Camross retain the title led by inspirational captain

U/13 HC ‘A’ Final 

Camross 1-8 

Portlaoise 1-6 

Led by a powerful performance from captain Ryan Guilfoyle, Camross overcame Portlaoise to secure U/13 ‘A’ Hurling Championship honours in the LOETB Centre of Excellence on Saturday morning. The game was played in very blustery conditions which at one point caused the goalposts at the Town End to topple over as Camross were on the attack in the first half.

Camross successfully defended the title which they won last year after a thrilling victory over Ballinakill-Ballypickas and there were no less than eight players starting on Saturday that featured in the 2023 final, so this was a team that already knew about winning on the big day.

Both captains were outstanding on the day with Guilfoyle combining with Portlaoise skipper Fionn Delaney for 2-12 of the 2-14 that was scored in the contest.

Given the strength of the wind that was gusting down the field it was a game of two halves with Camross dominating the opening 25 minutes and giving Portlaoise a five-point gap to chase down in the second half when they would have the benefit of the breeze.

The Town battled back strongly in the second half with Delaney leading from the front as he notched all of their 1-6, with his point all coming in the second half, but Camross were just able to do enough to hold off their advances and keep their noses in front until the final whistle came.

An electrifying start to the game saw Camross go a goal ahead just seconds after Portlaoise came close to a goal of their own at the other end. The ball just flashed wide for Portlaoise and Camross went on the attack from the puckout as Darragh Cuddy took possession and fired it into Guilfoyle who only had goal on his mind and he drove it across into the bottom corner.

Camross immediately pressed on the Portlaoise puckout and it resulted in another score for Guilfoyle, this time electing to take his point and he set the tone for his performance.

Conditions were tough for scoring and Portlaoise were against the wind but it aided in their opening goal on nine minute when Fionn Delaney fired a free from range which held up in the wind and caused all confusion before eventually dropping over the line for a goal.

One of the more bizarre scenes you’ll see in a match came on 13 minutes when Camross were mid-attack via Tiernan Danne and the wind toppled the goalposts backwards and play had to be halted. Camross were awarded an indirect free and in the attack they won another free which Guilfoyle popped over.

Just a minute later Guilfoyle added another, this from a much more difficult angle out on the sideline, but it mattered little and a white flag was raised.

The scoring halted for 10 minutes after the quick double but Camross continued to pressure and forced a good save from Daniel Kerry.

Half time was quickly approaching and just three points split the teams before four minutes of added time were signalled for stoppages and Camross took the chance to score two vital points, the first an excellent score by Lee Bredin assisted by Danne and the second from Danne himself after a Guilfoyle effort was blocked. Camross led 1-5 to 1-0.

Guilfoyle and Delaney traded frees to open the second half before Noah Jones was forced to pull off an excellent double save on Ryan Fennell and then Lee McStay in one on one situations, though Delaney was able to salvage a point for Portlaoise from the resulting 65.

Guilfoyle was on hand again to fire over for Camross from range, but Delaney kept Portlaoise alive with two frees of his own midway through the half and three points split them.

Portlaoise were applying pressure now with the wind but a sixth Guilfoyle point settled things for Camross again approaching the final five minutes.

The clock began to tick over into injury time and the onus was on Portlaoise to find a goal and Delaney tried his best with a wicked effort form distance on the run that just flew over and he added another deep in injury time to cut the gap to two from a free, but time ran out for Portlaoise and Camross claimed the crown again.

SCORERS:

Camross: Ryan Guilfoyle 1-6 (0-4fs), Tiernan Danne and Lee Bredin 0-1 each.

Portlaoise: Fionn Delaney 1-6 (1-4fs, 0-1 65).

CAMROSS: Noah Jones; Finn Stewart, Oisin Guilfoyle, Tim Cuddy; Conall Keenan, Daniel Sheeran, Cayden Dowling; Daniel McSpadden, Darragh Cuddy; Rian Nolan, Lee Bredin, Tiernan Danne; Diarmuid Scott, Ryan Guilfoyle, Tim Scott.

Subs: Richard Lalor for D Scott (ht), Liam Higgins for T Scott (50m).

PORTLAOISE: Daniel Kerry; Tadgh Bohan, Tadgh Graham, Eoghan Dunne; Fionnan Ging, Brooklyn McCarthy, Tyler Whelan; Fionn Delaney, Max Whelan; Conall Lalor, Max de Plasa, Luke Devaney; Tiernan O’Dwyer, Ryan Fennell, Lee McStay.

Subs: Billy Bergin for O’Dwyer (40m), Dylan Fitzpatrick for Devaney (40m).

Referee: Paul Dunne (Ballyfin).