All-Ireland Under 16B Camogie final replay at Inniskeen, Co. Monaghan
A matter of inches! Maeve Kelly’s last gasp free comes back off the Laois upright with the Laois goalkeeper beaten in Saturday’s All Ireland Under 16 B final replay in Iniskeen. Pic by Dylan McIlwaine
Antrim 1-10 Laois 3-6
When Maeve Kelly scored a 28th minute goal to put Antrim ahead by 1-6 to 1-4 at half-time, this All-Ireland Under 16B final replay looked well within the Saffrons’ reach with wind assistance to come in the second half.
However helped by a couple of strange refereeing decisions, Laois battled well for the second period and got a bit of luck at the death when Maeve Kelly’s shot came off the post. Kelly had been told by the referee that she had to score direct from the final free of the game and when the sliothar avoided the Laois defence it seemed she may have struck gold, only to see the ball rebound off the post with the Laois goalkeeper beaten.
Laois got off to a great start with Kirsten Keenan finding the net inside four minutes and following it with a point soon aftewards but Maeve Kelly got her side up and running with two points. Roisin McCormick hit three in a row before Kelly found the net a couple of minutes before the break to give the Saffons as 1-6 to 1-4 interval lead.
Although Kelly and Maura Downey pointed after the break the scoring dried up and Laois got back on level terms with a goal from Aine Cuddy in the 48thminute.
Laois then got their third goal and, but Antrim kept battling to get back but were wide from half-chances while Roisin McCormick was pulled up on marginal calls from the referee when goals were on.
A late free Eimear Fitzpatrick put Laois two clear on 3-6 to 1-10and within touching distance of victory, but they had to endure an anxious finish as Kelly’s free came within inches of grabbing Antrim victory.
Antrim : Aine Graham, Megan McGarry, Eilsh Kearns, Fionnuala Toner, Aoife O’Mullan, Emma- Louise McAreavey, Enya McShane, Róisin McCormick 0-5, 0-3 frees, Caoimhe McNaughton, Maura Downey 0-1, Caitlin Crawford 0-1, Carla McGarry, Mary McKillen, Maeve Kelly 1-3, Katie Laverty.
Subs : Emer McMullan for M McGarry, Erin Traynor for C Crawford
Laois: Aedin Lowry, Jade Bergin, Aimee Collier, Niamh Crowley, Molly O’Connor, Clodagh Tynan, Lily McCormack, Jessie Quinlan, Amy Byrne, Cora Cuddy, Catherine Galbraith, Áine Cuddy 1-1, Eimear Fitzpatrick 0-1, Kirsten Keenan 2-4, 0-3 frees, Alanna Tynan
