The Heath hold off Clonaslee/St Manman’s in a nail-biting finish

Laois Shopping Centre Senior Football Championship Rd 3 (Q) 

The Heath 3-13 

Clonaslee/St Manman’s 2-13 

THE Heath are through to Round 3 of the Laois Shopping Centre SFC after overcoming Clonaslee/St Manman’s by three points in a closely fought battle in O'Moore Park on Thursday night Both teams were evenly matched right throughout the game which provided compelling viewing which went down to the wire as The Heath held out for a crucial win.

The first half was slow to get going from both teams, but when it did it was an entertaining affair.

Denis Browne kicked the first point for The Heath with a good individual effort to give The Heath an early lead.

Clonaslee/St Manman’s responded brilliantly with Cathal Lee levelling matters. Niall Corbet then put his side into the lead with two brilliant points and all of a sudden the gap was two.

That sparked the game into life as The Heath responded with the first goal of the game through a well taken goal from John MacNamara to put The Heath back into the lead.

Conor Booth then kicked a free as The Heath were causing trouble when they moved the ball into their forward line quickly.

Within two minutes Clonaslee St-Manman's had a goal of their own after a goal mouth scramble saw Cian Conroy finishing to the net.

They followed it with a point from Cian Callaghan to reduce the gap to a point. The Heath then hit back with two points, one from Conor Booth and the other from Paddy Fitzpatrick.

The five minutes was all about Clonaslee/St Manman’s scoring five points, through two Cathal Lee two pointers and a Niall Corbet point in between.

The Heath hit the last two points of the half through two inspirational points from Fitzpatrick leaving the scores at 2-6 to 1-9 at half-time.

Fitzpatrick would take off in the same manner in the second half to the way he finished the first half with two points in a row, one from play and the other from a free to put The Heath into the lead.

Both teams then traded scores with the brilliant Fitzpatrick grabbing The Heath's score while Cian Callaghan kept his side in the game with a brilliant point.

The momentum then swung the way of Clonaslee/St Manman’s as half time substitute John Rigney hit the back of the net after quick thinking from Cathal Lee who took a quick free short which ended with Rigney to put their side into the lead.

The Heath would respond once again, with Fitzpatrick levelling up matters with another brilliant point from play.

But Clonaslee/St Manman’s found a response again and just wouldn't go away, they would hit two in a row through Niall Hogan and James Dunne to put them ahead 2-12 to 2-10 with ten minutes remaining and they were looking good for the win.

The Heath had other ideas though and they would retake the lead in the 53rd minute, Sean Kirby added his first point of the game to narrow the gap to a point, then The Heath were awarded a penalty after Brian Ging was fouled by Oisin Keating in the Clonaslee/St Manman’s goal.

Conor Booth stepped up to take it, but his effort was saved, but Booth was on hand to find the net with his rebound to put The Heath back into the lead 3-11 to 2-12 with seven minutes remaining.

Cathal Lee then landed a free, as the game was coming to a close to ensure a nail-biting finish.

The Heath settled though again, Jimmy Nerney hit and inspirational score as he was on one leg for the last few minutes of the game.

Sean Kirby would then land the last point of the game with a fisted effort in the 62nd minute. Clonaslee/St Manman’s did go in search of a goal, but The Heath held on for a superb win.

Clonaslee/St Manman’s, with two defeats, are out of the championship and head for the Senior ‘B’.

SCORERS:

The Heath: Conor Booth 2-2 (0-2fs), Paddy Fitzpatrick 0-7 (0-3fs), John MacNamara 1-0, Sean Kirby 0-2, Jimmy Nerney and Denis Browne 0-1 each.

Clonaslee/St Manman’s: Cathal Lee 0-6 (2tps, 0-1f), Cian Conroy 1-1, John Rigney 1-0, Niall Corbet 0-3, Cian Callaghan, Niall Hogan and James Dunne 0-1 each.

THE HEATH: Joe Walshe; James Doyle, PJ Larkin, Alan Whelan; Sean Kirby, Neil Keane, Mark Phelan; Jimmy Nerney, Aaron Thornton; Denis Browne, John MacNamara, Paddy Fitzpatrick; Brian Ging, David O'Brien, Conor Booth.

Subs: Patrick O'Callaghan for MacNamara (55m), James Phelan for Browne (58m), Sam Rooney for Booth (62m).

CLONASLEE/ST MANMAN’S: Oisin Keating; Diarmuid Conroy, Adam McDermott, DJ Callaghan; James Dunne, Darragh Scully, Noah Flynn; Cian Callaghan, Will Young; Cathal Lee, Ger Reilly, Manus Dunne; Niall Corbet, Cian Conroy, James McRedmond.

Subs John Rigney for DJ Callaghan (ht), Liam Senior for McRedmond (37m), Niall Hogan for M Dunne (41m), Patrick Hyland for Reilly (43m).

Referee: Clifford Ward (Portarlington)