Camross crush Borris/Kilcotton and advance to semi-finals

Laois Shopping Centre U/20 Hurling Championship Gr A Rd 3 

Camross 3-21 

Borris/Kilcotton 0-10 

By Laois Nationalist Reporter 

CAMROSS thumped Borris/Kilcotton by 20 points in O'Keefe Park on Monday morning to book their place in the Laois Shopping Centre U/20 'A' Hurling Championship semi-finals.

Camross came into the game knowing a draw would be enough to send them into the knockout stage, but needed to win by 18 points or more to better The Harps' score difference and take top spot. With that target in mind, Camross went about banging over scores early on, leading 1-7 to 0-3 midway through the opening half.

Borris/Kilcotton had to win to secure second place, but Camross got out in front early with a goal from Kevin Byrne in the 11th minute, and they never looked back.

Byrne rattled the net for a second time just before the break to leave Camross ahead by 11 points at half time, up 2-11 to 0-6.

The 11 Camross points were well spread around the team, with Ben Deegan leading the way with four frees. The rest of the scores came courtesy of James Cuddy with three, two from Rick Bannon, and one each from Aaron Carroll and Eoghan Cuddy. Jer Quinlan landed four frees of his own in the first half for Borris/Kilcotton, with Michael Mulvey and Dáire Fogarty also on the score-sheet.

Quinlan and Mulvey were on target again for the hosts after the break, with Eoin Coss also pointing twice. But Camross kept their foot down, with Deegan, James and Eoghan Cuddy, and substitute Emmet Bergin all on target.

The visitors were 15 points up with five minutes remaining, but a third goal, this time from Eoghan Cuddy, meant they had hit their 18-point target. Late scores from Byrne and Bannon gave Camross a cushion in the closing stages as they secured top spot in Group A.

They will play Abbeyleix in the semi-finals while The Harps will face Clough-Ballacolla in the other game. Both fixtures are a repeat of last year's semi-finals, which saw Abbeyleix and The Harps come out on top.

SCORERS:

Borris/Kilcotton: Jer Quinlan 0-5 (0-4fs), Michael Mulvey and Eoin Coss 0-2 each, Dáire Fogarty 0-1.

Camross: Kevin Byrne 2-2, Ben Deegan (0-6fs) and James Cuddy 0-6 each, Eoghan Cuddy 1-2 (0-1f), Rick Bannon 0-3 (0-1f), Aaron Carroll and Emmet Bergin 0-1 each.

CAMROSS: Jamie Phelan; Robert Lalor, Cathal Cuddy, Conor Mortimer; Josh Hynes, Tom Cuddy, Eoghan Cuddy; Aaron Carroll, Ciaran Keenan; Ben Deegan, James Cuddy, Ashton Keenan; Ryan Cuddy, Kevin Byrne, Rick Bannon.

Subs: Emmet Bergin for A. Keenan (ht), Shane Higgins for Deegan (49m), Dara Breen for Carroll (49m), Brian Hogan for R. Cuddy (52m), Matthew Bergin for J. Cuddy (52m).

BORRIS/KILCOTTON: Timmy Guidera; Eoin Brennan, Jack Fitzpatrick, Cillian O'Riordan; Seamus Costigan, Evan Quinlan, Eoin Daly; Michael Mulvey, Evan Carey; Eoin Coss, Jer Quinlan, Cillian Brennan; Evan McSpadden, Luke Tooher, Daire Fogarty.

Referee: Patrick Phelan (Castletown)