Laois finally get over the line as managers praise players’ resilience

LAOIS Intermediate camogie managers Rob Jones and Pat Collier could barely contain their delight after guiding Laois to a dramatic Leinster Championship victory over Westmeath, describing the triumph as a reward for the commitment and resilience shown by their panel over the last three seasons.

Speaking after the final whistle, the management duo paid glowing tribute to their players after finally getting over the line following heartbreaking defeats in previous Leinster finals.

“We are absolutely delighted to get over the line today, Over the last couple of years we can’t complain, this is our third year with these girls and we have to say they have been three brilliant, brilliant years.

“They are exceptional. We have been in eighth out of nine finals that we have competed in and that tells you a lot about these girls.” Having suffered narrow losses in previous provincial deciders, the Laois management admitted they always expected another tense battle against a determined Westmeath side.

“We lost two Leinster’s obviously in the last couple of minutes in both of the finals, today was going to be no different and we knew that coming into the game.

“But to pull through like we did it is just marvellous for everyone involved in the team and Laois Camogie as a whole that we got over the line.”.

Jones and Collier felt the experience built up by the squad over the last number of seasons proved crucial as the game entered the closing stages.

“It is very special in a tight game like that, but what stood to us was our experience over the years. The two and a half years definitely showed in the last ten minutes as we held it together when it was in the melting pot.

“They really dug deep and as a management team we are very, very proud of what they done.”.

The pair were keen to stress that the victory was built on a complete team performance rather than individual displays, though they acknowledged several players who stood tall on the big occasion.

“We thought it was an all-round performance. It was just brilliant, we wouldn’t be ones for naming names, but it was a collective effort and there were massive performances. The 15 of them from the word go and the whole panel were just brilliant.

“They were all tremendous, they gave everything we asked of them, and we couldn’t ask anything more of them.

“We expect from whether it is Aimee Collier, Clodagh Tynan, Grainne Delaney or Sarah Creagh or any other of the girls, they are all fantastic players and they all stood up today.”.

Attention now quickly turns towards the upcoming All-Ireland series, where Laois will renew rivalries with Westmeath once again, while also preparing for a clash with Carlow.

“Going into the All-Ireland series this win will give the women a lot of belief. We will enjoy it for a few days, but we have to reset now, and the All-Ireland series is a completely different ball game.

“We will be facing Westmeath again which will be a tough battle again and first we will be playing Carlow, so all our focus will be on Carlow but look at it going back to today.”.

Despite the Leinster success, both managers insisted there is still more to come from the squad and that improvement remains the target heading into the championship campaign.

“We don’t think that team are at our peak just yet. There is definitely room for improvement, we can always improve on things without a doubt.

“We probably will have a few girls going away but we will have a few girls coming back. We will take the All-Ireland series one game at a time.

“Our goal this year was to stay up in the League and win the Leinster championship, we have achieved that and anything after that would be a bonus.”