Laois had a point to prove, and they did just that

AFTER the heartbreak of the Leinster final, the Laois camogie team could not afford to dwell, and they didn’t. Just seven days on from conceding a last-minute goal to Carlow, they returned to Laois Hire O’Moore Park with the kind of focus and intent that suggested unfinished business.

This opening round win in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Premier Junior Championship wasn’t just about getting points on the board, it was about making a statement. And Laois delivered it with clarity.

They came out sharp and aggressive, racking up three points inside the first three minutes, and never really looked back. While Wicklow offered some resistance, particularly in the final quarter, this game was controlled by Laois from start to finish.

What stood out most was their depth and cohesion. Seven different players hit the scoreboard in the first half, reflecting a team brimming with confidence and options. Kaylee O’Keeffe and Kirsten Keenan got them motoring early, while Susie Delaney, Eimear Hassett, and Liadan C-Fennell chipped in with well-taken scores. In midfield, Grainne Delaney’s work rate and tenacity helped set the tone, her block that led to a score for Hassett a prime example of Laois’ hunger around the middle third.

If there was any negative in an otherwise dominant first half, it was the couple of goal chances that went begging, none more notable than Hassett’s lobbed effort that clipped the crossbar instead of dipping under it. On another day, they might need to be more clinical, but Laois had done more than enough to take control of the tie before the break.

That control was converted into victory early in the second half with two quickfire goals. Aimee Collier finished off a move she helped start, while Keenan’s finish moments later came after fine work by Fiona Scully. From there, the result was a formality.

Wicklow did manage to hit back with two second-half goals of their own, both coming from late scrambles, but they barely caused a ripple in Laois’ command of the game. The hosts were composed, organised, and always had a response, typified by Collier, who finished with 1-5.

Looking ahead to Roscommon in round two, Laois will know they’ve already beaten them twice this year, once in the group stage and again in the Division 3A final. But complacency won’t be an option. This panel looks focused on the bigger picture, and while they’ll be pleased with how they responded after the Carlow loss, they know there’s still a long road to Croke Park.