O’Moore girls are let off the Laois in Castlebar
Émer Delaney scored a goal on what was an otherwise sobering Saturday afternoon for the Mayo camogie team.
Premier Junior Camogie Championship – Round 4
Laois 9-15
Mayo 1-2
Patrick Hennelly in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar
Mayo suffered a rout last Saturday as a rampant Laois had too much firepower for their beleaguered hosts, in misty Castlebar conditions.
When Mayo’s Lillian Keane tapped over a 19th minute free to reduce the deficit to just two points, 1-4 to 1-2, there was a glimmer of hope that Mayo might cause an upset. The Green and Red were highly competitive during the opening 15 minutes of action, however, a devastating and demoralising three goal blitz from Laois from the 24th up to the 28th minute left Mayo shell-shocked and the hosts never recovered.
The O’Moore County began the tie in a bright fashion, with Andrea Scully notching the opening score inside the first minute. Mayo responded in a positive fashion, with the hardworking Kate Scahill soon levelling proceedings, much to the delight of the loyal band of home supporters.
Laois seemed more fluent in attack and points from the aforementioned Scully, and Grainne Delaney, were soon buttressed by a three-pointer as Aisling O’Dea struck a thunderbolt to the back of Sharon Lynskey’s net.
Mayo regrouped impressively and the Green and Red received some joy when a precise pass from Niamh Kennedy set-up the raiding Emer Delaney whose glorious finish had too much purchase for the beaten Aedin Lowry.
Both Andrea Scully and Mayo’s Lillian Keane, a free, then traded scores, however, the latter’s effort on 19 minutes would amazingly prove to be the last time that Mayo troubled the scoreboard operator.
An experienced Laois side entered this game on the back of an impressive victory against Limerick and they hit the first of their four-minute three-goal salvo on 24 minutes, when a lucky break fortuitously found Eimear Hassett and the deadly corner-forward shook the back of the net.
Indeed, perhaps Laois could have been further ahead, but the Blue and White hit a plethora of wides which let Mayo off the hook.
A point from Lucy Conroy was boosted by another goal for her team on 28 minutes, as the influential Hassett spotted the timely run of Kirsten Keenan and the latter finished with aplomb.
On 28 minutes, Laois added their fourth goal, when Ellen Conroy rounded off a spellbinding move in the best possible fashion, and at half-time the O’Moore County held an unassailable 4-5 to 1-2 advantage.
Laois struck home their fifth goal during the embryonic stages of the new half, with Hassett once again proving to be the playmaker, this time teeing-up Keenan who applied a smashing finish.
The Leinster outfit then really hit the turbo boost and a flurry of singles from Grainne Delaney, Scully, Clodagh Tynan, Hassett, a majestic long-range effort from the energetic Lucy Conroy, and Grainne Hyland, left Mayo reeling as they now trailed 5-11 to 1-2 after 38 minutes.
Mayo were engaged in a damage limitation exercise, and the introduction of both Ava Dooley and Grainne Robinson saw both players do their utmost to quell the Laois avalanche.
Laois could have added another goal to their tally, but a fierce strike from Hassett forced a fine reflex save from the Mayo custodian Lynskey.
The Laois tidal wave was unrelenting and the scoreboard operator certainly earned their post-match tea and sandwiches, having to register further points from O’Dea, Grainne Delaney, two, and substitute Liaden C. Fennell, during a glorious period of pressure from the guests.
Mayo were under siege and despite circling the wagons, they were powerless to prevent further Laois goals arriving from O’Dea and Tara Lowry on 52 and 54 minutes respectively.
Everything was coming up roses for the visitors and they even managed to plunder a fortuitous goal from distance, as O’Dea’s probing free on 55 minutes bizarrely ended up in the back of the net.
The O’Moore County closed out proceedings impressively, with their super-sub Amy Flanagan notching 1-1 as the game fizzled out to its inevitable conclusion.
Scorers – Laois- Kirsten Keenan 3-0, Aishling O’Dea 2-1 (1-0f), Eimear Hassett and Amy Flanagan 1-1 each, Grainne Delaney and Andrea Scully 0-4 each, Ellen Conroy and Tara Lowry 1-0 each, Lucy Conroy 0-2, Clodagh Tynan and Grainne Hyland 0-1 each.
Mayo: Emer Delaney 1-0, Kate Scahill, Lillian Keane (f) 0-1 each.
Mayo: Sharon Lynskey; Caragh Burke, Roisin Cassidy, Heidi O’Malley; Kate Scahill, Niamh Greally, Ruby Lambert; Niamh Kennedy, Lillian Keane; Ciara Kennedy, Aoife Quinn, Siobhan Mooney; Emer Delaney, Laura Flanagan, Ciara Delaney. Subs used: Ava Dooley, Grainne Robinson, Ella Deely, Kaitlyn McNally, Annie McGreevy.
Laois: Aedin Lowry; Laura Finlay, Leah Daly, Katie Dunican; Karla Whelan, Clodagh Tynan, Ellen Conroy; Grainne Delaney, Lucy Conroy; Tara Lowry, Grainne Hyland, Andrea Scully; Aisling O’Dea, Kirsten Keenan, Eimear Hassett.
Sub used: Amy Flanagan, Aoife Carroll, Liaden C. Fennell, Sarah Creagh.
REF: Ciaran Groome (Offaly)
