Champions get off to a winning start but struggle against Rosenallis

Clough/Ballacolla 0-17 

Rosenallis 1-11 

ROUND 1 of the Laois Shopping Centre SHC concluded late on Sunday evening with champions Clough/Ballacolla taking on Rosenallis in Laois Hire O'Moore Park.

A good game was expected between two generally entertaining sides, but it didn't pan out that way and it certainly wasn't a case of leaving the best 'til last this weekend.

Clough/Ballacolla eventually irked out a three point victory despite coming in as heavy favourites as they struggled against the Rosenallis setup which saw David Dooley operating as a sweeper, and doing so quite effectively.

That stifled the Clough/Ballacolla attack so much so that their top scorer in the game was Picky Maher who came on in the 40th minute and scored four points from frees.

Rosenallis defended with everything they had and led by four points early in the second half thanks to a Paddy Keating goal, extending the two point lead that they held at half time - at a scoreline of 0-6 to 0-4.

Clough/Ballacolla battled back late on to tack on the points with Dunne raising three green flags in the second period and they did enough to hold off the late advances from Rosenallis who were forced to go goal chasing.

Connor Cosgrove got the game's opening score after six minutes, which prompted an immediate reply from Robbie Phelan at the other end.

It took a further five minutes for Rosenallis to score again with a Cosgrove free and Jimmy Hyland doubled their lead with a good strike from midfield.

David Dooley wasn't left as a spare man for long when Clough/Ballacolla captain Mark Hennessy moved onto him, leaving Hyland spare at the back.

Stephen Bergin slotted Clough/Ballacolla's second point in the 17th minute from a free after they saw a series of chances go awry, though Cosgrove soon hit two in a row, one from a free and a great effort from play.

Bergin and Aidan Corby both struck for Clough/Ballacolla to reduce the gap back to one and Hennessy was painstakingly close to sending them into the lead but his attempt at goal was brilliantly hooked by Diarmuid Dooley.

A late free from Cosgrove made it 0-6 to 0-4 in favour of Rosenallis at half time.

Within three minutes of the restart the sides were level thanks to a Bergin free and an excellent point from Cillian Dunne who found a rare pocket of space.

A free from Cosgrove edged Rosenallis back ahead and they went four ahead seconds later when Cosgrove and Brian Fitzpatrick combined to stifle a short Clough/Ballacolla puckout and work the ball out to Paddy Keating who smashed it home.

Dunne and John Lennon traded points in the aftermath, but it soon started to go downhill rapidly for Rosenallis for the remaining 20 minutes.

Jordan Walshe fired over an excellent effort from the left wing and Brian Corby matched him from under the stand just before Picky Maher made his introduction to the play.

Both sides made a mess of scoring chances midway through the half, with Cosgrove electing to go for goal from a free and seeing it saved by Cathal Dunne and from the following play at the other end Cillian Dunne and Robbie Phelan overplayed their run in on goal and it was cleared harmlessly.

Joe Corby got his name on the sheet before a trio of points from frees by Picky Maher sent the champions two points clear and Rosenallis were soon beginning to run out of steam.

The Clough/Ballacolla lead increased further from Dunne and Maher as the clock ticked into the four minutes of injury time.

Cosgrove pointed another free that was cancelled out by Corby and Rosenallis had a couple of goal chances snuffed out.

Aidan Corby slotted his second before David Dooley and Cosgrove raised white flags to put two between the sides at the death.

A late score from Lee Cleere gave his side a three point lead and they battened down the hatches in the closing moments to hold on for the win.

SCORERS:

Clough/Ballacolla: Picky Maher 0-4 (fs), Stephen Bergin (fs) and Cillian Dunne 0-3 each, Aidan Corby 0-2, Jordan Walshe, Robbie Phelan, Joe Corby, Brian Corby and Lee Cleere 0-1.

Rosenallis: Connor Cosgrove 0-8 (0-6fs), Paddy Keating 1-0, John Lennon, David Dooley and Jimmy Hyland 0-1 each.

CLOUGH/BALLACOLLA: Cathal Dunne; Diarmaid Conway, Darren Maher, Cormac Hogan; Brian Corby, Ronan Broderick, Lee Cleere; Joe Corby, Aidan Corby; Mark Hennessy, Jordan Walshe, Robbie Phelan; Stephen Bergin, Cillian Dunne, Willie Dunphy.

Subs: Picky Maher for Dunphy (41m), Lochlainn Conway for Phelan (50m).

ROSENALLIS: Stephen Kelly; John Maher, Diarmuid Dooley, Oran Gorman; Alex Marron, Fiachra C Fennell, Jimmy Hyland; Charlie Friel, Matthew Bennett; Jack Friel, Conor Cosgrove, Brian Fitzpatrick; John Lennon, Paddy Keating, David Dooley.

Subs: Sam Sommers for Fitzpatrick (48m), Joey Shelley for Hyland (55m, inj).

Referee: Anthony Stapleton (Rathdowney/Errill)