutes was all Camross as the outscored their opponents by 1-7 to 0-1. 

James Cuddy and Zane Keenan both struck from play alongside two Dan Delaney frees before Aaron Brennan struck for Abbeyleix. 

Keyes lit up the field once again with two lovely scores either side of being fouled for a penalty, which Dan Delaney dispatched to put the game beyond reasonable doubt. 

Eight points down with five minutes to go Abbeyleix continued to battle for every single ball and they got two points back on the board through Ciaran Byrne and another Fennelly free. 

Camross were firmly in control and looked extremely dangerous up front, forcing a couple of good saves from Rowland. 

Dan Delaney slotted his eighth and final score of the game from a free on 60 minutes. 

Abbeyleix got a couple of frees on the 21 late in the game and Rowland made the trek up to take them, after a couple of good blocks Abbeyleix eventually rose a green flag when Ciaran Byrne was quickest to the rebound and knocked it in but it was too little too late as the final whistle blew. 

Up next for Camross they will play Borris-Kilcotton, in what is effectively a dead rubber as Camross are guaranteed a semi-final berth whereas Borris-Kilcotton will be facing a relegation play off. 

Abbeyleix will face Castletown in a game that will determine who finishes third or fourth in Group B.