Laois advance to knock out stages
Laois Under-16 camogie team which has advance to the knock out stages of the All-Ireland 'B' championship
All-Ireland Camogie U/16 ‘B’ Championship
Laois 2-10
Kerry 1-8
Pat Delaney
FOLLOWING their impressive victory over Kildare, Laois made the long journey to Lixnaw in the Kingdom on Sunday morning.
Conditions were good for hurling and Kerry opened the scoring with points by Ellie O’Connor and Clodagh Carroll. Laois took a while to settle but when they did hurled well.
Chloe Boyhan opened the visitors’ account and midfielder Grainne Dowling added to their tally. Defences were dominating but Laois managed points by Chloe Boyhan and Holly Brennan.
The second quarter saw the two teams finish with a goal. The Laois pressure paid off when a high ball into the goalmouth was finished past the keeper by Holly Brennan and at half time Laois clung to a narrow 1-5 to 1-3 lead.
The second half was hard fought and the referee was the busiest person on the pitch with a number of cards flashed.
Midway through the half Laois struck for a second goal. As she did in Ballacolla, it was Lucy Ryan who struck for the game’s third goal.
Kerry converted six frees in succession but were reduced to 14 when a player was issued with a second yellow card.
Kerry went all out in the closing ten minutes but a sound defence, saw Laois hold out.
Laois will be happy to have come away with full points but could yet meet the Kingdom in the league decider.
LAOIS: Alison Kenna; Ava Dowling, Cara Phelan, Eimear McEvoy; Kate Kenna, Eimear Redmond, Grainne Dowling; Ciara Townsend, Chloe Lyons; Roisin McCourt, Sinead Kirby, Lucy Ryan; Holly Brennan, Chloe Boyhan, Molly Gorman.
Panel: Alanna Dwyer, Aine Duggan, Lauren Fitzpatrick, Sarah Hibbitts, Sarah Delaney, Vivienne Gee, Ruby Maunsell, Laura Dooley-Kirwan, Sarah Kavanagh, Leah Murphy, Robyn Percy, Ava Hogan, Ella Phelan, Avril Phelan Manager: George Boyhan.
KERRY: Emily O’Donoghue; Shannon Murphy, Hayley O’Connor, Sinead Flynn; Rachel Lennon, Nicole Power, Jessica Leen; Siafra Murphy, Ally Russell; Emma Gaynor, Aoidean Hennessey, Caoimhe Nolan; Clodagh Carroll, Georgina Kennedy, Ellie O’Connor.
