The Kildare minor camogie team welcomed Laois to Cedral St Conleth’s Park on a bright Bank Holiday Monday afternoon, where they lifted the Leinster ‘B’ title after a brilliant battle with their neighbours.
Kildare’s first scoring opportunity came in the form of a goal, but thankfully Alison Kenna was on hand to deny Alex Solan. Eimear Murphy pointed the first score of the game from a placed ball, while moments later, Chloe Boyhan set up Katie Kavanagh, but Kildare’s goalkeeper, Megan Doherty Brennan, was able to bat the shot away.
The home side found their feet and pointed three in a row, with their first score coming from Aoibheann Birchall, quickly followed by a point from Solan before Birchall took off on a run and set up Ruby Baker to split the posts. Laois responded well, raising two white flags, a second Murphy free and a fine score from Kavanagh. Kenna was called upon again to mind the Laois goal as Aoibhin Delany’s shot looked destined for the net.
Murphy pointed a third free and Kildare replied with three on the trot again. Solan, Delany (free), and a second from Baker pushed them two up as the game entered first-half injury-time. Sinead Kirby and Kaylah O’Mara pointed two well taken scores to bring proceedings level, but a third score from Solan pushed the home side a point ahead at the break,0-7 to 0-6.
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Kildare emerged from the tunnel with intent and extended their lead to four. Delany pointed her first from play, followed by her second free. Birchall then raised her second white flag, but Laois responded in the best possible manner as O’Mara’s shot on goal was saved, but she was alert to pull on the rebound and fire it over the line.
The Lilywhites fired back immediately and Solan found a pocket of space in the Laois defence which allowed her to find the top corner of Kenna’s net. Disaster struck for Laois when a ruck in the square resulted in Baker striking the loose ball into the net and pushing Kildare seven points ahead. The momentum was firmly with the home side at this stage, and their ability to capitalise on Laois errors proved decisive in swinging the contest in their favour.
Murphy pointed a 45’ before she bore down on goal, but was unfortunate to strike the side net. Murphy then pointed her fourth free of the contest, which narrowed the gap to five. Delany pointed a 45’ for Kildare moments before she was pulled back in the square and duly stepped up to fire the penalty to the roof of the net, effectively putting daylight between the sides once more.
Laois battled hard in the remaining ten minutes and a fabulous goal from Kirby gave them a lift, sparking a brief hope of a late comeback. Their work rate never dropped and they continued to press forward at every opportunity, but they only managed one further score, which also came from Kirby as she raised her second white flag.
Despite their resilience and determination, time ultimately ran out on Laois, while Kildare held tight in defence and showed composure in possession to see out the game and secure the result. Kildare were then crowned Minor ‘B’ champions after a hard-fought 3-11 to 2-9 win in an entertaining contest between the neighbouring sides.
Kildare: Alex Solan 1-3, Ruby Baker 1-2, Aoibhin Delany 1-4 (1-0 peno, 0-2fs, 0-1 45’), Aoibheann Birchall 0-2.
Laois: Eimear Murphy 0-5 (0-4fs, 0-1 45’), Sinead Kirby 1-2, Kaylah O’Mara 1-1, Katie Kavanagh 0-1.
LAOIS: Alison Kenna (St Lazarian’s); Grainne Dowling (St Lazarian’s), Sive O’Reilly (The Harps), Eimear Redmond (O’Moore’s); Sarah Lalor (Naomh Eamonn), Annie Dunne (O’Moore’s), Katie Lyons (Naomh Eamonn); Sarah Hibbitts (O’Moores), Erin Walsh (Camross); Kaylah O’Mara (St Lazarian’s), Emma Jane Cuddy (Naomh Eamonn), Sinead Kirby (The Harps); Eimear Murphy (The Harps), Chloe Boyhan (Clough/Ballacolla), Katie Kavanagh (Naomh Eamonn). Subs: Ciara Townsend (The Harps) for Kavanagh (ht), Poppy Duff (Clonad) for Hibbitts (36m), and Holly Brennan (St Lazarian’s) for Redmond (53m).
KILDARE: Megan Doherty Brennan; Laoise Ni Bhriain, Ciosa Kelly, Katie Moran; Keeva Flynn, Aoife O’Riain, Ruby Moran; Alex Solan, Grace Nolan; Roisin Gilchriest, Aoife Treacy, Aoibheann Birchall; Alannah Pearson, Aoibhin Delany, Ruby Baker. Subs: Laura Maher for Flynn (13m, inj), Jemma Henney for O’Riain (26m), Saoirse Green for Pearson (57m), Emily Singleton for Solan (58m), Rebecca Lynch for Treacy (63m), Hazel Gleeson for Delany (64m).
Referee: Shane Foley (Carlow).
