St Lazarian’s banish the demons of 2024 to be crowned junior camogie champions
St Lazarian's Abbeyleix who got the better of Clough/Ballacolla to claim the Junior Camogie Championship title at Rathdowney on Saturday Photo: @capturedbyoonagh
ST LAZARIAN’S were able to banish the demons of 2024 on Saturday as they came out on top in a brilliant battle against Clough/Ballacolla to claim the Laois Camogie Junior ‘A’ Championship in Rathdowney.
Both sides have felt the pain of defeat in recent years with St Lazarian's falling to Portlaoise last year while Clough/Ballacolla lost out to The Harps in 2023, but those experiences clearly stood to both sides as they each put on excellent displays in Saturday’s game.
A fierce wind blew down the field in Rathdowney, making life tough for both sides as even though it clearly favoured shooting into the far goals as you walk in the gates of the grounds, there was a swirling element to it that was difficult to judge at times.
Chloe Boyhan slotted the opening two scores of the game in the fourth and eighth minutes, the first a 45 and the second a well taken free after the energetic Molly Cassin narrowly missed a goal chance.
St Lazarian's were applying pressure with the pace of Kaylee O'Keeffe causing problems for Clough/Ballacolla in particular, but the backs held strong and their lead was increased to five when Denise Bergin was fouled for a penalty and Boyhan lashed it straight into the top left corner.
The concession ignited a fire in St Lazarian's however as they hit back with a goal of their own two minutes later when Holly Brennan gathered a high ball in from O'Keeffe and buried it in the net.
Chances from frees went begging for St Lazarian's early in the half and as a result O'Keeffe took over the duties and with success as she fired over a brace either side of a Katie Dunican point from close range that skimmed the crossbar and St Lazarian's took the lead for the first time in the 27th minute.
Jade Carroll levelled the equation with a well taken score after a good pass by Cassin, though St Lazarian's nipped back in front through Brennan to make it 1-4 to 1-3 at the break.
Though the wind favoured St Lazarian's in the second half, Clough/Ballacolla started stronger with an early free from Boyhan that was soon cancelled out with an excellent point from O'Keeffe.
Another free for Boyhan, again won by Cassin, levelled it again before Sarah Bergin fired them in front with an excellent point.
The wind soon played its role however as O'Keeffe landed two outstanding frees for St Lazarian's from out on the right wing just outside the 65 and followed soon with a third in succession from the 45 on the left wing.
Denise Bergin and Holly Brennan traded scores as the game approached its crescendo and Clough/Ballacolla were given a major boost when another penalty was awarded and once again Boyhan stepped up to lash it home, putting her side ahead by one.
Post-goal vulnerability is always a danger and it proved to be the case here as seconds after the puckout Laoise Dunne raced in on Tara Delaney's goal and handed it off to Emma Carney to execute a brilliant finish.
Boyhan replied with a free to reduce the gap to one with two minutes left on the clock and Abbeyleix appeared to be in for a third goal when Brennan rattled the net for a second time, but the goal was chalked off due to an alleged pick off the ground.
Clough/Ballacolla threw everything forward as they chased an equalising point in injury time, leaving themselves wide open at the back and it proved costly as this time it was Carney that tore down the field in possession and she forced a great save from Delaney, but the stopper couldn't possibly deny the insurance goal from Kaylah O'Mara to secure the glory for St Lazarian's.
Kaylee O'Keeffe 0-6 (0-5fs), Holly Brennan 1-2, Kaylah O'Mara and Emma Carney 1-0 each, Katie Dunican 0-1.
Chloe Boyhan 2-5 (2-0 pens, 0-4fs, 0-1 45), Jade Carroll, Sarah Bergin and Denise Bergin 0-1 each.
Grace Foxe; Emma Cass, Clodagh Gee, Sasha O'Keeffe; Kate Kenna, Rachel Cass, Maeve Dowling; Roisin Fitzgerald, Jill Gaughan; Kaylee O'Keeffe, Claire Daly, Kaylah O'Mara; Holly Brennan, Katie Dunican, Katie Doyle.
Laoise Dunne for Fitzgerald (41m), Emma Carney for Doyle (48m).
Tara Delaney; Clodagh Duggan, Helen Coonan, Ellen Hennessy; Maeve Hennessy, Marian Ferns, Aine Duggan; Molly Cassin, Fiona O'Grady; Jade Carroll, Paige Hyland, Chloe Boyhan; Sarah Bergin, Denise Bergin, Rachel Hyland.
Lauren Stanley for C Duggan (37m), Brid Brennan for O'Grady (40m), Rebecca Pearson for Carroll (47m).
Brochan O'Reilly (Portlaoise)
