Killeshin edge past Rosenallis to book place in round three

Killeshin 0-13 

Rosenallis 1-8 

KILLESHIN are through to round three of the Laois Shopping Centre SFC after overcoming Rosenallis by two points in a lacklustre affair in Annanough on Friday night.

The game lacked the intensity of a championship game, but Killeshin won't care as they progress to round three with Rosenallis dropping down to Senior 'B'.

In truth Killeshin should of had the game over at half time as they owned the possession for the first half but only went in at half-time leading by five points.

Rosenallis will be disappointed with their performance as they only came to the fore in the last ten minutes and they had a chance to bring the game into extra time, but Charlie Friel's long range free hit off the upright and went wide, with Killeshin just escaping by the skin of their teeth.

Killeshin opened up the scoring with a brilliant point from play by Eoin Lowry. The next ten minutes was about the accuracy of Killian Roche.

He first nailed a two pointer free after Rosenallis were penalised for a breach and then he went on to kick two more frees to give Killeshin a five-point lead.

Eoin Lowry, then kicked a two pointer of his own and it looked like Killeshin were going to coast through the game, but that didn't come to light.

Rosenallis finally got on the scoresheet through a Charlie Friel free in the 23rd minute, but Killeshin responded through Michael Doran.

John O'Loughlin who was superb for his side kicked a brilliant two pointer before half time to leave the scores at 0-8 to 0-3 at the break to Killeshin.

Rosenallis started the better in the second half as they kicked two points in a row through Jack Claffey and Brian Fitzpatrick to cut the gap to three points.

The victors then settled once more and would kick the next four points through Adam Farrell, Killian Roche with another two pointer free along with Eoin Lowry and it looked like the game was over.

Killian Roche was then at his brilliant best after denying Charlie Friel a certain goal after a save with his feet.

Straight after that Evan Lowry got his name on the scoreboard to open up an eight point gap with ten minutes remaining and the game looked finished.

Charlie Friel sparked his side into life kicking over three points in a row, two from frees and one superb point from play.

They then reduced the gap to two points as the game headed for injury time, as they hit the back of the net through a brilliant finish from Paul Maher.

It was all Rosenallis now and they got the opportunity to level the game and send it into extra time, but a free from Charlie Friel hit the upright and went wide, it was outside the arc so it would of drew the game level.

Killeshin saw out the last minute of the game to progress to round three of the championship.

SCORERS:

Killeshin: Killian Roche 0-6 (2 tpfs, 0-2fs), Eoin Lowry 0-4 (1tp), Michael Doran, Evan Lowry and Adam Farrell 0-1 each.

Rosenallis: Charlie Friel 0-4 (0-3fs), Paul Maher 1-0, John O'Loughlin 0-2 (1tp), Jack Claffey(f) and Brian Fitzpatrick 0-1 each.

KILLESHIN: Killian Roche; Jack Brennan, Brendan McDonald, James Davis; Michael Gaffney, Leeson Hughes, James Doogue; Cathal Byrne, Conor Heffernan; Adam Farrell, Evan Lowry, Jack Milton; Evan English, Eoin Lowry, Michael Doran.

Subs: Eoin Brennan for Doogue (43m), Conor Hassett for Farrell (52m), Daniel McGrath for Gaffney (54m).

ROSENALLIS: Conor Cosgrove; John Maher, Paddy Keating, Barry McEvoy; David Dooley, Matthew Bennett, Fiachra C Fennell; John O'Loughlin, Jimmy Hyland; Diarmaid Dooley, Charlie Friel, Joey Shelley; Brian Fitzpatrick, Ruairi C Fennell, Jack Claffey.

Subs: Paul Maher for J Maher (8m), Jack Friel for Hyland (45m), Alex Marron for Claffey (51m).

Referee: Colin Bailey (Mountrath)