Camross are back after lean spell to take Intermediate title

Camogie Intermediate Championship Final 

 Camross 3-7 

St Brigid’s 1-5 

MAYBE it was their greater hunger that saw Camross regain the Laois Camogie Intermediate title in Laois Hire O’Moore Park on Saturday last in absolute perfect conditions. St Brigid’s came into the decider as favourites, after all they were the reigning provincial champions.

Camross, once the Queens of the County, had not tasted success for three years and had being playing well in the county championship. The two sides had a sprinkling of girls who had brought high honours to the county earlier this year.

The champions finished wide in their first attack. In contrast Camross got the perfect start two minutes later when Sarah Anne Fitzgerald blasted a goal from the edge of the square.

Four minutes in and Aiva Coss sent over a perfect point at the Abbeyleix end. Andrea Scully, a dressing room replacement, fired over a Camross point in the tenth minute.

The champions showed their qualities when Aiva Coss broke loose and hammered past the Camross netminder after 13 minutes.

Grainne Hyland and Camross teenager Erin Walsh swapped good points from play before St Brigid’s keeper, Laura Dunne brought off a spectacular save midway through the half.

Camross were coming more into the game at this stage and in the five minutes before half time they landed three excellent scores from Sarah Ann Fitzgerald, then a goal by Kirsten Keenan and with the last puck of the half Aimee Collier left the scoreboard reading 2-4 to 1-4 in favour of the challengers.

Camross went on the attack from the throw in and again the St Brigid’s keeper was called into action and make a brilliant save.

Both teams were guilty of poor shooting before Sarah Ann Fitzgerald converted a free from 50 metres out. Then came a crucial blow for the holders. She may have been making her final debut but when Erin Walsh won possession she took off on a solo run down the right wing. The Brigid’s keeper made a determined bid to block her shot and while she got her stick to the sliotar it bounced into the net. Now the margin was five points with ten minutes remaining.

The champions never gave up but it was Camross who closed out the scoring with fine points from Sara Ann Fitzgerald before the referee sounded the final whistle.

St Brigid's were first to congratulate their conquerors and wish them well in the provincial championship. After the game Paddy Dwyer complimented both teams on a great contest and then presented the trophy to Camross captain Aoife Collier and wished the club well in their provincial campaign SCORE:

Camross Sara Anne Fitzgerald 1-4 (0-3fs, 0-1 45), Erin Walsh 1-1, Kirsten Keenan 1-0, Aimee Collier and Andrea Scully 0-1 each.

St Brigid’s: Aiva Coss 1-2 (0-1f), Eimear Hassett 0-2 (fr).

CAMROSS: Aedin Lowry; Mairead Burke, Aisling Burke, Fiona Scully; Aoife Collier, Donnagh Mortimer, Ella Cuddy; Luisne Delaney, Aimee Collier; Leah Daly, Grainne Delaney, Andrea Scully; Erin Walsh, Sarah Anne Fitzgerald, Kirsten Keenan.

Subs: Tara Lowry for L Delaney (42m), Aoife Daly for E Cuddy (55m), Sarah Cuddy for Walsh (67m), Niamh Dollard for A Lowry (58m).

ST BRIGID’S: Laura Dunne; Aoife Carroll, Amy Quinlan, Roisin Kilmartin; Tiegan Reilly Bowe, Clodagh Tynan, Sarah Creagh; Aoife Finlay, Laura Finlay; Alanna Tynan, Grainne Hyland, Aiva Cos; Gemma Hoare, Eimear Hassett, Aisling O’Dea.

Subs: Jessie Quinlan for A Tynan (24m), Eimear Guidera for O’Dea (48m).

Referee: Owen (Behan Kilkenny)