Kildare 2-11
Laois 1-5
Kildare claimed a first All-Ireland Premier Junior title in 23 years when they overcame Laois by in Croke Park this afternoon.
The Lilywhites saw off their Leinster rivals in a game marked by torrential rain, a swirling breeze and bright sunshine on a difficult day for flowing camogie.
Two goals in the space of a minute from Susie O’Carroll at the start of the second half handed the Lilywhites a decisive advantage which they never surrendered.
A cracking start for Kildare saw them two points up inside two minutes with Siobhan Hurley and Melissa Lyons pointing. Further scores from O’Carroll, Roisin O’Connell and Hurley again pushed them 0-5 0-0 clear after the opening quarter.
Laois eventually got off the mark through Louise Mahony and Niamh Dollard but another O’Carroll point gave Kildare a 0-6 0-2 interval lead.
Laois got off to a perfect start in a downpour at the start of the second half when substitute Grace O’Neill hit the net but O’Carroll replied in style with two brilliant goals in a minute.
Kildare kept their composure thereafter and player of the match Hurley added another point from the wing to put them eight points clear.
Mahony hit two points either side of another Hurley score to cut the gap to seven but despite a further Dollard point, Lyons, Hurley and Cliodhna McSweeney ensured that it was Kildare who were celebrating at the final whistle.
Scorers for Laois: Louise Mahony 0-3 (2f, 1 ‘45), Grace O’Neill 1-0, Niamh Dollard 0-2.
Scorers for Kildare: Susie O’Carroll 2-2, Siobhán Hurley 0-5 (2f), Melissa Lyons 0-2, Róisín O’Connell 0-1, Cliodhna McSweeney 0-1.
LAOIS: Laura Dunne, Mairéad Burke, Karen Cuddy, Joan Dollard, Aishling Dunphy, Sarah Ann Fitzgerald, Eimear Delaney, Claire Walsh, Elaine Mahony, Joyce Dunne, Denise Quigley, Luoise Mahony, Síle Burke, Niamh Dollard, Olga Parkinson.Subs: Grace O’Neill for Dunne (29), Sarah Cuddy for Walsh (30), Catriona Downey for Burke (43), Sinead Lanham for Parkinson (51), Rosemary Bermingham for J Dollard (59)
KILDARE: Saileóg O’Keefe, Jane O’Donoghue, Aoife Trant, Carol Nolan, Angela Lyons, Caroline Forde, Orla Bambury, Clodagh Flanagan, Siobhán Hurley, Melissa Lyons, Louise Keatley, Susie O’Carroll, Róisín O’Connell.Subs: Hazel Mulligan for Concannon (46), Cliodhna McSweeney for Lyons (53), Niamh Breen for F Trant (58), Clodagh Farrell for Keatley (60).
Referee: Donal Ryan (Dublin)