Little the star of the show as Courtwood-Emo crowned champions
Courtwood-Emo who were crowned U/20 'B' football champions after getting the better of The Heath in Stradbally on Saturday Photo: David Maher
Laois Shopping Centre U/20 Football Championship ‘B’ Final
Courtwood-Emo 4-7
The Heath 1-9
COURTWOOD-Emo were crowned Laois U/20 'B' football champions after they ran out deserving winners over The Heath in Stradbally on Saturday afternoon.
Ryan Little was the star of the show finishing with 3-3 from play. He put in one of the finest first half performances in a final you could wish for - he was just simply incredible and was unmarkable throughout the game.
The victors have a fast start to thank for as they led by 12 points by the 17th minute leaving The Heath with so much work to do to get back into the contest.
To their credit they did have a better of the second half and were given a glimmer of light just before half time as Eoghan Slattery was given a straight red card for a high tackle on Patrick O'Callaghan.
But Courtwood-Emo navigated the second half superbly and ran out deserving champions.
It was The Heath that got on the score sheet from a free from Sean Kirby, but after that things went downhill for the team in black and amber.
The response from Courtwood-Emo was the hallmark of champions as they were so clinical in front of goals clocking up 3-4 without reply Davy Costello got the ball rolling as he added a free to level up matters. They then upped the tempo and the gears and blew The Heath away.
Ryan Little grabbed two goals in a matter of minutes with two brilliant finishes with Mark Carroll having no chance with either goal.
Little then added another point for Courtwood-Emo before they struck for their third goal which put them in total control in this affair.
After great work from Little, he found Roy Lawlor who finished it off past the despairing Carroll leaving the scores at 3-2 to 0-1.
Little and Costello both added two more points before The Heath eventually settled in the contest and hit three points in a row all through Kirby.
They then got a lifeline as Eoghan Slattery was given his marching orders for a high tackle on Patrick O'Callaghan just before half time as the teams went in at 3-4 to 0-4 to Courtwood-Emo The Heath needed a rapid start to the second half to get back in the contest with Denis Browne opening the scoring in the half with a point.
Jack Murphy responded immediately as The Heath started to get some joy around the middle of the field.
Patrick O'Callaghan and Paddy Fitzpatrick led the charge with getting three points in a row with the latter getting a two pointer.
Little grabbed another point before The Heath struck for their goal. John MacNamara ran through the defence a finished brilliantly and there was suddenly a bit of light in a comeback.
But Little distinguished that light straight away with his third goal and hat-trick to knock the hope out of a comeback from The Heath.
They then managed the game brilliantly with a player less. Dean O'Connor and Paddy Fitzpatrick would trade points right at the end as Courtwood-Emo were crowned deserving champions.
SCORERS:
Courtwood-Emo: Ryan Little 3-3, Roy Lawlor 1-0, David Costello 0-2 (0-1f), Jack Murphy and Dean O'Connor 0-1 each.
The Heath: Sean Kirby 0-4 (0-2fs), Paddy Fitzpatrick 0-3 (1 two-pointer), John MacNamara 1-0, Patrick O'Callaghan, Denis Browne 0-1 each.
COURTWOOD-EMO: Darragh Keegan; Ciaran Boland, Daniel Boland, Evan Kelly; Dean O'Connor, Eoghan Slattery, Darragh McEvoy; Charlie Hand, Jamie O'Connor; Tadhg Slattery, David Costello, Jack Murphy; Sean O'Connell, Ryan Little, Roy Lawlor.
Subs: Liam Ward for O'Connell (42m), Cathal Creegan for Little (59m).
THE HEATH: Mark Carroll; Harry Browne, PJ Larkin, Tim Drennan; Eamonn Browne, Liam Whelan, James Doyle; John MacNamara, Daniel Booth; Patrick O'Callaghan, Sean Kirby, Tadgh Whelan; Denis Browne, Paddy Fitzpatrick, Tony Walsh.
Subs: Aidan Maloney for Doyle (ht), Bryan De Souza for Walsh (45m), Tom Major for Whelan (55m).
Referee: Brendan Hickey (Graiguecullen)
