Very National Camogie League Division 3A final
Armagh 0-14 Laois 2-7
THERE was an incredible finish to this Very National League Division 3A final in Abbotstown on Saturday.
Armagh held a lead of four points at the start of the five minutes of extra-time signalled by referee Ciarán Goff of Wicklow.
Amy Collier opted to tap over two frees that followed and then amazingly in the fifth minute of added time Lucy O’Connor carried the sliotar across the Armagh goals around 30 metres out.
She passed to Ava Coss whose shot was half-blocked by Eimear Hayes and hit the roof of the net to put Laois into the lead.
However, Armagh, who had lost finals to Wexford and Carlow in two of the last three seasons, dug deep and Sinéad Quinn fired over an equalizing point within 30 seconds.
There was still time for one more play and Hannah Duffy was fouled around 40 metres out straight in front of the post.
Rachel Merry didn’t allow the pressure to get to her and posted her sixth point of the game to win the title.
Armagh dominated the first half despite conceding a fourth minute penalty.
Andrea Scully made the run, but her pass found Lucy O’Connor who was fouled by Ciarraí Devlin and Amy Collier found the right corner of the net.
However, Sinéad Quinn fired over a point in response just 15 seconds later and Rachel Merry levelled a few minutes later with her second point from play.
The Orchard county continued to dominate, adding points from Tierna Maxwell and Ciara Geogeghan before the 12th minute.
It took another 10 minutes for their sixth point, a Merry free, but Armagh’s defence was excellent during that period.
Two frees late in the half from Collier gave Laois a single point deficit at the break, a situation that no doubt frustrated Armagh manager Sean Hughes as his side had dominated exchanges.
Collier with two scores and sub Gráinne Delaney hit three of the first four points in the second half to edge Laois in front 1-5 to 0-7.
Armagh were defiant however, resolute in defence with Leanne Donnelly driving through midfield and they fought for every half chance. Merry from a free tied the game on 45 minutes and then her snap-shot in the 53rd minute put Armagh ahead.
That lead stretched with three points inside 90 seconds from the Donnelly sisters around the 56th and 57th minutes – two for Ciara and then one from Leanne.
A lead of four points looked good, but Armagh had to do it all over again at the end of added time to make it over the line.
ARMAGH: C Devlin; M McCone, G McCann, Á Doyle; T Maxwell (0-1), N Forker, E Hayes; L Donnelly (0-1), C O’Kane; E O’Kane, S Quinn (0-2), M McGuigan; R Merry (0-6, 0-4 frees), C Geoghegan (0-4), J Curry.
Subs: N Woods for O’Kane, K Convie for Doyle (both 42), C Crilly for Maxwell (49), H Duffy for McGuigan (55)
LAOIS: A Lowry; A Finley, L Daly, F Scully; J Quinlan, C Tynan, K Whelan; E Conroy, J Bergin; LC Fennell, A Collier (1-6, 1-0 pen, 0-5 frees), A Coss (1-0); E Hassett, L O’Connor, A Scully.
Subs: A Walsh for Conroy (23), G Delaney( 0-1) for Fennell (27), S Delaney for Hassett (ht), S Creagh for Quinlan (37), R Deegan for Scully (47)