After a fantastic league campaign, the Laois ladies begin their All-Ireland Intermediate championship campaign this afternoon.
Kildare are Laois’s opponents – and as both teams as neighbours they agreed to toss for home advantage rather than play the game in a neutral venue.
Laois won and this tie will be in O’Moore Park at 2pm this afternoon.
After a couple of difficult years, manager Donie Brennan steadied the ship last year and Laois have continued to make positive steps this term.
They began with a three point win over Kildare in O’Moore Park last month in what was a very enjoyable game.
Mo Nerney was in fine form with her haul of 1-8 while Erone Fitzpatrick made a big impact on her first game back from a serious knee injury with a second half appearance that saw her contribute two points.
Up next was an away trip to Longford where they knew that a win would guarantee them a semi final place with one game to spare.
Mo Nerney, Sarah Anne Fitzgerald and Aoife Kirrane all raised green flags in a 3-14 to 1-9 win.
That meant that Laois’s final group game against Wicklow carried no significance as they were through as group winners regardless of the result.
Laois manager Donie Brennan made seven changes to the team that defeated Longford and while all of those who came in did well, it was a succession of missed goal chances in both halves that ultimately denied them a third straight win.
That set up a semi final, which took place two weeks ago, against Roscommon in Tang, Westmeath.
With less than 15 minutes to go in that game, Laois looked dead and buried as they found themselves seven points down.
But they showed amazing powers of recovery to turn the game around and win by three points.
Mo Nerney top scored once again while there were also brilliant displays from Erone Fitzpatrick, Jane Moore, Laura Nerney and Ellen Healy. While Orla Hennessy made a massive impact after coming off the bench as a second half substitute.
Today’s opponents Kildare were once again Laois’s opponents in the league final which was held in Baltinglass three weeks ago.
Mo Nerney was Laois’s hero once again as her last gasp point sealed the Division 3 league title in dramatic circumstances.
The Timahoe footballer kicked a point with 42 seconds to go that proved to be the difference following yet another incredible game of football – Laois winning 2-10 to 3-6.
Since that league defeat, today’s opponents have already been in championship action.
They got the better of Roscommon by 1-11 to 1-7 last weekend and can qualify for the quarter finals if they defeat Laois today.
If Laois win, they would only need to avoid defeat against the Rossies next weekend to advance.
The game throws in at 2pm this afternoon and we’ll bring you all the action as it happens on our Live Blog.
SEE ALSO – Laois Football chairman Laurence Phelan steps down from role with immediate effect
The post Home comforts for Laois ladies as Intermediate All-Ireland championship begins appeared first on Laois Today.
source https://www.laoistoday.ie/2021/07/18/home-comforts-for-laois-ladies-as-intermediate-all-ireland-championship-begins/
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