Ballyroan Abbey finish strong to advance and knock out Park/Ratheniska

Ballyroan Abbey 2-17 

Park/Ratheniska 0-17 

BALLYROAN Abbey are into the quarter-finals of the Laois Shopping Centre SFC after a superb second half display saw them overcome 2025 Intermediate champions Park/Ratheniska in Laois Hire O’Moore Park on Saturday evening.

Having lost to Courtwood in the winners’ section of Round 2, Ballyroan Abbey knew they needed victory to avoid dropping into the SFC ‘B’, while Park/Ratheniska came into the game on the back of a win over Crettyard.

Ballyroan Abbey were without their injured talisman Diarmuid Whelan, who was not togged out and instead took on water-boy duties, while goalkeeper Robbie Eyres was also absent. Park/Ratheniska were also missing two key men in the form of Podge Dunne and Cian Nolan through injury.

Ballyroan Abbey made the brighter start as Davin McEvoy fisted over the opening score before James McWey added a free. Park/Ratheniska responded through a Conor Headen free, but Ballyroan Abbey struck for the game’s opening goal soon afterwards. Shaun Fitzpatrick was brought down by James Newell, who received a black card for the foul, and Davin McEvoy confidently converted the resulting penalty.

Park/Ratheniska settled after that setback and Matt Cunningham registered a two-pointer before Tom Fingleton and Simon Fingleton added a point each. Conor Brennan responded with a two-pointer for Ballyroan Abbey just before James Newell returned from his black-card spell.

Simon Fingleton then took control of the scoring, adding a two-pointer before Park/Ratheniska goalkeeper Cathal Tierney produced an excellent save to deny Cathal Doyle. Park/Ratheniska continued to build momentum when Simon Fingleton landed an outrageous two-pointer from a sideline ball. McWey responded with a free for Ballyroan Abbey, before Ballyroan Abbey were denied a second goal when Conaire Gee palmed a long ball onto the crossbar.

Simon Fingleton added two more points, one from a free, before Davin McEvoy responded for Ballyroan Abbey. Matt Cunningham then had the final say of the half as Park/Ratheniska went in leading 0-12 to 1-7.

It had been a frustrating opening half for Ballyroan Abbey, who had threatened at times but struggled to contain Park/Ratheniska once the 2025 Intermediate champions settled into the game. Simon Fingleton was particularly influential, scoring seven of his side’s 12 first half points Ballyroan Abbey came out with a completely different attitude after the interval and quickly began to eat into Park/Ratheniska’s lead. McWey opened their second half account with a free before Killian Byrne landed a two-pointer. The momentum was firmly with Ballyroan Abbey and they soon found the net again.

A long ball out of defence was played up field towards Davin McEvoy, who laid it off to Shaun Fitzpatrick, and he made no mistake with the finish to put Ballyroan Abbey right back in control of the contest.

Simon Fingleton got Park/Ratheniska back to within two points with two frees before Matt Cunningham struck his second two-pointer of the evening to bring Park/Ratheniska level with 11 minutes remaining.

=That was as good as it got for the 2025 Intermediate champions, however, as Ballyroan Abbey took complete control of the last 10 minutes. McWey fired over a two-pointer from play to put Ballyroan Abbey back in front before Noah Fingleton replied for Park/Ratheniska.

From there, Ballyroan Abbey finished strongly. McWey added two frees and a point from play. His excellent late contribution continued when he landed a two-point free to put the result beyond doubt.

A second loss in three games sees Park/Ratheniska drop into the SFC ‘B’ where three of the eight teams will lose their senior status for 2026.

SCORERS:

Ballyroan Abbey: James McWey 0-10 (1 tp, 1 tpf, 0-5fs), Davin McEvoy 1-2 (1-0 pen), Shaun Fitzpatrick 1-1, Killian Byrne (tp) and Conor Brennan (tp) 0-2 each.

Park/Ratheniska: Simon Fingleton 0-9 (1 tp, 1 tp sideline, 0-4fs), Matt Cunningham 0-5 (2 tp), Tom Fingleton, Noah Fingleton and Conor Headen (f) 0-1 each.

BALLYROAN ABBEY: Adam Jones; Eamon Fitzpatrick, Patrick Whelan, Conor McWey; Charlie Whelan, Conor Brennan, Conaire Gee; Cathal Doyle, Shaun Murphy; Davin McEvoy, Mark McDonald, Aaron McEvoy; James McWey, Killian Byrne, Shaun Fitzpatrick.

Subs: Enda McWey for McDonald (ht), Odhran Delaney for Murphy (ht), Colin Walsh for A McEvoy (55m).

PARK/RATHENISKA: Cathal Tierney; James Newell, Colm Brennan, Benny Greene; Jimmy Langton, Ritchie Hitchcock, Killian O’Connor; Kieran Delaney, Simon Fingleton; Paul Byrne, Matt Cunningham, Aaron Fitzpatrick; Tom Fingleton, Noah Fingleton, Conor Headen.

Subs: Brian Fingleton for Greene (ht), Barry Connolly for O’Connor (45m).

Referee: Des Cooney (St Joseph’s)