Camross power past Rathdowney/Errill to book county final place
Shane Madden (Rathdowney/Errill) and Tomas Keyes (Camross) challenge for this sliotar on Sunday Photo: Denis Byrne
CAMROSS are back in a Laois Shopping Centre Senior Hurling Championship final after a dominant second-half display saw them overcome Rathdowney/Errill by 12 points on Sunday afternoon at Laois Hire O’Moore Park.
It was a game that hung in the balance for long stretches, but once Camross found their rhythm after the interval, there was no stopping them.
They now advance to face reigning champions Clough/Ballacolla in the county final, setting up a mouth-watering repeat of the 2022 decider. Interestingly, the sides have already met in this year’s championship, with Camross coming out on top in their Round 3 encounter, a result that will give them confidence heading into the rematch.
The second of Sunday’s semi-final double-header was tightly contested from the off. Eoin Gaughan, who was immense on placed balls throughout, got Camross up and running within the first 30 seconds with a superb long-range free. Rathdowney/Errill responded quickly, as Mark Kavanagh, ever reliable from dead balls, opened his account before Thep Fitzpatrick edged them ahead after three minutes.
Liam Delaney levelled from the next puck-out, and from there the first half developed into a tit-for-tat affair. The teams were still deadlocked by the tenth minute as Gaughan added two monster frees while Kavanagh continued to punish fouls at the other end with two of his own.
Camross almost struck a decisive blow midway through the half when Mossy Keyes burst through on goal, but John Purcell produced a brilliant block to deny what looked like a certain goal. Moments later, Jack Kelly swung over a neat point to restore Rathdowney/Errill’s lead.
That miss didn’t deter Camross, who began to take control approaching the half-hour mark. A quick-fire run of four points in as many minutes from Mark Dowling, James Cuddy, Delaney, and a Zane Keenan free opened up a three-point cushion. Rathdowney/Errill hit back with points from Paddy Purcell and another Kavanagh free before Odhran Phelan and Fitzpatrick traded scores to leave Camross narrowly in front at the break, 0-9 to 0-8.
Rathdowney/Errill started the second half brightly, with Purcell and Kavanagh pushing them into a slender lead, but it was short-lived. Once again, Gaughan steadied Camross with a free before Mossy Keyes burst into life. Having gone 35 minutes without a score, he suddenly caught fire, hitting three superb points in succession. Keenan tagged on another free before Keyes made it four from play, as Camross surged five clear and seized total control.
Jack Kelly and Ciaran Collier traded points during this period, and later in the game, Collier’s hard work was rewarded when he added crucial scores to help Camross pull further ahead.
First, Keyes turned provider, setting up substitute Darren Drennan for a crucial goal, before Collier added two points of his own. Delaney struck his third of the day, and Keyes notched a sixth, capping a brilliant personal performance.
Collier then sealed the win in style, flicking the ball to the net one-handed past Damian Madden for Camross’ second goal.
Late points from Ross King and Padraig Rafter offered some consolation for Rathdowney/Errill, but the game was long settled as Camross cruised home to book their spot in the final against Clough/Ballacolla.
Tomas Keyes 0-6, Ciaran Collier 1-2, Eoin Gaughan 0-4 (0-3fs), Zane Keenan (fs) and Liam Delaney 0-3 each, Darren Drennan 1-0, Odhran Phelan, Mark Dowling and James Cuddy 0-1 each.
Mark Kavanagh 0-5 (fs), Jack Kelly 0-4, Paddy Purcell and Thep Fitzpatrick 0-2, Padraig Rafter and Ross King 0-1 each.
Tadhg Doran; Darragh Duggan, Cathalm Cuddy, Joseph Phelan; Eoin Dowling, Eoin Gaughan, Eoghan Cuddy; Odhran Phelan, Liam Delaney; Ciaran Collier, Tom Cuddy, Zane Keenan; Tomas Keyes, James Cuddy, Mark Dowling.
Darren Drennan for J Cuddy (45m), Dwane Palmer for O Phelan (55m), Ashton Keenan for T Cuddy (58m), Ben Deegan for Z Keenan (59m), Robert Lalor for J Phelan (61m).
Damian Madden; John Purcell, Liam O’Connell, Shane Madden; Kevin O’Dea, Padraig Rafter, Shane Bracken; Dylan Carroll, Thep Fitzpatrick; James Ryan, Jack Kelly, Paddy Purcell; Brandon McGinley, Mark Kavanagh, Tadgh Dowling.
Ray Bowe for Dowling (27m), Eoin Bracken for McGinley (45m), Paddy McCane for Kavanagh (53m), Ross King for Ryan (56m), John Keane for P Purcell (58m).
Padraig Dunne (Colt)
