Antrim outgun Laois in All-Ireland Intermediate final

ANTRIM camogs are back in the Senior ranks after a five-year wait to lift the Jack McGrath Cup, following a comprehensive 1-22 to 0-11 victory over Laois in the All-Ireland Intermediate Championship final at Croke Park.

Elaine Dowds’ side had too much attacking quality for the Leinster side, particularly after the interval, when they turned a closely fought contest into a comfortable victory.

Róisín McCormick was the leading figure on the scoreboard, contributing a mamotth 1-11, while Eobha McAllister’s five points from play and three from Meave Kelly helped Antrim maintain their grip on the game.

Laois, who won the Junior championship last year, stayed in contention during the opening half and went into the break just four points adrift.

Antrim had made the more positive start, with Lucia McNaughton and McAllister getting them on the scoreboard, but Laois soon settled. Grainne Delaney opened their account before Clodagh Tynan brought the sides level from a free.

McCormick then began to find her range. Four successive scores from the Loughgiel attacker gave her side an advantage, although Laois remained within striking distance. Catherine Kirby had an opportunity to test the Antrim defence when she was put through on goal, but her effort went over the bar.

Antrim immediately responded through McAllister, while McCormick added another before Aimee Collier pulled one back for Laois.

Kelly’s late point ensured Antrim went into half-time with a 0-9 to 0-5 lead.

Laois came out with renewed purpose after the restart and reduced the deficit to two points through frees from Tynan and Collier.

That proved to be the last real opportunity they had to put Antrim under sustained pressure.

The Ulster side answered with a run of four unanswered points, with Janey McIntosh and Shannagh Hegarty among those finding the target. Suddenly, Antrim had opened up a sizeable gap and Laois were struggling to stay with them.

The crucial moment arrived in the 40th minute.

McCormick picked her way through the Laois defence, evading a number of challenges before finishing to the net. The goal stretched Antrim’s lead to nine points and effectively ended Laois’ hopes of a comeback.

Kaylee O’Keefe managed a response for Laois, but Antrim were now firmly in control.

The closing stages belonged to the Ulster champions, who continued to find scores with impressive regularity. McAllister, Kelly and McCormick all added to their tallies as Antrim outscored Laois by eight points to three in the final period.

Antrim’s emphatic success sees them reclaim the Jack McGrath Cup for the first time since 2021 and, just as importantly, secures their promotion back to Senior Championship camogie for the 2027 campaign.