Larkin goal proves decisive as Stradbally edge The Heath

Stradbally 1-15 

The Heath 1-12 

STRADBALLY booked their place in the Laois Shopping Centre Senior Football Championship quarter-finals after edging out The Heath by three points in an entertaining encounter at Laois Hire O’Moore Park on Saturday evening. The Heath will now drop into the Senior ‘B’ grade quarter-final, but there was little between the sides for long periods of a closely fought contest.

Gary Comerford was central to Stradbally’s first-half scoring, landing a number of valuable two-point frees. The sides were level at half-time after a high-scoring opening half, with Stradbally leading 0-11 to 1-8 on the scoreboard before The Heath’s goal ensured they went in all square at the break.

David Donoghue opened the scoring for Stradbally from a free before Comerford converted a two-point free. The Heath responded through Conor Booth, with Patrick Fitzpatrick and Sean Kirby also finding the target as they settled into the game.

Comerford struck again from a two-point free before Jimmy Nurney added another for The Heath. Benny Lawlor kept Stradbally moving with a free, while Booth converted a two-point free for The Heath.

The game’s first goal arrived when Fitzpatrick played a clever ball to Booth, who finished to the net. Comerford had been tracking back towards goal at pace but was unable to prevent the finish.

Stradbally continued to attack and Comerford added another two-point free before Fionn McEvoy got his name on the scoresheet.

Neil Keane responded for The Heath, but Stradbally had the final say of the half when James Devoy struck a two-pointer. Booth then brought The Heath’s total to 1-8, leaving the sides deadlocked at the interval, 0-11 to 1-8.

The second half began with Stradbally immediately looking to seize the initiative and Lawlor duly delivered, converting a two-point score to put his side back in front.

Fitzpatrick responded for The Heath, but Stradbally then produced the game’s crucial goal.

Conor Goode’s effort bounced awkwardly in front of The Heath goalkeeper Joe Walshe, who managed to palm the ball away. However, Joe Larkin reacted quickest, jumping highest to get to the loose ball and tapping it into the net.

That goal gave Stradbally a valuable cushion and they followed it with another point from David Dineen. The Heath refused to go quietly, however, and James Phelan reduced the deficit before Keane added another.

Fitzpatrick then converted a free to leave just three points between the sides, but Stradbally held firm during the closing stages.

The Heath needed another goal to turn the contest in their favour, but Stradbally’s defence stood up to the pressure, and they saw the game out to secure their passage to the Senior quarterfinals.

For The Heath, they now take the ever-familiar route into the Senior ‘B’ grade quarterfinals for the fourth year in a row, while Stradbally can now look forward to a place in the last eight for the first time since 2021.

SCORERS:

Stradbally: Garry Comerford 0-6 (3tpf), Joe Larkin 1-0, Benny Lawlor 0-3 (1tpf, 0-1f), James Devoy 0-2 (tp), David Donohue (f), David Dineen, Fionn McEvoy and Conor Buggie 0-1 each.

The Heath: Conor Booth 1-4 (1tpf, 0-1f), Patrick Fitzpatrick 0-3 (0-1f), Neil Keane 0-2, Sean Kirby, James Phelan and Jimmy Nerney 0-1 each.

STRADBALLY: Garry Comerford; Sean Maher, Liam Knowles, Conor McDonald; Eoin Buggie, James Devoy, Ben Dillon; Jack Deegan, Fionn McEvoy; Conor Goode, Conor Buggie, Joe Larkin; Benny Lawlor, Tom Shiel, David Donohue.

Subs: Cillian Maher for Donohue (39m), Colm Begley for Dillon (45m), David Dineen for McEvoy (45m), Eamonn Delaney for Deegan (57m), Damien Murphy for Shiel (62m).

THE HEATH: Joe Walshe; James Doyle, PJ Larkin, Alan Whelan; Sean Kirby, Neil Keane, Mark Phelan; Jimmy Nerney, Aaron Thornton; Patrick O’Callaghan, John MacNamara, Patrick Fitzpatrick; Brian Ging, David O’Brien, Conor Booth.

Subs: James Phelan for Kirby (49m), Ciaran Booth for Thornton (54m), Jake Ratcliffe for M Phelan (60m), Sam Rooney for Conor Booth (62m).

Referee: Ciaran McManus (O’Dempsey’s)