Laois 6-5 Wexford 3-12
Leinster Minor Ladies ‘B’ Championship Round 1
A last gasp Ciara O’Neill penalty preserved the Laois Minor Ladies’ 100% start to the Leinster championship last night.
Dean Malone’s charges headed for Roundwood last night in what turned out to be an epic encounter.
The game was due to be played in Crettyard last week but inclement weather saw the game postponed and Laois lose home advantage.
Laois had comprehensively beaten Wexford in Round 1 and came into this game with plenty of confidence.
Wicklow led 2-7 to 2-4 at half time and their lead could have been more but for Laois keeper Ava Shanahan.
The St Joseph’s player pulled off three crucial saves to keep Laois in the game as Wicklow came at them in waves.
With 10 minutes to play, Laois led by two points but Wicklow fought their way back into the game with frees.
And as we entered injury time, another Wicklow free saw them take a one point lead.
From the resulting kick out, laois carried the ball down the field and won two 45s.
From the second of these, Sarsfields’ Ciara O’Neill caught the ball kicked in by Aoibhe Byron and was then dragged to the ground for a penalty.
O’Neill stepped up and slotted the ball to the keeper’s left hand side to claim a two point win for Laois.
Laois will now face Westmeath in their final group game at home next Wednesday where a win will see them top the group.
SCORERS – Laois: Katie Donoghue 2-1, Ciara O’Neill 2-0 (1-0 pen), Tara Byrne 1-2, Lauren Rowan 1-1, Holly Hanway 0-1, Shannon Fitzpatrick 0-1
LAOIS: Ava Shanahan (St. Joseph’s); Sarah Gorman (The Heath), Aoife Cummins (St. Conleth’s), Kate Wall (St. Brigid’s); Melissa Donnelly (St. Conleth’s), Ciara Malone (Killeshin), Lauren Rowan (St. Joseph’s); Aoife Gorman (Timahoe), Grace Cunningham (Park/Ratheniska); Shannon Fitzpatrick (Park/Ratheniska), Ciara O’Neil (Sarsfields), Holly Hanway (St. Conleth’s); Lucy Conroy (Sarsfields), Katie Donoghue (Timahoe), Tara Byrne (Park Ratheniska) Subs: Lilly Hooney (St Joseph’s) for Lucy Conroy (40), Emma Ramsbottom (Park-Ratheniska) for Gorman (42), Aoibhe Byron (St Paul’s) for Donoghue (45), Aoibhe Hoary (St Conleth’s) for Shanahan (52)
WICKLOW: Holly Wright; Elaine O’Dwyer, Orlaith Ni Ghallchobhair, Ciara Wafer; Grace Murphy, Emily Rose-O’Toole, Isabel Ledesma; Leila Shannon, Elizabeth Bourke; Charlotte Nagle, Ruby Keogh, Aibhe King; Aoife Cullen, Sadhbh Fisher, Caoimhe Flood
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