Ballinakill continue their amazing senior championship run to earn a semi-final place
Cha Dwyer gaining possession for Ballinakill Photo: Denis Byrne
BALLINAKILL'S amazing run will continue to a semi-final after their defeat of Rosenallis on Sunday in the Laois SHC quarter-finals.
The sides met in a breezy Laois Hire O'Moore Park and it was the newcomers to the senior championship that came away with the spoils after a brilliant performance.
It was an excellent team display from Ballinakill, with the standouts being Cha Dwyer, Ian Shanahan and Ethan Drury who were all excellent in different areas of the field.
Rosenallis couldn't effect their game plan to the extent that they'd have wanted as Ballinakill were very well set up to contend with the running and athleticism of their opponents with the likes of Gearoid Lynch and Ian Shanahan at the back having serious speed and power.
Both teams registered points within 30 seconds of the throw in, with Jack Friel and Cha Dwyer trading before Cha and his elder brother Eddie went on to fire Ballinakill into a three point lead by the fourth minute.
Paddy Keating ended a scoreless 10 minute period for Rosenallis with a point and Brian Fitzpatrick soon added another, though Ballinakill's lead was extended further thanks to Ethan Drury, Seamus Fitzpatrick and two long range frees from Cha inside his own half.
Ballinakill did have the wind in the first half, but Rosenallis were able to battle it well and slotted three points in quick succession through Charlie Friel and a David Dooley brace of frees.
Ian Shanahan excelled throughout the game at full back and let very little past him, proving to be a huge addition back into the side after his injury.
Three scores on the trot from Cha Dwyer put Ballinakill five ahead and Rosenallis were slightly lucky it wasn't more as Ballinakill had a decent chance at goal but neither Seamus Fitzpatrick nor Ryan Quinlan could quite find the space and they recycled back out to Cha to stick it over.
Dooley was on target with a further two frees which were cancelled out by Cha Dwyer and Ethan Drury before John Lennon had the final say of the half to make it 0-13 to 0-9 at the break in favour of Ballinakill.
The wind continued to blow towards Abbeyleix and though Rosenallis were trailing at half time they would have that advantage in the second half and Charlie Friel made use of it early on with two long range points either side of scores from Drury and Brian Duggan.
Scores weren't coming quick and fast at all in the second half with a fair number of stoppages not helping things, but John Lennon did find space to split the posts from an angle after a Cha Dwyer 65.
A phenomenal sideline cut from the stand side of the pitch from Dwyer kicked a bit of life back into the game and Seamus Fitzpatrick added a second from play after a deft touch on the ground to beat his man and run into space.
Ethan Drury's top performance continued when he made a clever run away from goal to gather a free from Dwyer and turn to pop it over, and just a minute later Dwyer was provider once again on a blazing run down the left and a good hand pass to Drury and he flung it over.
Eight points now separated the sides, but any doubts of Rosenallis's conviction or courage would be quashed as they rampaged to score the next five points in a row.
Dooley slotted four frees and Donnchadh Hartnett drove over a shot from his own half out on the left wing and Rosenallis were putting Ballinakill under real pressure with their athleticism so late in the game.
Dwyer settled Ballinakill nerves with a pointed free in the 58th minute, end an eleven minute scoreless run and he drove the Ballinakill crowd into raptures in the 60th with his twelfth point of the game.
Rosenallis had a chance at salvation with a free on the 21 but Stephen Kelly's shot was deflected over the bar and a free a minute later from Fiachra C Fennell crept over the bar.
Ballinakill cleared their lines and held out for a massive win.
Cha Dwyer 0-12 (0-4fs, 0-1 sideline, 0-1 65), Ethan Drury 0-5, Eddie Dwyer and Seamus Fitzpatrick 0-2 each, Brian Duggan 0-1.
David Dooley 0-8 (0-7fs), Charlie Friel 0-3, John Lennon 0-2, Brian Fitzpatrick, Paddy Keating, Stephen Kelly (f), Donnchadh Hartnett and Jack Friel 0-1 each.
Paul Simms; Lir McDonald, Ian Shanahan, Andrew McDonagh; Podge Lawlor, Gearoid Lynch, Cian O'Shaughnessy; Cha Dwyer, Eoin Simms; Ethan Drury, Seamus Fitzpatrick, Ryan Quinlan; Brian Duggan, Eddie Dwyer, Ben O'Mara.
Sean Downey for E Simms (ht), Noel Duggan for McDonagh (ht), TJ Lalor for Quinlan (47m), Cathal O'Shaughnessy for O'Mara (54m).
Stephen Kelly; Shane Farrell, Diarmuid Dooley, John Maher; Colin Bennett, Fiachra C Fennell, Donnchadh Hartnett; Charlie Friel, Jimmy Hyland; Paddy Keating, Jack Friel, David Dooley; John Lennon, Brian Fitzpatick, Joe Keating.
Joey Shelly for Maher (ht), Mathew Bennett for C Bennett (36m), Cian Ryle for J Keating (47m), Tommy Keating for Fitzpatrick (50m), Oran Gorman for J Friel (59m).
Padraig Dunne (Colt)
