Booth’s goal three minutes from time secures The Heath's senior status
Denis Booth scored the goal that secured The Heath's senior status Photo: Denis Byrne
Laois Senior Football Championship 'B' Quarter-Final
The Heath 1-11
Rosenallis 0-11
The Heath have secured their place as a senior club for next season after they beat Rosenallis in the Laois Shopping Centre Senior Football Championship 'B' quarter-final on Friday evening. A goal from Denis Booth in the 57th minute was the difference between the sides after a seriously physical, abrasive game.
The Heath were winless coming into this game, having been well beaten in Round 1 by a strong Ballyroan Abbey side before losing by a goal in Round 2 to neighbours O'Dempsey's. Rosenallis also lost to Ballyroan Abbey and O'Dempsey's earlier in the championship, but unlike The Heath, Rosenallis did taste a victory this year with a strong showing against Stradbally in the opening round.
Charlie Friel kicked Rosenallis into the lead, but The Heath came back well to get the next three scores on the bounce. Daithi Carroll began by points back-to-back frees before James Phelan pointed a lovely score.
Rosenallis were level after quarter of hour though, with a great score from Brian Fitzpatrick followed by a close-range free from Charlie Friel. Neil Keane restored the lead for The Heath in the 18th minute, but they did not manage another score for the rest of the half.
Another free from Friel levelled the game after 20 minutes, but Rosenallis went on to add three more points before the break. Eoin Dunne kicked two good frees from wide on the right and Rosenallis added another in stoppage time when David Dooley fisted over after a fabulous solo run to leave it 0-7 to 0-4 at half time.
But The Heath went up a gear after the beak, outscoring Rosenallis by six points. Daithi Carroll pointed a free and another from play at the start of the half before a phenomenal score from Jack Friel got Rosenallis back up and running.
Another free from Carroll left just one point between the teams, with the game falling into a scoreless ten-minute period after that. Rosenallis had a great chance to raise a green flag but Joe Walshe stood up to the shot from Paul Maher. That would prove crucial.
Paddy Fitzpatrick and Dylan Kavanagh both pointed from long range before David Dooley equalised once more. Another free from Charlie Friel put Rosenallis a point up with five minutes remaining. But then came the match-winning goal.
Paddy Fitzpatrick looked to have scored a second point from distance, but his shot dropped just short and Denis Booth rose highest to get a touch on the ball, doing just enough to put it into the Rosenallis net beyond Donal Lawlor. James Phelan and Brian Ging tagged on two more scores to put the game beyond Rosenallis, who finished with a consolation score from Charlie Friel.
This hard-hitting encounter was made for a big, strong bull in midfield and Dowling was just that man, putting in a man-of-the-match performance. He was involved in a battle in midfield with John O'Loughlin, but it was Dowling who came out the better.
The Heath will play in the Senior ‘B’ semi-finals in two weeks’ time against either Emo, Stradbally, or the winners of Ballyfin v Clonaslee-St Manman's. In the Relegation semis, Rosenallis will be up against either the losers of that tie, Ballylinan or Courtwood. Repeat pairings are now permitted at this stage.
SCORERS:
The Heath: Daithi Carroll 0-5 (0-4fs), Denis Booth 1-0, James Phelan 0-2, Neil Keane, Paddy Fitzpatrick, Brian Ging and Dylan Kavanagh 0-1 each.
Rosenallis: Charlie Friel 0-5 (0-4), Eoin Dunne (fs) and David Dooley 0-2 each, Jack Friel and Brian Fitzpatrick 0-1 each.
THE HEATH: Joe Walshe; Dylan Kavanagh, Ciaran Booth, Alan Whelan; Aaron Thornton, Gary Roe, Denis Booth; PJ Daly, Robbie Dowling; Brian Ging, James Phelan, Sean Kirby; Daithi Carroll, Jimmy Nerney, Neill Keane.
Subs: Paddy Fitzpatrick for Kirby (40m), Colin Nestor for Thornton (46m, inj), David O’Brien for Dowling (50m).
ROSENALLIS: Donal Lalor; John Maher, Ruaidhri C-Fennell, Paddy Keating; David Dooley, Fiachra C-Fennell, Joe Shelley; John O'Loughlin, Jimmy Hyland; Diarmuid Dooley, Paul Maher, Jack Friel, Brian Fitzpatrick, Charlie Friel, Eoin Dunne.
Subs: Matthew Bennett for F. C-Fennell (ht), Jack Claffey for Bennett (49m), John Lennon for Hyland (58m).
Referee: Des Cooney (St Joseph's)
