The Laois Minor Ladies booked their place in the Leinster Final for the second year running after overcoming Kildare in Annanough on Sunday afternoon.
In a titanic battle, momentum swung back and forth, contributing to this epic semi-final. It looked all over in extra-time as Laois went eight up in the second period, but Kildare came storming back. Laois just about hung on to keep them on track for a second Leinster Championship in a row.
There were brilliant performances all over the field for Laois. At the back, Sarah McDonald was magnificent, who made three interventions that looked like certain goals. Niamh Dundon and Lucie O’Reilly led the way up front, but the whole team was outstanding.
Lucie O’Reilly got the scoreboard ticking with a free after Aideen Gee was fouled, and as a result, Cassie Mallon was sin-binned for the high tackle. Both sides traded points on multiple occasions with Dundon and O’Reilly firing over for Laois, but Jessica McNulty and Aoibheann Birchall levelled as the ten-minute sin binning did no damage.
Laois then kicked three in a row through O’Reilly, Dundon and Lara Culleton. Both teams then traded points through Culleton and McNulty. Kildare finished the stronger and kicked the last three scores through Amy Jones and a brace from Aisling Nolan. There was then a long stoppage for a bad head injury to Rachel Dooley, but there were no more scores in the half as it was 0-7 to 0-7 at half-time.
READ NEXT: Goals prove the killer as Knockbeg College fall to St Pat’s Navan in Leinster Junior final
The home side started the second half the better with three quick points through Mia Branagan, Dundon and O’Reilly, and it looked like Laois might pull away. In between their scores, Sarah McDonald made a goal-line clearance.
Kildare responded through Aisling Nolan and Birchall to keep them in the game. Branagan replied for Laois to keep them ahead 0-11 to 0-9. The first goal of the game went Kildare’s way when Ciara Dempsey scored with a well-taken goal, but disaster struck for her as she was sent off for an apparent elbow on a Laois defender.
Nolan added another as momentum was now with the Lillywhites. Niamh Dundon was sin-binned for the last ten minutes as she committed too many fouls. Laois hit the next two from O’Reilly and Branagan to level matters as the game was reaching a climax. McDonald again saved Laois as she made another goal-saving tackle.
Amy Jones pointed for Kildare, and it looked like they had snatched the victory, but Laois replied in injury time as O’Reilly showed nerves of steel to send the game into extra-time. 1-11 to 0-14.
READ NEXT: IN PICTURES: Big Laois GAA support on show despite opening day Joe McDonagh Cup defeat in Carlow
Lara Culleton gave Laois the lead early in extra-time, but sub Aine Murrane got the sides back on level terms. O’Reilly and Laura Carroll put Laois ahead by two again, while McDonald made her third goal-saving tackle to keep Laois in the lead.
Murrane got her second, but Laois finished strong with more points from Dundon and O’Reilly to leave it 0-19 to 1-13 at half-time in extra-time. Lucie O’Reilly again found her name on the scoresheet to put Laois further ahead. Niamh Dundon struck what looked like the fatal blow as she crashed the ball to the net to put the gap out to eight points.
Kildare came storming back with five minutes remaining, and it was all about Aoibheann Birchall, who scored 1-2 without reply to reduce the gap to a single point. Laois hung on and booked their place in the final.
READ NEXT: IN PICTURES: Laois GAA fans in Newbridge for Leinster Championship game against Kildare
FINAL SCORE
LAOIS 1-20
KILDARE 2-15
SCORERS – Laois: Lucie O’Reilly 0-9 ( 0-7 frees), Niamh Dundon 1-4 (0-1 free), Lara Culleton and Mia Branagan 0-2 each, Laura Carroll 0-1. Kildare: Aoibheann Birchall 1-5 (1-3 frees), Aisling Nolan 0-4, Ciara Dempsey 1-0, Jessica McNulty, Amy Jones and Aine Murnane 0-2 each.
LAOIS: Abi Swift (St Paul’s); Aine Carter (Ballyroan), Katie O’Reilly (St Brigid’s), Sarah McDonald (Portlaoise); Niamh Kehoe (Timahoe), Clodagh Fingleton (Park-Ratheniska), Mary O’Hara (Park-Ratheniska); Lara Culleton (Portlaoise), Poppy Duff (Park-Ratheniska); Cara English (Killeshin), Niamh Dundon (Timahoe), Kaylah O’Mara (Ballyroan); Aideen Gee (Ballyroan), Lucie O’Reilly (St Brigid’s), Mia Brannigan (Graiguecullen).
KILDARE: Chloe Wright; Moya McCarthy, Molly Lawlor, Grace Coburn; Caoimhe Mahon, Cassie Mallon, Rachel Dooley; Aoife Treacy, Ciara Dempsey; Emily Gallagher, Jessica McNulty, Aoibheann Birchall; Aisling Nolan, Abigeal Corcoran, Amy Jones.
