Rosenallis make short work of Crettyard in first competitive game of the new year

Kelly Cup Group B Rd 1 

 Rosenallis 3-12 

Crettyard 0-11 

CLUB football for 2025 got up and running in Laois on Thursday evening when Rosenallis took the long road to Crettyard for the opening game in this year’s Kelly Cup. But the trip home felt shorter after the men in green came away with a 10-point victory.

Given the time of year, this was a decent game of football and one that that made it’s own bit of history in that it was the first competitive club game under the new rules.

And in fairness to both sets of players they adapted quite well with referee Tom Kennedy, for whom it was also a new experience, only once having to advance the ball 50 metres when Rosenallis delayed the taking of a sideline kick.

Crettyard opened the scoring through Pierce Nash but for Rosenallis their first attack ended in a goal from Charlie Friel.

Rosenallis added a second goal soon after when John Maher sent the ball across the square where Paddy Keating who fisted to the net.

Brian Brennan was in hot form for Crettyard scoring five points in the first half while Sean Browne split the posts from a very tight angle.

However, further points from Charlie Friel, Jack Claffey and Joey Shelly kept Rosenallis ahead and they led 2-3 to 0-7 at the break.

Crettyard lost Conor Mulhall to a black card early in the second half and Rosenallis made hay during the ten minutes of his absence.

Ruaidhri C-Fennell hammered home their third goal with John O’Loughlin landing the first ever two-pointer in Laois club football while Diarmuid Dooley and Jack Claffey also raised white flags.

Evan Dunne, Barry Doyle, Cormac Murphy and Kyle O’Reilly did their best to keep Crettyard in touch but there was no denying Rosenallis victory.

Crettyard are home again in the next round when host St Joseph’s come calling while Rosenallis will Courtwood.

SCORERS:

Crettyard: Brian Brennan 0-5 (0-3fs), Sean Browne, Evan Dunne, Pierce Nash, Barry Doyle, Cormac Murphy and Kyle O’Reilly 0-1 each.

Rosenallis: Charlie Friel 1-3, Paddy Keating 1-1, John O’Loughlin 0-3, Ruaidhri C-Fennell 1-0, Jack Claffey 0-2 (0-1f), Joey Shelly, Diarmuid Dooley and Jack Friel 0-1 each CRETTYARD: Eoin O’Shea; Brian O’Sullivan, James Kelly, Jason Carroll; Conor Mulhall, Pierce Nash, Eoin Delaney; Pa O’Reilly, Adam Kavanagh; Sean Browne, Cormac Murphy, Evan Dunne; Brian Brennan, Mark Delaney, Kyle O’Reilly.

Subs: Scott Delaney, Barry Doyle, Podge Lawlor, Josh Kelly ROSENALLIS: Tommy Shelly; Tommy Keating, Ruaidhri C-Fennell, Gerard Glancy; Paddy Keating, Colin Bennett, John Maher; John O’Loughlin, Jack Friel; Diarmuid Dooley, Joey Shelly, Shane Farrell; Jack Claffey, Charlie Friel, Alex Marron.

Subs: Daniel Bennett, Padraig Glancy Referee: Thomas Kennedy (Killeshin)