O’Dempsey’s destroy Emo to storm into round three

O’Dempsey’s 5-13 

Emo 0-6 

O’DEMPSEY’S are through to round three of the Laois Shopping Centre SFC with a really impressive display against Emo in Laois Hire O’Moore Park on Sunday evening.

The victors put a bad first round performance behind them as they excelled all over the field and had too much for Emo running out 22-point winners O’Dempsey’s made an explosive to this game. Joe Lennon would open the scoring for O’Dempsey’s with a fine effort.

They had the first goal soon after with Joe Lennon playing the perfect ball to Barry Howlin who made no mistake finding the back of the net.

It was all O’Dempsey’s early with Jim Holland landing another point for his side. Emo were stunned by the fast start from O’Dempsey’s made.

Ben Coen then got their second goal after a good individual run sliding the ball past Stephen Norton, and within five minutes O’Dempsey’s had an eight-point lead.

Eoin Finlay then followed up the goal with a massive two point free with Emo all at sea. They eventually got a point from Ross Meredith in the 13th minute, but the damage was done.

Finlay then would hit his second two point free to put his side in total control. Pa Hosey and Fionn Holland would trade scores as Emo started to get a foothold in the game.

Hosey would respond for Emo, but O’Dempsey’s were still get joy from their fast play, they would nearly get their third goal of the game through Jack Lennon, but his effort was saved, but Finlay was on hand to add another point.

Finlay finished the scoring of the half with a free as O’Dempsey’s led 2-9 to 0-3 at half time.

Emo came out after the break with a fresh energy and would kick two points in a row through Ross Meredith and Padraig Kirwan.

They were then given a live line as Nigel Murphy won a penalty, but Ross Meredith effort was saved by Padraig Bannon and the resulting 45 was hit wide.

Eoin Finlay would hit back with another free, before disaster struck for Emo. A poor kickout from Stephen Norton was punished as Finlay won the ball and fed Ultan Dunne who found the back of the net to end the game as a contest.

Tom Kelly added another point as there was no stopping O’Dempsey’s. They then hit their fourth goal through Fionn Holland and there was still ten minutes on the clock, and it was damage limitation from an Emo point of view at this stage.

There was still time for a fifth goal for O’Dempsey’s with a brilliant finish from Joe Lennon as O’Dempsey’s were at their ease.

They finished off with two more points through Fionn Holland and Joe Finn as O’Dempsey’s march on to round 3, leaving Emo in Senior ‘B’ and in relegation trouble.

SCORERS:

O’Dempsey’s: Eoin Finlay 0-7 (2 tpf, 0-2fs), Fionn Holland 1-2, Joe Lennon 1-1, Ultan Dunne, Ben Coen 1-0 and Barry Howlin 1-0 each, Tom Kelly, Jim Holland and Joe Finn 0-1 each.

Emo: Ross Meredith 0-3 (0-1f), Paddy Hosey 0-2, Pa Kirwan 0-1.

O’DEMPSEY’S: Podge Bannon; Callum Ryan, Adam O’Leary, Johnny Kelly; Tom Kelly, Tommy Kehoe, Joe Lennon; Barry Howlin, Fionn Holland; Jim Holland, Jack Lennon, Daithi Howlin; Ben Coen, Eoin Finlay, Barry Kelly.

Subs: Ultan Dunne for B Kelly (ht), Brian Nugent for D Howlin (36m, inj), Daithi Howlin for J Holland (46m), Joe Finn for E Finlay (52m), Robbie McNeil for Coen (54m).

EMO: Stephen Norton; Sean Greene, Eoin Montague, Shane Murphy; Darren Strong, Tom Fennelly, Charlie Hand; Pa Kirwan, Niall Gorman; Cian Langford, Nigel Murphy, Brian Gorman; Ruairi Bourke, Ross Meredith, Paddy Hosey.

Subs: Cathal Creegan for Hand (38m), James O’Rourke for S Murphy (38m), Paul Lawlor for B Gorman (52m), Eibhan Joyce for Langford (55m).

Referee: Des Cooney (St Joseph’s)