Barry and Finlay fire O’Dempsey’s into senior quarter-finals

O’Dempsey’s 0-20 

Arles Killeen 1-8 

O’DEMPSEY’S produced a commanding second half performance to book their place in the quarter-finals of the Laois Shopping Centre SFC after overcoming Arles Killeen on Sunday afternoon.

Arles Killeen led by a point at half-time, but O’Dempsey’s completely took control after the restart, scoring seven points without reply during a dominant spell to turn the game in their favour.

A major boost for O’Dempsey’s was the return of Mark Barry, who has spent the last while in Boston playing football with Aidan McAnespie’s. He made an immediate impact on his return, finishing with eight points, while Eoin Finlay was also outstanding with six points.

The result means O’Dempsey’s progress to the last eight to face Portarlington, while Arles Killeen drop into the SFC ‘B’ for the second time in four seasons.

Barry needed just 15 seconds to make his mark, cutting inside onto his left foot before sending the opening point between the posts. O’Dempsey’s almost had a goal moments later when Finlay raced through and rounded Jason Enright, but his effort struck the crossbar before going over.

Paul Kingston opened the Arles Killeen account, but O’Dempsey’s responded with three successive points as they made good use of the wind. Joe Lennon, Finlay and Jack Lennon were all on target, leaving O’Dempsey’s 0-5 to 0-1 ahead after 11 minutes.

Arles Killeen then turned the game around and enjoyed their best spell of the opening half. They scored 1-3 without reply, with Oisin Byrne reducing the deficit before the game’s opening goal arrived from the resulting kick-out. Paddy Christie’s side won possession and Byrne found Colin Dunne, who finished low under Podge Bannon to put Arles Killeen in front.

There was also a strong appeal for a penalty when Donie Kingston went down inside the square, but referee Hugh Coghlan waved play on. Sean O’Shea and a Paul Kingston free extended the Arles Killeen lead, but O’Dempsey’s eventually ended a 17-minute spell without a score when Barry registered his second.

Finlay then levelled the contest with a mark, but Arles Killeen had the final say before the interval. Byrne kicked his second point of the afternoon with the last kick of the half to leave his side ahead by 1-5 to 0-7.

Any hopes Arles Killeen had of maintaining that advantage disappeared almost immediately after the restart. Barry needed less than 30 seconds to put O’Dempsey’s back in front, landing a two-pointer to begin a devastating spell for his side.

Captain Barry Kelly was introduced at half-time and quickly added a point before Barry produced the score of the afternoon. From around 52 metres, he curled a remarkable two-point free over with the outside of his left boot.

Barry soon added another point to bring his tally to seven, while Finlay’s free in the 38th minute stretched the advantage to six. Arles Killeen finally stopped the bleeding when Dunne fisted over, but O’Dempsey’s were firmly in control and immediately responded through Joe Finn and Finlay from a free.

Paul Kingston and Byrne converted frees for Arles Killeen, but those were their final scores of the afternoon despite still having 12 minutes remaining.

O’Dempsey’s continued to press forward. Finn added another point and was then denied a goal by an excellent Enright save. There was still time for Fionn Holland to finish off a fine run with a score before Barry brought his tally to eight. Finlay then completed his afternoon with his sixth point.

O’Dempsey’s will face county champions Portarlington in the quarter-finals, while Arles Killeen will take on Clonaslee St Manman’s in the SFC ‘B’.

SCORERS:

O’Dempsey’s: Mark Barry 0-8 (1tpf, 1tp), Eoin Finlay 0-6 (0-2fs, 0-1 mark), Joe Finn 0-2, Barry Kelly, Fionn Holland, Jack Lennon and Joe Lennon 0-1 each.

Arles Killeen: Colin Dunne 1-1, Paul Kingston (0-2fs) and Oisin Byrne (0-2fs) 0-3 each, Sean O’Shea 0-1.

O’DEMPSEY’S: Podge Bannon; Jim Holland, Johnny Kelly, Adam O’Leary; Tom Kelly, Callum Ryan, Joe Lennon; Barry Howlin, Fionn Holland; Cormac O’Hora, Jack Lennon, Daithi Howlin; Ben Coen, Mark Barry, Eoin Finlay.

Subs: Barry Kelly for T Kelly (ht), Joe Finn for Ryan (ht), Brian Nugent for Jack Lennon (48m).

ARLES KILLEEN: Jason Enright; Eoin Kelly, Joe Mulhare, Enda O’Rourke; Mick Wall, Noel Gaughan, Ben Griffin; John Mahon, Paul Kingston; Donie Kingston, Oisín Byrne, Sean O’Shea; Niall O’Rourke, Colin Dunne, Ennae Byrne.

Subs: Conor Keightley for Griffin (40m), Dermot Julian for Mahon (41m), Andrew Wall for Kelly (53m), Shane Byrne for O’Rourke (57m).

Referee: Hugh Coghlan (Park/Ratheniska)