Goals crucial as 14-player Camross crowned league champions

Camross 2-9 

St Brigid’s 0-8 

CAMROSS are the 2026 Laois Camogie Intermediate champions after proving too strong for St Brigid’s in the LOETB Centre of Excellence on Tuesday evening.

The decider had originally been scheduled for Sunday morning but was postponed following the death of Tim Lowry from Camross.

A goal in each half helped steer Camross to victory, although it was far from straightforward as they were forced to play the final quarter with 14 players after Ella Cuddy was shown a red card. The dismissal did little to derail their challenge, however, as Camross actually outscored St Brigid’s by 1-3 to 0-1 while down a player.

Both sides were also missing a considerable number of players due to Laois’ preparations for the All-Ireland Intermediate final against Antrim on August 9.

St Brigid’s made the perfect start when Jessie Quinlan opened the scoring after just 20 seconds. Both teams then struggled to find their range, but Camross eventually drew level through Chloe O’Riordan after eight minutes. Laura Dunne then produced an excellent save to deny Erin Walsh at the other end.

St Brigid’s responded with three points in quick succession courtesy of Niamh Sweeney and two Aiva Coss frees. Camross hit back impressively as Tara Lowry split the posts before Sarah Anne Fitzgerald picked out Walsh, who made no mistake this time and blasted the ball past Dunne for the game’s opening goal.

The next four points were shared, with Sweeney and Coss (free) on target for St Brigid’s while Fitzgerald converted a pair of frees for Camross. The eventual winners finished the half strongly and added two more points through Andrea Scully to move three clear.

Walsh came close to grabbing her second goal before the break but saw her effort crash off the crossbar. St Brigid’s also fashioned a goal chance when Maggie Fitzpatrick released Amy Daly, only for Niamh Dollard to produce a fine save. Camross went in leading 1-6 to 0-6 at the interval.

The second half was less eventful, with just six scores registered between the teams. The first of those arrived 12 minutes into the half when Coss converted a free. Moments earlier, Daly had another sight of goal but Dollard was once again equal to the task.

Camross were then reduced to 14 players when Ella Cuddy pulled across the leg of Gráinne Hyland, leaving referee JJ Gorman with little option but to issue a red card.

St Brigid’s would have hoped to make their numerical advantage count, but it was Camross who seized control. Tara Lowry’s shot lacked real power but somehow found its way into the bottom corner for a decisive second goal.

Three further scores followed from Fitzgerald, the last a superb long-range free from inside her own half, as Camross stretched their lead to eight points. Quinlan, who had opened the scoring, also had the final say with her second point of the evening, but there was never any doubt about who the deserved champions were.

SCORERS:

Camross: Sarah Anne Fitzgerald 0-5 (0-4fs), Tara Lowry 1-1, Erin Walsh 1-0, Andrea Scully 0-2, Chloe O’Riordan 0-1.

St Brigid’s: Aiva Coss 0-4 (fs), Jessie Quinlan and Niamh Sweeney 0-2 each.

CAMROSS: Niamh Dollard; Mairead Burke, Aisling Burke, Ella Cuddy; Aoife Collier, Leanne Dowling, Ava Guilfoyle; Luisne Delaney, Andrea Scully; Tara Lowry, Sarah Anne Fitzgerald, Leah Daly; Aoife Daly, Erin Walsh, Chloe O’Riordan.

Subs: Lara Culleton for L Daly (42m), Amy Dowling for Lowry (52m), Ava Hogan for O’Riordan (55m), Maeve Collier for Delaney (59m), Ciara Peavoy for Guilfoyle (61m), Cara Daly for Walsh (63m).

ST BRIGID’S: Laura Dunne; Danielle Healy, Amy Quinlan, Roisin Kilmartin; Ellen Meagher, Aiva Coss, Hannah Fitzpatrick; Tiegan Reilly Bowe, Gemma Hoare; Grainne Hyland, Niamh Coss, Jessie Quinlan; Maggie Fitzpatrick, Niamh Sweeney, Amy Daly.

Subs: Eimear Guidera for Kilmartin (26m-ht Blood), Eimear Guidera for N Coss (ht), Eva Carroll for Meagher (51m), Enya Carroll for H Fitzpatrick (51m), Teresa Bourke for Daly (56m).

Referee: JJ Gorman (Clough/Ballacolla)