Lynch strikes late as St Joseph’s break Ballyroan Abbey hearts

St Joseph's 2-16 

Ballyroan Abbey 1-13 

ST Joseph’s produced a dramatic late surge to book their place in the Laois Shopping Centre SFC semi-finals after surviving a remarkable Ballyroan Abbey comeback in Portlaoise.

Martin Murphy’s side looked out of the contest when they trailed by eight points at half-time, but they completely turned the game around after the restart and drew level with four minutes of normal time remaining.

However, just when extra-time appeared inevitable, St Joseph’s responded in emphatic fashion. They scored 1-3 during the five minutes of added time to snatch victory and keep their championship campaign alive.

There was little between the teams during the opening stages, with both sides creating goal opportunities inside the first two minutes. Oisin Hooney was denied for St Joseph’s before Marty Scully fired wide at the other end.

Ballyroan Abbey eventually broke the deadlock when the returning Diarmuid Whelan converted a two-pointer, despite having already registered three wides. Michael Keogh responded with an orange flag for St Joseph’s, but Whelan struck another two-pointer to put Ballyroan Abbey 0-4 to 0-2 ahead.

St Joseph’s then began to take control and Keogh found the net after receiving possession from Hooney. Three further scores followed in quick succession, with Darragh Farrell converting a mark before Eoghan O’Flaherty pointed a free and then added another from play. Cathal Doyle eventually ended Ballyroan Abbey’s spell without a score when he took a mark and clipped the ball over with his left foot.

St Joseph’s were now beginning to dominate possession and they added six unanswered points to open up a nine-point advantage. Robbie Murphy started the run before James Kelly, Eoin Johnson, Brian Daly, Keogh and Farrell all found the target.

With St Joseph’s leading 1-11 to 0-5, Ballyroan Abbey needed a response before the break and Whelan provided it from a free. His fifth point of the half reduced the deficit to eight at the interval.

The second half could hardly have started better for Ballyroan Abbey as they immediately began eating into the deficit. Killian Byrne opened their account after the restart before Whelan converted another free, with substitute Brian Whelan adding a third point.

St Joseph’s finally got their first score of the half after 10 minutes, when O’Flaherty split the posts. Ballyroan Abbey sensed their opportunity and continued to pile on the pressure. Brian Whelan added another point before Shaun Fitzpatrick finished off a move involving Conaire Gee by finding the back of the net.

Davin McEvoy then got his only score of the afternoon and suddenly there was just one point between the sides.

St Joseph’s had an opportunity to settle their nerves when Keogh went through on goal, but Adam Jones made an important save. Keogh reacted quickly to the rebound, though, and kicked the ball over the bar.

The drama continued as James McWey converted a free before Whelan struck again to bring the sides level with 56 minutes played.

Five minutes of added time were signalled, and St Joseph’s suddenly found another gear. Two substitutes combined as Josh Lacey picked out Gearoid Lynch, who finished to the net and put his side back in front at the perfect time.

There was still time for St Joseph’s to put the result beyond doubt. Keogh added another two-pointer before Lynch completed the scoring with a point from play.

St Joseph’s have been drawn to face Courtwood in the last four for the second-year running.

SCORERS:

St Joseph’s: Michael Keogh 1-6 (2tp), Gearoid Lynch 1-1, Eoghan O’Flaherty 0-3 (0-1f), Darragh Farrell 0-2 (0-1 mark), Eoin Johnson, Robbie Murphy, Brian Daly and James Kelly 0-1 each.

Ballyroan Abbey: Diarmuid Whelan 0-7 (2tp, 0-2fs), Shaun Fitzpatrick 1-0, Brian Whelan 0-2, James McWey (f), Cathal Doyle (mark), Killian Byrne and Davin McEvoy 0-1 each.

ST JOSEPH'S: Aaron Cooney; James Kelly, Adam Campion, Niall Brennan; Jack Lacey, Danny Hickey, Sean Brennan; Mikie Dempsey, Brian Daly; Eoin Johnson, Michael Keogh, Robbie Murphy; Oisin Hooney, Darragh Farrell, Eoghan O'Flaherty.

Subs: Gearoid Lynch for Johnson (41m), Dylan Doyle for Hooney (50m), Ian Shanahan for Kelly (57m), Josh Lacey for O’Flaherty (60m).

BALLYROAN ABBEY: Adam Jones; Conor McWey, Paddy Whelan, Aaron McEvoy; Charlie Whelan, Shaun Fitzpatrick, Conaire Gee; Conor Brennan, Shaun Murphy; Davin McEvoy, Diarmuid Whelan, Killian Byrne; James McWey, Cathal Doyle, Marty Scully.

Subs: Eamon Fitzpatrick for A McEvoy (ht), Brian Whelan for Murphy (ht), Enda McWey for Scully (57m).

Referee: Ciaran McManus (O’Dempsey’s)