Strong second half sees O’Dempsey’s book a quarter-final place

Laois Shopping Centre Junior Football Championship Gr B Rd 5 

O’Dempsey’s 1-16 

The Heath 0-10 

O’DEMPSEY’S booked their in the Laois Shopping Centre JFC ‘A’ quarter-final after running out nine-point winners against The Heath in Killenard on Wednesday evening.

A strong second half from the home side did the trick as they now have a home quarter final to look ahead to against Barrowhouse.

The Heath will be disappointed with how the second half went, as they were in the game at half time as the scores were 0-8 to 0-6 to O’Dempsey’s, but they faded badly and now face Errill in a relegation play off.

The home side opened up the scoring through Dylan Quick, which was quickly followed up by a point from the impressive Dan Punch.

The Heath would soon get off the mark through an Andrew Whelan point from play, but O’Dempsey’s quickly cancelled out that point through an effort from Shane Maher.

Whelan got his second of the night, but both teams were wasteful in front of goals throughout the half.

Both teams then traded points with the O’Dempsey’s score coming from the boot of Conor Kearney while Tony Walsh hit a point for The Heath.

The victors were having the bulk of the possession and would kick two points in a row through Dan McCormack and Dan Donoher to open up a three-point gap.

Tadhg Whelan and Conor Kearney traded points again, as The Heath were digging deep to stay in the contest as best they could.

They then reduced the gap to a point before half time with Daniel Booth and Padraig Sweeney both pointing from play.

O’Dempsey’s would get the final score of the first half through Dylan Quick as O’Dempsey’s led 0-8 to 0-6 at the break.

Dan Donoher opened up the scoring in the second half to extend the O’Dempsey’s lead to three, but The Heath would level up matters in the next three minutes.

First Padraig Sweeney landed his second point of the game, while Daniel Hennessy landed the only two-pointer to give The Heath renewed hope.

But O’Dempsey’s would hit a purple patch reeling off 1-5 without reply, which ultimately won them the game.

Sam Molloy, Dan McCormack, Jack Doris, Dylan Quick and Conor Kearney landed points to pull O’Dempsey’s away on the scoreboard.

It got worse for The Heath as Niall Kirby took Dan McCormack down for a penalty, Pat Maher stepped up and found the back of the net to finish the game as a contest.

Tadhg Whelan would land his second point, but the game was up for his side, O’Dempsey’s hit the two scores through Ben Stapleton and Sam Molloy as they ran out deserving winners.

SCORERS:

O’Dempsey’s: Dylan Quick and Conor Kearney 0-3 each, Pat Maher 1-0 (penalty), Dan McCormack, Dan Donoher and Sam Molloy 0-2 each, Dan Punch, Shane Maher, Jack Doris and Ben Stapleton 0-1 each.

The Heath: Andrew Whelan, Tadhg Whelan, Dan Hennessy (tp) and Padraig Sweeney 0-2 each, Tony Walsh and Daniel Booth 0-1 each.

O’DEMPSEY’S: Darragh Bannon; Matthew Cassidy, Eimhin O’Neill, Kevin Garry; Dylan Quick, Jack Doris, Shane Maher; Sam Molloy, Lorchan Coleman; Conor Kearney, Pat Maher, Ben Stapleton; Ross McMahon, Dan McCormack, Dan Donoher.

Subs: Sean Guiterez for Cassidy (33m), Eoghan O’Hora for Kearney (53m).

THE HEATH: Seamus Mulhare; David Phelan, Niall Kirby, Jack Keyes; Eamon Browne, Harry Browne, Robbie Ging; Daniel Hennessy, Gary Roe; Padraig Sweeney, Andrew Whelan, Tony Walsh; Tadhg Whelan, Daniel Booth, Kieran Killeen.

Sub Colin Nestor for Killeen (ht)