Timahoe show their grit to advance to Intermediate ‘B’ Final

Laois Shopping Centre IFC ‘B’ s/f 

Timahoe 1-9 

Portlaoise 2-3 

Om Sunday afternoon in the LOETB Centre of Excellence, Portlaoise and Timahoe took on each other for a spot in this year’s Intermediate ‘B’ final, with the losers dropping to a relegation final. The sides are in this position as a result of Timahoe losing to Annanough and Mountmellick defeating Portlaoise.

Portlaoise got the game underway to the best possible start with Kieran O’Donnell finding the back of the Timahoe net after receiving a hand-pass over the top from Mick O’Connell. But Timahoe weren’t long about responding and brought the game back level in the following eight minutes.

Colum Dunne kicked two frees off the ground while Sean Ramsbottom landed a ball in the hands of Dunne who converted a well taken mark. There were no scores from either side in the next ten minutes of play. Timahoe were dominating possession but were failing to convert the scores with six wides and two drop shots.

Then Jack O’Connell belted up the field at pace and found himself in the face of Eoin Culleton in the Timahoe net. Culleton pulled off a superb save to deny him. Mick O’Connell was next to attempt to put Portlaoise ahead. He was also denied but Kieran O’Donnell was in the right place at the right time and buried the ball home to raise their second green flag.

Each time Portlaoise got on the ball it looked as though the goal was on every time, but they couldn’t keep their hands on the ball in the greasy conditions. Timahoe capitalised on each missed chance from Portlaoise, and they kicked 1-2 before half-time. A third Dunne free was followed soon after by a well worked team goal with Joe O’Connor being the man to nail the ball home. Conor Whelehan pointed the final score of the half to push his side two ahead at half-time, 1-5 to 2-0.

Enda Shortall put his foot on the peddle from the throw-in as he made his way through the Portlaoise defence to set up a goal scoring opportunity. He was denied by Cian O’Gorman who managed to palm the ball out for a 45. The resulting placed ball was kicked to the left of the post and wide.

Pauric Ramsbottom was brought to the ground just outside the D which allowed Sean Ramsbottom point a free to push his side three ahead. Portlaoise’s first white flag of the game came after 40 minutes where Jamie O’Callaghan pointed from a placed ball. Timahoe kicked the next two scores in a row within a minute of one another where Conor Fitzpatrick and Jimmy O’Connor both put their names on the scoresheet.

Portlaoise brought on three pairs of fresh legs for the remaining 15 minutes in hopes to spark a bit of life into the team. O’Donnell kicked his first point and Portlaoise’s second of the game which was followed by yet another superb save being pulled off Culleton from a Dara Ramsbottom shot.

Robby Foyle was only momentarily on the pitch when he got grip of the ball and turned his man to kick a security point for Timahoe. Portlaoise were awarded a free inside injury time which was slotted over the black spot by Ben Conroy.

Portlaoise pressed the resulting kickout in hopes of finding a goal to draw the game level but were unsuccessful in doing so. Jimmy O’Connor was shown a black card in the last minute of the game for pulling Jack O’Connell to the ground. This gave Portlaoise one last chance to find the goal they needed but the ball was fouled on the ground giving Timahoe a free out and referee Colin Bailey called it a day.

Timahoe will now advance to play Arles Kilcruise in the Intermediate ‘B’ final whereas Portlaoise will face Ballyroan to see who will retain their Intermediate status for 2025.

SCORERS:

Timahoe: Colum Dunne 0-4 (0-3fs, 0-1 mark), Joe O’Connor 1-0, Conor Whelehan, Sean Ramsbottom (f), Conor Fitzpatrick, Jimmy O’Connor, and Robby Foyle 0-1 each.

Portlaoise: Kieran O’Donnell 2-1, Jamie O’Callaghan and Ben Conroy (f) 0-1 each.

TIMAHOE: Eoin Culleton; Joe Foyle, Eoin Shortall, Padraig Kelly; Conor Whelehan, Damien O’Connor, PJ Daly; Sean Ramsbottom, Colm Lalor; Conor Fitzpatrick, Joe O’Connor, Enda Shortall; Pauric Ramsbottom, Colum Dunne, Jimmy O’Connor.

Subs: Mick Kennedy for Daly (ht), David Lalor for Enda Shortall (45m), Martin Bergin for Joe O’Connor (47m), Daire McDonald for Foyle (54m), Robby Foyle for P. Ramsbottom (56m).

PORTLAOISE: Cian O’Gorman; Gavin Skehan, Jack O’Connell, Jake Byrne; Gary Whelan, Ben Brennan, Dara Ramsbottom; Ben O’Reilly, Ross Brennan; Michael Culliton, Michael O’Connell, Ben Conroy; Jamie O’Callaghan, Kieran O’Donnell, Jack Brown.

Subs: Cian Dowling Byrne for Culliton (ht), Niall Carey for O’Reilly (47m), Eddie Critchley for Byrne (47m), Trevor Swayne for O’Callaghan (47m).

Referee: Colin Bailey (Mountrath)