Hassett double fires Rathdowney/Errill into semi-finals

Laois Shopping Centre Premier IHC q/f 

Rathdowney/Errill 2-22 

Colt-Shanahoe 1-15

THE final four in this year’s Laois Shopping Centre Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship was complete on Friday evening after Rathdowney/Errill got the better of Colt-Shanahoe in their quarter-final clash at O’Keefe Park.

Their victory earns them a spot alongside group winners Mountmellick and Ballyfin, as well as Camross, who had booked their place a day earlier with victory over Clonaslee/St Manman’s at the LOETB Centre of Excellence.

Rathdowney/Errill wasted little time in getting into their stride. Within half a minute Micheal Cleary struck the first point, though Colt-Shanahoe responded straight away with efforts from James Keyes and Colm Kavanagh to move in front. That lead was short-lived, however, as Aaron Costigan, Cleary and Jacques Dowling landed three in succession to swing momentum back.

Dowling nearly raised a green flag soon after, but goalkeeper Paul Kerwan produced a fine stop to deny him. Paddy Hassett got off the mark with a free before Nathan Dunne replied with one of his own. Hassett pointed again from distance, but Dylan Cuddy and Keyes closed the gap, leaving only a single score between the sides.

Another exchange of frees between Hassett and Dunne kept things tight before Rathdowney/Errill made the game’s first decisive breakthrough. Cleary picked off a point in a ruck before Joe Fitzpatrick launched a long delivery into Dowling, who laid off to Hassett. The corner-forward drilled the sliotar past Kerwan for the opening goal. Dunne added a free to keep Colt-Shanahoe in touch, but Rathdowney/Errill were beginning to click from play. Dowling fired over two superb scores, with Jimmy Corrigan also adding his name to the sheet.

Keyes and Cian Moffitt hit back with points, yet Rathdowney/Errill finished the half on top. Hassett converted another free, while Dowling and Cleary tacked on further efforts to open up a 1-14 to 0-9 lead at the break, an advantage built on their sharper shooting.

Dunne cut into the margin with a free right after the restart, but Rathdowney/Errill kept control as Hassett added two more placed balls. Keyes and Dunne tried to rally their side, though with 40 minutes gone the gap remained seven. Keyes grabbed his fifth of the evening to narrow it further, only for Rathdowney/Errill to surge clear again. Hassett hit two points before injuring his arm, and Costigan assumed free-taking duties with confidence, slotting two in a row.

Colt-Shanahoe briefly sparked hopes of a comeback when Paudie McDonald netted, followed quickly by points from Kavanagh and Dunne (65) to leave just five between the teams with seven minutes remaining. The pressure was building, but Rathdowney/Errill’s response was ruthless.

Despite carrying an arm injury, Hassett showed great instinct when a loose ball broke in front of goal, sweeping it to the net at second time of asking, when his original effort bounced off the helmet of Paul Kerwan. Dowling and Ben Galvin added points to round off a ten-point success.

Rathdowney/Errill now advance to a semi-final showdown with Mountmellick in two weeks, while Colt-Shanahoe exit after a spirited but second-best showing.

SCORERS:

Rathdowney/Errill: Paddy Hassett 2-8 (0-6fs), Jacques Dowling 0-5, Micheal Cleary 0-4, Aaron Costigan 0-3 (0-2fs), Jimmy Corrigan and Ben Galvin 0-1 each.

Colt-Shanahoe: Nathan Dunne 0-6 (0-5fs, 0-1 65), James Keyes 0-5, Paudie McDonald 1-0, Colm Kavanagh 0-2, Dylan Cuddy and Cian Moffitt 0-1 each.

RATHDOWNEY/ERRILL: Ben Campion; Killian Carroll, Daniel Bowe, Brian Campion; Oisín Moore, Joe Fitzpatrick, Marc Treacy; James Keegan, Jimmy Corrigan; Micheal Cleary, Shane Dollard, Ben Galvin; Jacques Dowling, Paddy Hassett, Aaron Costigan.

Subs: Vinny Cleere for Dollard (52m), Peter Meagher for Hassett (56m).

COLT-SHANAHOE: Paul Kerwan; Dayle Bergin, Brian Guilfoyle, Tim Drennan; Cian Moffit, Robert Delaney, Dylan Cuddy; Niall Brennan, James Keyes; Paudie McDonald, Colm Kavanagh, Nathan Dunne; Josh Hickey, Enda Mulhall, Robbie Moffitt.

Subs: Franky McEvoy for R Moffitt (21m), Ben McDonald for Drennan (21m), David Madden for Brennan (ht), Dan Butler for Mulhall (ht), Owen Joyce for Hickey (56m).

Referee: Patrick Phelan (Castletown)