A ruthless attacking display saw Laois power into a third successive Leinster Intermediate Camogie final, overwhelming Wicklow with a ten-goal haul in Pearse Park, Arklow on Sunday.
From the throw-in, the side managed by Pat Collier and Robert Jones dictated the tempo and never loosened their grip on proceedings. Their reward is a decider against Westmeath, who accounted for Meath in the other semi-final.
Laois wasted little time making their mark, racing into an early 1-4 lead. Kirsten Keenan provided the opening goal, while Grainne Delaney (two), Susie Delaney and Aimee Collier all slotted over to build early momentum.
Wicklow responded with their strongest spell of the contest. Sophie Bermingham found her range with a free and a 45, and Elizabeth Bourke added from play. With 15 minutes gone, just Keenan’s goal separated the sides.
That was as close as it would get. Laois quickly reasserted control, hitting 1-3 without reply. Susie Delaney contributed two of those points, with Jade Bergin also on target. The goal came from captain Aimee Collier, who reacted sharply after turning over possession in the Wicklow defence. Moments earlier, goalkeeper Leane Lifely had produced an excellent save to deny a one-on-one chance after good work involving Aoife Finlay and Collier.
Scores were traded briefly, Bourke and Bergin each adding to their tallies, while Bermingham remained reliable from placed balls. But Laois blew the game open before the break, striking three goals in a devastating spell.
Grainne Delaney rifled to the net, Keenan followed in to finish after a rebound in the square, and Kaylee O’Keeffe added another to make it five goals for the half, with all six Laois forwards now on the scoresheet. Bermingham’s late point left it 5-8 to 0-7 at half-time.
Any hopes of a slender Wicklow comeback were quickly extinguished after the restart. Inside 40 seconds, Laois struck again, with Keenan getting the final touch after Susie Delaney’s delivery into the square. Collier added a point and then assisted O’Keeffe for her second goal, before both O’Keeffe and Susie Delaney kept the scoreboard ticking.
Collier continued to lead by example, firing over a point and then netting to stretch the lead to 8-12 to 0-7 by the 37th minute. She added a 45 soon after, while Grainne Delaney chipped in with a brace of points. Bermingham briefly interrupted the scoring with a point in the 44th minute, but Laois responded again through O’Keeffe and two more Collier scores.
Though Bermingham added a couple more points late on, the result was never in doubt. Laois finished strongly, adding 2-2 in the closing stages. Goals from Amy Lacey and Grainne Delaney, along with two frees from Collier, rounded off a commanding performance as referee Patrick Murphy brought proceedings to a close.
Laois and Westmeath will contest the Leinster final on Sunday, May 10, with a venue yet to be confirmed.
FINAL SCORE
Laois 10-19
Wicklow 0-10
SCORERS– Laois: Aimee Collier 2-8 (0-1 45, 0-2 frees), Grainne Delaney 2-5, Kaylee O’Keeffe 2-2, Kirsten Keenan 2-0, Susie Delaney 1-2, Amy Lacey 1-0, Jade Bergin 0-2. Wicklow: Sophie Bermingham 0-8 (0-6 frees, 0-1 45), Elizabeth Bourke 0-2.
LAOIS: Aedin Lowry (Camross); Laura Finlay (St Brigid’s), Ellen Conroy (O’Moore’s), JulieAnn Bennett (O’Moore’s); Aoife Finlay (St Brigid’s), Clodagh Tynan (St Brigid’s), Sarah Fleming (Portlaoise); Amy Lacey (The Harps), Lucy Conroy (O’Moore’s); Kaylee O Keeffe (St Lazarian’s), Grainne Delaney (Camross), Jade Bergin (The Harps); Kirsten Keenan (Camross), Aimee Collier (Camross), Susie Delaney (Boherlahan-Dualla). Subs: Grace Foxe (St Lazarian’s) for Lowry, Sinead Slevin (Banrion Gaels) for Fleming and Karla Whelan (Naomh Eamonn) for L. Finlay (all ht), Aoife Carroll (St Brigid’s) for E. Conroy (42m) and Aoife Gee (The Harps) for S. Delaney (50m).
WICKLOW: Leane Lifely; Aine Byrne, Casey Kelly, Tara Doran; Sarah Doyle, Sive Byrne, Isabelle Doyle; Roisin Byrne, Catherine Bourke; Sophie Bermingham, Elizabeth Bourke, Aine Byrne; Emma Byrne, Ellen O’Neill, Daisie Summer Cullen Dunne. Subs: Shauna Dickenson for A. Byrne (25m).
Referee: Patrick Murphy (Carlow).
