LAOIS SHC FINAL: Rathdowney/Errill 2-11, Camross 1-9:RATHDOWNEY reclaimed the Laois title defeating 23-times champions Camross in a thrilling contest at Portlaoise yesterday. Rathdowney-Errill, last winners in 2008, were slow to get into their stride but played well in the second quarter.

The game’s most crucial score came with three minutes remaining in the opening half when Camross goalkeeper Tadgh Doran was harshly adjudged to have thrown the ball and a free-in was awarded which Brian Campion drove all the way to the net leaving his team five in front.

When Jason Phelan opened his account with 50 minutes gone the margin was three but, after Zane Keenan narrowed the gap again, the winners produced a defence-splitting move that saw Jason Phelan hammer the ball past the Camross goalkeeper and that signalled the end.

RATHDOWNEY-ERRILL:N Brennan; E Fitzpatrick, L Mahon, B Campion (1-2); B OShea, P Mahon, J Fitzpatrick; S Dollard, J Corrigan; A Delaney (0-3), E Holohan (0-1), E Meagher (0-2); J Phelan (1-1), L Tynan, J Purcell (0-1); Subs. N Delaney for E Fitzpatrick, T Mahon for E Meagher, P Purcell for J Phelan.

CAMROSS: T Doran; M Moloney, P Cuddy, P Guilfoyle; S Higgins, T Burke, L Burke; S Gilmore, A Collier (0-1); N Holmes (1-0), Z Keenan (0-7), D Culliton; Subs. D Delaney for A Collier, K Cuddy for J Phelan, J Palmer for D Culliton, G Burke for S Gilmore.

Referee: B Reilly (Portlaoise).