Stunning Stradbally Parish Gael cruise to U/20 title for second year running

Stradbally Parish Gaels 2-14 

Killeshin 0-8 

STRADBALLY Parish Gaels were crowned Laois U/20 football champions for a second year running after a stunning performance against Killeshin in Laois Hire O’Moore Park on Sunday afternoon.

The victors were huge favourites coming into the game as they cruised through the championship to date and on Sunday was no difference as they put in a championship winning display.

Stradbally Parish Gales had cruised to victory against Killeshin in the round robin stage leaving men in green knowing they would have to improve their performance to stand any chance of winning.

But once again Stradbally Parish Gaels were untouchable winning by 12 points to cruise to the title.

The winners made a brilliant start through James Devoy who scored a brilliant two-pointer to give his side an early lead.

Killeshin responded well through Evan English and Riogan Doran in the opening ten minutes, remarkably it would be their last score of the half, which was similar to earlier on the year when these two teams met with Killeshin going scoreless in the second half.

Killeshin did have plenty of the ball but couldn’t find a way through the Stradbally Parish Gaels defence and, when they did, they were wasteful kicking several efforts short.

David Donohue and Fionn McEvoy kept SPG ahead in between those scores from Killeshin.

Stradbally Parish Gaels then took full control as Ronan Creery landed a brace while Jake Darcy slotted one from a long way out.

Then Stradbally Parish Gaels struck for a crucial blow by hitting their first goal, after a great team move started by Liam Wolfe which ended up with David Donohue making no mistake in finding the net. That was in the 23rd minute and neither team scored again before the break when SPG led 1-7 to 0-2. Killeshin needed a fast start to get back into the final but it was Stradbally Parish Gaels who would extend their lead by scoring the second goal of the game. Straight from the throw in, Cormac Deegan broke the ball down to Jake Darcy who galloped through the centre of the Killeshin defence before laying the ball off to younger brother Oran and he made no mistake in finding the net to finish the game as a contest.

Killeshin would finally get back on the score sheet through substitute Eoin Cawley who hit a two-pointer as they tried to eat into the lead as there was ten points between the sides.

Cathal Buggie added another point for Stradbally Parish Gaels though and they led 2-9 to 0-4 with 15 minutes to play.

Substitute Joe Larkin made an impact and would get on the scoresheet for Stradbally Parish Gaels before Killeshin had a great goal chance through Ciaran Fitzgearld but was denied by Anthony Skelly.

Killeshin, to their credit, kept going as Evan English slotted a 45 and a two point free but David Donohue kept Stradbally Parish Gaels ahead by ten as we entered the closing five minutes.

Stradbally Parish Gaels hit the last three points through Donohue, McEvoy and Darcy as they were deservedly crowned champions.

SCORERS:

Stradbally Parish Gaels: David Donohue 1-3 (0-1f), James Devoy 0-3 (1 two-pointer), Oran Darcy 1-0, Ronan Creery (0-1f), Fionn McEvoy and Jake Darcy 0-2 each, Cathal Buggie and Joe Larkin 0-1 each.

Killeshin: Evan English 0-4 (1 two-point f, 0-1 45), Eoin Cawley 0-3 (1 two-pointer), Rioghan Doran 0-1.

STRADBALLY PARISH GAELS: Anthony Skelly; Liam Woulfe, David Miller, Conor McDonald; James Devoy, Jake Darcy, Kevin Fennelly; Cormac Deegan, Enda Shortall; Pauric Ramsbottom, Fionn McEvoy, Cathal Buggie; Oran Darcy, Ronan Creery, David Donohue.

Subs: Joe Larkin for O Darcy (46m), Ben Dillon for Fennelly (52m), Eoghan Deegan for Shortall (57m), PJ Daly for Woulfe (58m), Seamus Ramsbottom for Creery (60m).

KILLESHIN: Ben Fitzgearld; Danny Malone, Jack Brennan, Pauric Moran; Pauric Moore, Patrick Fitzgearld, Chris Fitzgearld; Michael Gaffney, Jack Milton; Evan Askins, Evan English, Adam Farrell; Rioghan Doran, Ciaran Fitzgerald, Blake Rice.

Subs: Eoin Cawley for Fitzgerald (ht), Killian McCutheon for Moran (39m), Sean Barr for Askins (46m), Eoin Pender for Malone (51m), Conor Dowling for Doran (51m).

Referee: Ciaran McManus (O’Dempsey’s)