Laois 3-14 Kildare 2-12
National Camogie League Division 3A Round 1
The Laois camogie team made a winning start to Division 3A of the National League away to Kildare this afternoon.
A brace of goals from Lucy O’Connor in the first half, followed by a third from sub Susie Delaney in the second, did the trick for Pat Collier and Robert Jones’ side.
They ran out five point winners in the end and will look to continue their good start at home to Armagh next week.
Laois made a dream start to this one as Lucy O’Connor latched on to a long ball from Aivia Coss and rattled the net.
Kildare responded to that set back well though as points from Leah Sutton, Orla Carragher and Aoife McDermott helped them level the game.
Coss restored Laois’s lead with a point from the sideline before their second goal arrived in the ninth minute.
A long range free from Jessie Quinlan was well won by O’Connor and she smashed a shot beyond keeper Roisin Roche.
Aimee Collier added a 65 but Kildare came roaring back before the midpoint of the half with a goal from Ailbhe Ryan and points via McDermott and Sutton.
However, Laois finished the half the stronger as Aimee Collier struck over two frees and a score from play to leave them 2-6 to 1-5 ahead at the break.
Laois grew their lead when play resumed as Andrea Scully joined Coss and Collier on the scoresheet with a point from each.
Leah Sutton hit back with a brace of frees but a Collier free left Laois 2-10 to 1-7 ahead as we entered the final quarter.
Kildare gave themselves a chance however while Ailbhe Ryan stroked home her second goal of the game in the 48th minute.
Aimee Collier replied with a free and then Laois made the game safe when some brilliant forward play ended with sub Susie Delaney raising the game’s fifth green flag.
Gemma Hoare and Collier added points after that with Aedin Lowry pulling off an excellent save in between to keep Kildare at bay.
They did finish with two late Caoimhe Ni Bhuirceal points but Laois secured the win.
SCORERS – Laois: Aimee Collier 0-9 (seven free, one 65), Lucy O’Connor 2-0, Susie Delaney 1-0, Aivia Coss 0-2, Andrea Scully, Gemma Hoare and Jessie Quinlan 0-1 each Kildare: Ailbhe Ryan 2-2, Leah Sutton 0-5 (four frees), Aoife McDermott (one free) and Caoimhe Ni Bhuirceal 0-2 each, Orla Carragher 0-1
LAOIS: Aedin Lowry; Katie Dunican, Fiona Scully, Karla Whelan; Aoife Hyland, Jessie Quinlan, Jade Bergin; Ellen Conroy, Sarah Creagh; Aivia Coss, Aimee Collier, Liaden C-Fennell; Lucy O’Connor, Grainne Hyland, Andrea Scully. Subs: Alice Walsh for Creagh (41), Gemma Hoare for Whelan (45), Susie Delaney for Hyland (48), Rachel Deegan for Coss (58), Aisling O’Dea for C-Fennell (64), Amy Flanagan for O’Connor and Leah Daly for Bergin (both 65)
KILDARE: Roisin Roche; Sorcha Dolan, Laoise Mimnagh, Ella Copeland; Sinead O’Brien, Meabh Maguire, Aoife McCarthy; Niamh O’Connor, Leah Sutton; Caoimhe Ni Bhuirceal, Sarah Carroll, Sarah Lavin; Ailbhe Ryan, Aoife McDermott, Orla Carragher. Subs: Shauna Dunne for Dolan (34), Caoimhe Shanahan for O’Connor (54)
REFEREE: John Burke
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