Roscommon revival not enough to deny Laois
Roscommon lost out to a slick Laois side in the Division 3 camogie final.
Roscommon came up short in their attempts to win the Very Division 3 camogie final title as a ferocious opening half from Laois proved the difference.
Mary Grehan’s side produced an improved second half display and outscored Laois 1-3 to 0-3 after half time. However, Roscommon had left themselves too much to do as they trailed 0-11 to 0-3 at the interval.
Despite Laois having competed in this final last year, it was Roscommon who started razor sharp with an Orla Connolly free and a Sarah Dooley effort helping them lead 0-2 to no sore after three minutes.
From there, Laois took controlled as they outscored Roscommon 0-11 to 0-1 for the remainder of the half. They dominated Roscommon’s puckouts and with outstanding corner forward Susie Delaney arrowing over five points, they gradually began to pull away.
Connolly fired over midway through the opening half but Laois were pulling away with the wind at their backs.
Despite firing eight opening half wides, Laois led 0-11 to 0-3 at the interval. But Roscommon regrouped in the second half as Connolly slotted over a ’45 and free to cut Roscommon’s arrears to six.
Laois continued to spurn chances but an Eimear Hassett score helped them respond.
Dooley hit back for Roscommon as Laois led despite hitting seven wides and dropping four efforts short in the final period. An Aimee Collier free looked to move this game beyind Roscommon but Mary Grehan’s side dug in and found the net when Rachel Fitzmaurice offloaded to Sarah Dooley who smashed home.
That put Roscommon four behind but they were unable to get within a score as a late Collier effort sealed the title for a Laois side who atoned for their defeat in this final last year.
**Full report and reaction in Tuesday’s Roscommon Herald**
