Two swift second half goals hand O’Dempsey’s a place in the semi-finals

Laois Senior Football Championship q/f 

O’Dempsey’s 2-9 

Arles Killeen 0-10 

O'Dempsey's have booked their place in the Laois Shopping Centre Senior Football Championship after a hugely impressive victory over Arles Killeen. Goals proved to be the winning of the game, with Dan McCormack and Mark Barry raising a green flag each within the space of two minutes midway through the second half, helping O’Dempsey’s to a five-point win.

The win was made all the more impressive when considering O’Dempsey’s played with 14 players for half the game. Eoghan Fitzpatrick was black carded in the first half and later shown a red card early in the second half, putting his side under enormous pressure.

The sides were in Laois Hire O'Moore Park on Sunday afternoon for the curtain-raiser of the highly anticipated senior football double-header. Arles Killeen came into the game unbeaten after four-point wins over both Ballyfin in Round 1 and Courtwood in Round 2.

O'Dempsey's, meanwhile, were narrowly beaten by Portarlington in Round 1 but got back on track against The Heath thanks to a match-winning goal from Mark Barry. They scored 5-16 to get past Rosenallis in a thriller in Round 3. Eoin Kearns' side continued their great vein of form on Sunday to beat Arles Killeen and book their place in the final four.

O'Dempsey's got off to the perfect start, with Ryan Phelan opening the scoring. Mark Barry and Matthew Finlay added a free each as they led by three points after ten minutes. But the momentum halted after that when Eoghan Fitzpatrick was black carded for afoot trip on Adam Donoghue.

Paul Kingston pointed the resulting free to get Arles Killeen up and running. He added a second midway through the first half off a lovely pass from his brother, Donie.

Tom Kelly pointed from way out for O’Dempsey’s but Colin Dunne immediately cancelled that out. Arles Killeen made good use of the ten-minute one-man advantage and went level just after Fitzpatrick returned to the field; Oisin Byrne on target this time.

Ben Coen restored the O’Dempsey’s lead only for Donie Kingston to level it up again 90 seconds later. Then just before half time, Donie popped up again with another score to give Arles Killeen the lead for the very first time. After a slow start, they battled back well to lead 0-6 to 0-5 at the interval.

A free from Paul Kingston got Arles Killeen back up and running shortly after the start of the second half. Then, in the 37th minute, having been black carded in the first half, Eoghan Fitzpatrick was sent off for a foul on Colin Dunne.

But remarkably the momentum began to swing back in O’Dempsey’s favour after that and in the 40th minute they got in to raise their first green flag. Jack Lennon chipped a pass in over the top where substitute Dan McCormack gathered, beat two defenders, and drilled the ball beyond Jason Enright.

And they were in for a second goal just two minutes later when Mark Barry capitalised on a wayward kick-out and placed the ball into the net. A pair of frees from Oisin Byrne brought Arles Killeen back to within three points at the midway point of the second half with the game becoming increasingly physical.

The next ten minutes saw a handful of wides at both end as neither side could buy a score. Finally, Matthew Finlay pointed a free for O’Dempsey’s before Conor Keightley quickly hit back for Arles Killeen with just five minutes left on the clock.

Dan Punch had the chance to put the game to bed but his shot missed the target. He atoned moments later with a well-taken point to put O’Dempsey’s four points clear with time almost up.

Matthew Finlay closed out the win with a final score late on as O’Dempsey’s qualify for the Senior Football Championship semi-finals where the draw has paired them alongside Portlaoise. The winners will face the winners of the other semi-final featuring Portarlington and Graiguecullen.

SCORERS:

O’Dempsey’s: Mark Barry 1-2 (0-1f), Dan McCormack 1-0, Matthew Finlay 0-3 (0-2fs), Ryan Phelan, Tom Kelly, Ben Coen and Dan Pinch 0-1 each.

Arles Killeen: Paul Kingston (0-2fs) and Oisin Byrne (0-2fs) 0-3 each, Donie Kingston 0-2, Colin Dunne and Conor Keightley 0-1 each.

O’DEMPSEY’S: Podge Bannon; Adam O’Leary, Johnny Kelly, Eoghan Fitzpatrick; Jack Lennon, Cormac O’Hora, Tom Kelly; Fionn Holland, Barry Kelly; Pat Maher, Matthew Finlay, Ben Coen; Mark Barry, Eoin Finlay, Ryan Phelan.

Subs: Dan McCormack for E. Finlay (ht), Stephen Lennon for Maher (38m), Brian Nugent for Coen (38m), Dan Punch for B. Kelly (48m), Micheál Finlay for J. Lennon (52m).

ARLES KILLEEN: Jason Enright; Enda O’Rourke, Joe Mulhare, Dermot Julian; Adam Donoghue, Noel Gaughan, Sean O’Shea; John Mahon, Donie Kingston; Niall O’Rourke, Paul Kingston, Conor Keightley; Colin Dunne, Oisin Byrne, Gerry McWey.

Subs: Billy O’Loughlin for McWey (43m), Shane Byrne for E. O’Rourke (55m).

Referee: Brendan Hickey (Graiguecullen)