A weekend of mixed fortune for Laois teams
Clonad manager said his team could not have put in a better effort despite going down to Clane Photo: Sean Brilly
It began on Friday afternoon when Castlecomer CS were visitors to Mountrath CS grounds. The home side had already drawn a game and both then would go on to ended level in a game played in awful conditions, in a game that Mountrath could ill afford losing.
For most of the game Mountrath trailed and went eight points behind in the opening half. The second saw an improved Mountrath led by Castletown minor star Kyron Cuddy who finished with 1-7. The other Cuddy, LJ from Camross, scored their second goal and Mountrath man Donnacha Carroll scored four important points.
There were two big college football victories, both away. Knockbeg travelled to Tullamore and beat Coláiste Choilm 6-17 to 0-8. Ennae Byrne accounted for 3-4 as Knockbeg hammered the Faithful college by 25 points.
Portlaoise CBS beat Wexford CBS 6-16 to 0-5 with nine different players getting on the scoresheet, Conor O’Callaghan top scorer with 1-5.
On to Saturday the much awaited Leinster junior hurling semi-final between Clane of Kildare and the Laois standard bearers Clonad. The Laois team had overcome the Dublin champions in round one while Clane had hammered the Louth champions.
Kildare county forward Paddy McKenna caused problems but all over the pitch Clane had superb hurlers. They were content to pick off points and at the interval they led 1-14 to 1-2.
The two sides made changes early in the new half but it was the Clane replacement before the game, Shane Henry who made all the difference. In the first half he struck for goal and added four points.
In the second half Clonad were stronger in defence but still Clane finished with 2-22 to Clonad’s total of 1-6.
Ironically, Clonad’s best player on the day was Barry Cormack who a few years ago helped Kildare to Christy Ring honours.
Twenty-four hours later Clough/Ballacolla were on the road to UMPC Nowlan Park facing the Kilkenny champions, Shamrocks Ballyhale. The last time the sides met, in Croke Park, the Kilkenny champions triumphed with 29 points to spare.
On Sunday under Willie Hyland the Laois champions were a different proposition. At the interval the sides were separated by just four points and the Laois team would have wind assistance on the changeover.
With four minutes remaining the teams were level but, as Kilkenny teams so often do, Shamrocks struck for three points in less than three minutes.
Clough/Ballacolla kept battling but time ran out and the Shamrocks were through to meet Wexford champions St Martins in the final in Croke Park on Saturday week.
Naturally the Laois champions were bitterly disappointed but they can be proud of their performance away from home.
