Abbeyleix leave their best form until when it mattered most and condemn Rathdowney/Errill

St Lazarian’s Abbeyleix 2-22 

Rathdowney/Errill 3-16 

ABBEYLEIX secured a quarter-final spot versus Rosenallis in the Laois Shopping Centre SHC with an incredible victory over Rathdowney/Errill in Laois Hire O'Moore Park on Sunday afternoon.

There were a couple of knock on effects as a result of Abbeyleix’s victory as it meant that Rathdowney/Errill wouldn’t be progressing from their group while it also subjected Ballinakill to a relegation play off against Ballyfin.

Abbeyleix struggled early in the competition but they saved their best until it mattered in this all or nothing game against Rathdowney/Errill and they were at it from the off when they had the first half wind and built up a nine point lead by half time.

Rathdowney/Errill had a big task ahead of them without Mark Kavanagh for the second half as he went off injured and in truth the scoreline flattered them as Abbeyleix held a big advantage for most of the second half before two late goals reduced the gap to three.

Mark Kavanagh opened the scoring with a free into the wind and Micheal Cleary soon doubled the Rathdowney/Errill lead with a good strike from the left wing before Fionan Mahony replied on the double for Abbeyleix either side of a good strike from Eoin Bracken who started in midfield in place of Padraig Rafter.

Rathdowney/Errill continued to hold the upper hand in the early stages however and went three points ahead with score from Jack Kelly and Tadgh Dowling before The Fung began to find their feet.

Fionan Mahony struck his third point of the game and Abbeyleix began to make good use of their wind advantage when Enda Rowland fired a long ball down the field to Cormac Byrne and he pointed from play before adding another form a free to level it up midway through the half.

Those three points were cancelled out in the blink of an eye when Paddy Purcell latched onto a high ball and broke several tackles on the turn to race inside on Rowland and smash it home.

Abbeyleix knew they had to take advantage of the wind when they had it and that resulted in Rowland making the trek up the field to attempt a free on the 21 that was saved, but he got another go minutes later and this one hit the net.

That really spurred Abbeyleix into action as they followed with three scores from way out the field, one from Liam Delaney and an Eoin Reilly brace.

Kavanagh ended the Abbeyleix run briefly with a free, but Abbeyleix continued firing from range as Reilly added two more to his tally while Cormac Byrne added another.

Abbeyleix really drove home the advantage when Mahony rose highest to flick a looping ball in from Colm Walsh into the bottom corner of the net for their second goal, and injury was added to insult for Rathdowney/Errill when Mark Kavanagh was forced off through injury late in the half.

The sides traded a couple of scores before half time through Cleary and Delaney and Abbeyleix went in ahead 2-12 to 1-7 - would it be enough coming out against the wind?

Rathdowney/Errill came out firing early in the second half with scores from Cleary, Dowling and Kelly as they attempted to cla back the deficit.

Abbeyleix matched them however with Cormac Byrne on target twice from play and Reilly from a free into the wind.

The sides continued to trade scores, which was no good for Rathdowney/Errill as Abbeyleix kept their lead in tact with some fine efforts from Colin and Cormac Byrne, Sam Quinn and Reilly in reply to Dowling and Kelly.

Rathdowney/Errill were becoming reliant on Kelly's frees to keep them in touch however as the Abbeyleix backs were defending brilliantly to keep them at bay from open play and Rathdowney/Errill began to ring in the changes with the introductions of Eoin Bourke and Paddy Hassett to bring in some ball winners to the forwards.

Cormac Byrne continued to impress with a couple more scores and Eoghan Fennelly chipped in from the bench with one from play and a free, the gap now increased to nine points approaching the final five minutes.

Pressure began to build on Abbeyleix in the closing moments when Tadgh Dowling latched onto a loose ball in front of the posts and found the bottom corner just as three minutes of injury time was announced over the tannoy.

Abbeyleix kept them out for the first two minutes of injury time as Rathdowney/Errill threw everything forward and they did add to the pressure when a ball in from Hassett was met by Purcell to guide it home, but time ran out for Rathdowney/Errill down the stretch and Abbeyleix held on for a huge three point win.

SCORERS:

Abbeyleix: Fionan Mahony 1-3, Eoin Reilly 0-6 (0-2fs), Cormac Byrne 0-6 (0-1f), Enda Rowland 1-0 (f), Colin Byrne and Eoghan Fennelly (0-1f) 0-2 each, Eli Quinn and Sam Quinn 0-1 each.

Rathdowney/Errill: Jack Kelly 0-7 (0-5fs), Paddy Purcell 2-0, Tadgh Dowling 1-3, Micheal Cleary 0-3, Mark Kavanagh 0-2 (0-1f), Eoin Bracken 0-1.

ST LAZARIAN’S ABBEYLEIX: Enda Rowland; Eamon Fitzpatrick, Oisin Carroll, Eli Quinn; Stephen O'Donnell, Liam Delaney, Ross Coffey; Colm Walsh, Eoin Reilly; Liam Kavanagh, Cillian McEvoy, Fionan Mahony; Colin Byrne, Alan Lynch, Cormac Byrne.

Subs: Sam Quinn for Kavanagh (37m), Jack Finlay for Walsh (47m), Killian Byrne for C McEvoy (52m), Eoghan Fennelly for Reilly (54m).

RATHDOWNEY/ERRILL: Damien Madden; Shane Madden, Kevin O'Dea, David Poynton; Shane Bracken, Dylan Carroll, Thep Fitzpatrick; Eoin Bracken, James Ryan; Jack Kelly, Mark Kavanagh, Micheal Cleary; Tadgh Dowling, Paddy Purcell, Ray Bowe.

Subs: Jack Dowling for Kavanagh (29m, inj), James Keegan for E Bracken (45m), Eoin Bourke for Bowe (50m), Paddy Hassett for Cleary (57m), Aaron Costigan for Poynton (59m).

Referee: Patrick Phelan (Castletown)