Winning team photoHARPS CAMOGIE: Laois Féile Final 2019 Division 1 Report – The Harps 0-05 v 0-00 O’Moores: After a hugely successful year in 2018, The Harps and O’Moores met in the Laois Féile final in Mountrath on Easter Monday. Weather conditions were ideal for camogie and a huge crowd turned up to witness the battle for the 2019 Féile crown. Both teams represented Laois last year in the National Féile with both teams winning their respective divisions (The Harps Division 3 and O’Moores Division 4) They also contested the Laois Championship Final last year with The Harps taking the honours.

However, this encounter between the two was a more evenly contested match. Playing against the wind in the first half, The Harps put a lot of pressure on the O’Moores’ defence with Aoife Gee, Katie Healy and Amy Lacey getting in good positions for scores and eventually their work was rewarded when Lisa Kirby converted over the first free in the seventh minute. Credit to the O’Moore’s defence as they worked hard in the backline, denying Harps any opportunity for goal knowing well that conceding a goal would be detrimental in these 15 minute a-side games. Lucy Conroy worked hard in the middle of the field and supplied good ball into the O’Moore’s forwards. However, The Harps defence was also in top form, dealing with each attack efficiently with Caoimhe Doheny, Kayla Dwyer and Abbi Gibbons playing outstanding in defence. With 5 minutes to go, reliable Kirby added another point from a free to leave The Harps with two points at half time. O Moores no score.

A goal here in Mountrath seemed to be on the horizon, with both teams pressing hard. Harps had two close opportunities but O Moores’ goalie Aimee Cuddy was having a brilliant game and let nothing by her. With 7 minutes to go, a free sent in by Kirby was collected by Katie Healy and from a tight angle she sent it over the bar. Another free from Kirby’s stick sailed over with 5 minutes to go. Catherine Kirby was excellent in the Harps attack and great work by forwards Aimee Lennon, Aoife Kirby and Eadaoin Whyte led to a free awarded to Harps in the dying minutes of the game. Kirby sent it in from a tight angle only for Aimee Cuddy to send it out for a ’45. Kirby duly slotted this over to seal the win for The Harps’ girls.

The Harps now represent Laois as their first team in Cork in The National Feile na nGael on June 7th to 9th. Their hosts are Kilbrittain-Timoleague Camogie.

SCORERS – The Harps: Lisa Kirby 0-4 (0-3 frees, 0-1 – 45) Katie Healy 0-1. THE HARPS: Mia Henderson; Orla Holland, Caoimhe Doheny, Orla Brophy; Eva Dunphy, Kayla Dwyer, Abbie Gibbons; Katie Healy, Lisa Kirby; Georgie Holland Rome, Amy Lacey, Catherine Kirby; Emma Delahunty, Rachael Dollard, Aoife Gee. Subs: Eadaoin Whyte, Aoife Kirby, Aimée Lennon, Olivia Hovenden, Abby McEvoy. O’MOORES: Aimee Cuddy; Kim Fitzpatrick, Ciara Conroy, Meaghan Fitzpatrick; Amy Conroy, Aisling McEvoy, Alison Hyland; Lucy Conroy, Treasa Dowling; Deirbhile C Fennell, Grace McEvoy, Robyn Dempsey; Sophie Redmond, Emer Dunne, Emer Kelly. Subs: Julieann Bennett, Emma Corcoran, Aimee Cummings, Annie Dunne, Caoimhe Egan, Ellie Flanagan, Niamh Heffernan, Sarah Hickey, Aoife Mahon, Alison Morgan, Eve Murphy.