Conroy’s class shines through as Slieve Bloom seal semi-final spot

Laois Shopping Centre IHC q/f 

Slieve Bloom 2-18 

Borris/Kilcotton 0-12 

SLIEVE Bloom secured their spot in the IHC semi-final on Saturday evening with a commanding win over Borris/Kilcotton’s second team in Trumera GAA.

Slieve Bloom have teed up a semi-final date with Clonad, who they have previously clashed with this year. On that occasion, it was Clonad who came out on top so Slieve Bloom will be looking to enact some revenge in the last four.

Borris/Kilcotton played into a stiff breeze in the first period which blew directly down the field.

Ben Conroy was on fire for the men from the mountains all evening and racked up a tally of 14 points by the final whistle. It was the Slieve Bloom number 11 who got the scoring underway as he pointed a free in the opening minutes.

Emmet Jones responded by also pointing a free before Slieve Bloom then fired 1-2 within the space of two minutes. Enda Conroy and Ben Conroy (free) raised white flags while Fergal Burke played a ball to Martin Delaney, who turned and rattled the back of the net.

Jones and Ben Conroy traded points from play, followed by a second Jones free. Jake Collins and David Ryan exchanged scores for their respective sides, which was Borris/Kilcotton’s final point of the half.

Slieve Bloom went up another gear and pointed a further seven before the break. Ben Conroy pointed four in a row, one from a placed ball. Darragh Delaney and Kelvin Burke added their names to the score sheet while a Ben Conroy free split the posts to conclude the first half and give his side an 11-point advantage, (1-12 to 0-4).

Borris/Kilcotton had an opportunity for a positive start but Jones’ effort was denied by Gavin Conroy, Jones pointed the resulting 65’. Ben Conroy pointed his first free of the half with centre-back Ciaran Coss replying the other end.

Trailing by 10, Borris/Kilcotton hit a purple patch but unfortunately for them, their accuracy was poor, striking six wides in a row. They finally managed to fire over two scores which came from a Jones free and David Scott from play.

Ben Conroy and Oisin Fleming traded scores before Slieve Bloom completed their evening with 1-1. Ben Conroy pointed his 14th of the contest while Delaney raised a second green flag, adding to his first half one. Jones found himself facing Gavin Conroy yet again, but his effort was saved over the bar. Gavin Conroy denied Jones again only minutes later and the save resulted in a 65’ allowing Jones to point the final score of the game.

Gavin Conroy was called upon once more in the dying minutes but was determined to keep his clean sheet, which he did and denied Jones to keep the victory at 12 points. They’ll take on Clonad in two weeks’ time with a place in the county final up for grabs.

SCORERS:

Slieve Bloom: Ben Conroy 0-14 (0-5fs), Martin Delaney 2-0, Enda Conroy, Jake Collins, Darragh Delaney, Kelvin Burke 0-1 each.

Borris/Kilcotton: Emmet Jones 0-8 (0-5fs, 0-2 65s), David Ryan, Oisín Fleming, David Scott, Ciaran Coss 0-1 each.

SLIEVE BLOOM: Gavin Conroy; Rory Power, Shane Farrell, Dylan Collins; Tom Delaney, Evan Power, Gearoid Lowry; Fergal Burke, Darragh Delaney; Kelvin Burke, Ben Conroy, Ben Shore; Enda Conroy, Martin Delaney, Jake Collins.

Subs: James Delaney for M Delaney (57m), Damien Dowling for Shore (57m), Tadgh Drea for J Collins (60m).

BORRIS/KILCOTTON: Michael Grehan; Noel Delaney, Keilan Kelly, Cillian O’Riordan; William Campion, Ciaran Coss, Jim Fitzpatrick; David Scott, Daire Fogarty; Daniel Fitzpatrick, Evan Carey, Oisín Fleming; Kyle Abraham, David Ryan, Emmet Jones.

Subs: Seamus Costigan for O’Riordan (25m, inj), Daire Quinlan for Fogarty (ht).

Referee: Jamie McDonald (Rosenallis)