Dollard inspires Camross

A SPIRITED and committed Camross overcame O'Toole's in the Leinster hurling final at Nowlan, Park yesterday. The Laois champions showed their desire from the start defying the elements early on to take a grip of the game.

Camross were inspired by a man of considerable experience in Joe Dollard. From experience in Joe Dollard. From the start to finish, he tortured the O'Toole's defence. He either raced through the middle in possession or spread the ball intelligently. He shipped some fierce physical challenges in the process, but hiss tally of eight points spoke volumes of his commitment to the club's cause.

O'Toole's had no such leadership. While they have players of considerable pedigree players like Jamesie Brennan and Eamonn Morrissey they could not match the input of Camross's leading lights.

Joe Doran proved a commanding full back for Camross, while Dollard, PJ Cuddy and Damien Culleton were vital ingredients in a well-balanced team. Were it not for the alert goal-keeping of Brendan McLoughlin in the Dublin team's goal the margin might have been much greater.

With the wind at their backs in the first half, O'Toole's were confidently expected to build up a substantial lead. As the rain swept in behind, them, Jamsie Breanan opened the scoring, but it was Camross who sped into the fray with more dash.

O'Toole's were leading by fours points to two after 21 minutes when they delivered a severe blow to the Dublin side. A raking sideline cut from under the new stand by Francis Dowling found its way into the heart of the O'Toole's goalmouth and PJ Cuddy, wily as ever, deflected it to the net.

In spite of some determined Dublin aggression, Camross were leading by 1-5 to 0-4 at half-time.

When Camross extended their lead 10 points (1-12 to 0-5) with 10 minutes to go, it seemed that the "floodgates were about to open.

However O'Toole's, to their credit, had a last kick in them and a goal bye substitute Declan Morris in the 23rd minute gave their supporters heart.

Sadly for the Dublin side there was not enough time left. Another goal conceded by a nervous Camross defence on full-time from a penalty by another substitute, Neil Howard, came much too late to give anything other than a more respectable look to the scoreboard.