Classy Collier leads Laois to first victory of the campaign

Centra Camogie National League Division 2A Round 2 

Laois 2-14 

Derry 1-9 

HAVING drawn with Kerry in their opening game, Laois camogie team earned the first win of their Division 2A league campaign with an impressive eight-point win against Derry in Abbeyleix on Saturday afternoon.

Aimee Collier was once again outstanding finishing with 1-10 but her all round play was a joy to behold also.

Collier wasn't the only one to play an outstanding role as Susie Delaney, Kaylee O'Keeffe and Rachel Deegan also had fine games to lead Laois to their first victory.

In very wet mucky conditions, it was the away side that scored the first point from Amy McKenna, and it was the only time they would lead in the contest.

Laois responded well with two points from Collier along with Catherine Kirby to put the home side in the lead.

Both sides would then trade points on two occasions with Collier and Susie Delaney pointing for Laois while Carla Collins and Aoife Shaw hit back for Derry.

Laois were dominating possession and they would hit for their first goal of the game. It was Collier yet again, who ran at the heart of the defence and blasted it into the top corner of the net.

Derry did reply with a point from Shaw, but Laois would finish the first half the stronger and ultimately it was the winning of the game.

Susie Delaney grabbed the second goal after brilliant work from Collier who squared it to Delaney who made no mistake in finding the net.

Collier hit a brace of frees just before the break while Amy McKenna would get the last score of the half to leave the scores at 2-7 to 0-5 in favour of the home side.

Derry came out of the blocks with an intent to get straight back into the game. They would strike for their goal within two minutes of the restart.

Laois goalie Aedin Lowry was blocked down by Amy McKenna, and the ball found its way into the net.

They then hit two more points from Sinead Mellon and Carla Collins hit a 65 and the momentum turned in Derry's favour.

Laois settled though and showed great character after the early blow; Collier broke the momentum and hit two more frees to open up a five-point gap.

Collins grabbed another 65, but Laois were now starting to get a foothold on the game once more.

Collier who was unstoppable was fouled time after time and she punished the Derry side as she was awesome from the dead ball.

She added another point while sub-Amy Daly made an impact and scored a fine effort and Laois led 2-11 to 1-8 with 12 minutes left.

Derry went of the offensive and did look for a goal to get them back into the contest, but the Laois defence stood firm.

Collins added yet another 65 to cut the deficit but the game belonged to Laois. They finished off the game the stronger.

Collier landed her last two frees of the game while Sarah Creagh hit the last score of the game to round off a brilliant performance from the Laois side.

SCORERS:

Laois: Aimee Collier 1-10 (0-10fs), Susie Delaney 1-1, Catherine Kirby, Amy Daly, Sarah Creagh 0-1 each.

Derry: Amy McKenna 1-4 (0-3 65s), Carla Collins, Aoife Shaw 0-2 each, Sinead Mellon 0-1.

LAOIS: Aedin Lowry (Camross); Laura Finlay (St Brigids), Ellen Conroy (O’Moores), Fiona Scully (Camross); Rachel Deegan (The Harps), Clodagh Tynan (St Brigid’s), Sarah Creagh (St Brigid[‘s); Jade Bergin (The Harps), Lucy Conroy (O’Moores); Kaylee O’Keeffe (Abbeyleix), Aoife Finlay (St Brigid’s), Susie Delaney (Portlaoise); Aisling O’Dea (St Brigid’s), Aimee Collier (Camross), Catherine Kirby (The Harps).

Subs: Amy Daly (St Brigid’s) for Bergin (42m), Eimear Hassett (St Brigid’s) for Kirby (53m).

DERRY: Niamh Gribbin; Eabha Mullen, Paige Bell, Eimear McCloskey; Aoife McGuckian, Niamh Quinn, Emma Wilson; Sinead Mellon, Rachel McAllister; Cliodhna Ni Mhianain, Aoife Shaw, Clare Gunning; Shauna McGrath, Carla Collins, Amy McKenna.

Sub: Sinead McGill for McGuckian (35m).

Referee: Michael Ryan (Galway)