Kilkenny lose out to Laois in Minor B Championship

The Laois Minor Camogie team have a Leinster final to look forward to thanks to a seven-point victory over Kilkenny in Timahoe on Sunday afternoon.

Laois controlled the game for the majority of the contest with a goal from Aoibheann Stynes proving crucial for Dan Phelan’s side.

It was Kilkenny who opened the scoring as Cara Duggan split the posts from a free after five minutes.

Laois’ first white flag came in the ninth minute as full-forward Kaylee O’Keefe tapped the ball over the bar.

The next score was a crucial one as Stynes was first to react to stab the ball over the line after Aoife Daly had landed a free into the square.

Midfielder Sinead Slevin opened her account thanks to a great run by her midfield partner Lucy Conroy.

Kilkenny popped over two scores on the bounce as Kate Dowling scored both.

Aoife Daly replied for Laois before Kilkenny fired over another two scores to put a single point between the sides as Duggan pointed from play and from a free.

Laois ended the half with scores from O’Keefe and Caoimhe Cuddy as they held a three-point advantage.

Mia Henderson was called into action early in the second-half as she made a good save from Duggan.

O’Keefe (free) and Aisling O’Sullivan traded scores before Laois hit the front and raised four white flags without reply.

Aoife Daly scored from a free and a 45’ while Aoife Kirby went on a great run before splitting the posts.

O’Keefe also pointed a free as Laois led by seven points with 10 minutes left to play.

Kilkenny went in search of goals in those 10 minutes but Laois’ defence were first to every ball with full-back Kate Phelan having a superb game for Laois.

Michelle Killeen got a point back for Kilkenny from a free.

Aoife Daly got the game’s final score to seal Laois’ place in the Leinster final where they’ll face Kildare.

SCORERS: LAOIS: Aoife Daly 0-4 (0-1 45, 0-1 free), Kaylee O’Keefe 0-4 (0-2 frees), Aoibheann Stynes 1-0, and Sinead Slevin, Caoimhe Cuddy and Aoife Kirby 0-1 each. KILKENNY: Cara Duggan 0-3 (0-2 frees), Kate Dowling 0-2, Michelle Killeen and Aisling O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

LAOIS: Mia Henderson ; Julieann Bennett, Kate Phelan, Emer Conroy; Ella Cuddy, Katelyn Shore, Ella Phelan; Sinéad Slevin, Lucy Conroy; Catherine Kirby, Aoife Daly, Caoimhe Cuddy; Aoibheann Stynes, Kaylee O’Keefe, Aoife Kirby.

SUBS: Eva Carroll for E.Phelan (41 mins), Lucy Donoghue and Aoife Gee for A.Kirby and Stynes (both 49 mins) and Lorraine Bergin for Slevin (61 mins).

KILKENNY: Katelyn O’Connor; Jessica Smith, Katelyn Phelan, Grace Brennan; Jill O’Brien, Molly Conroy, Rebecca Hayden; Siofra O’Leary, Earhart Mullally; Ena Lawlor, Cara Duggan, Michelle Killeen; Kate Dowling, May Cummins, Ella O’Reilly. 

SUBS: Aisling O’Sullivan for O’Reilly (HT), Clara Walsh and Rhianna Scott for Dowling and Brennan (both 38 mins), Aisling O’Shea for Duggan (40 mins) and Caoimhe Power for O’Leary (49 mins).