Stradbally reach Senior ‘B’ for second time in three years

Laois Shopping Centre Senior Football Championship ‘B’ s/f 

Stradbally 0-19 

Rosenallis 2-8 

STRADBALLY have advanced to the Laois Shopping Centre Senior ‘B’ football final for the second time in three years after beating Rosenallis on Saturday evening. Stradbally were full value for their win with Gary Comerford starring for his side. He kicked six points throughout the game, but he was like a general sitting in the pocket and controlled the whole game for Stradbally.

It was actually Rosenallis who got off to the better start after a point from Jack Claffey and it soon got better for his side as they netted their first goal of the game through David Dooley.

The victors then found their stride after a poor start and would kick the next five points in a row with David Dineen, Comerford with three and Conor Goode all adding scores to turn a deficit of four points to a lead of two points in a matter of minutes.

Jimmy Hyland got a badly needed score, but Stradbally were in full control and hit the next three scores through Goode and Cillian Maher who hit a point from play and a two pointer to open up a seven point gap Both sides traded points before half time with Charlie Friel scoring for Rosenallis and Comerford finishing the half with a point as Stradbally had a seven-point lead 0-10 to 1-3 at the break.

Rosenallis needed a fast start but it didn’t materialise as Stradbally would kick the first four points to give them a commanding lead and the game looked dead in the water.

David Donohue, a Comerford two point free and a Cillian Maher free killed off the game.

Rosenallis refused to give up and brought Stradbally’s lead down to four with Charlie Friel and Jack Claffey hit a brace and Jack Friel also got a point and the momentum was on Rosenallis’ side.

Conor Buggie responded for Stradbally and then the game was over as a contest when Rosenallis were reduced to 14 men.

Jack Friel was given his marching orders after picking up his second yellow after a tackle on Conor Goode and Friel made it worse as he struck Goode again on his way off for his red card to be upgraded to a straight red card Stradbally sub Benny Lawlor then put the contest to bed with a two point free and a normal free.

Rosenallis did grab a late consolation goal through sub Paul Maher but Stradbally cruising towards the finish line.

SCORERS:

Stradbally: Garry Comerford 0-6 (0-3fs, 1 two-point free), Cillian Maher 0-4 (1 two-point free, 0-2fs), Benny Lawlor 0-3 (1 two-point free, 0-1f), Conor Goode 0-2, David Dineen, David Donohue, Fionn McEvoy and Conor Buggie 0-1 each.

Rosenallis: Charlie Friel (fs) and Jack Claffey (0-2fs) 0-3 each, David Dooley and Paul Maher 1-0 each, Jimmy Hyland and Jack Friel 0-1 each.

STRADBALLY: Darren Maher; Liam Woulfe, Eamon Delaney, Ben Dillon; Liam Knowles, Eoin Buggie, Damien Murphy; Conor Goode, Jack Deegan; David Donohue, Cillian Maher, Cathal Buggie; Fionn McEvoy, Gary Comerford, David Dineen.

Subs: Jody Dillon for Maher (44m), Conor Buggie for Comerford (48m), Benny Lawlor for McEvoy (49m).

ROSENALLIS: Donal Lalor; Colin Bennet, Paddy Keating, Fiachra C-Fennell; John Lennon, David Dooley, Diarmuid Dooley; John O’Loughlin, Jack Friel; Joey Shelly, Jimmy Hyland, Shane Farrell; Jack Claffey, Brian Fitzpatrick, Charlie Friel.

Subs: Matty Bennett for Lennon (35m), Alex Marron for Farrell (48m), Paul Maher for Hyland (50m).

Referee: Brendan McCann (Portarlington)