Unsavoury end to game takes some of the gloss off O’Dempsey’s exhilarating victory
Mark Barry was on fire for O'Dempsey's in the defeat of Crettyard Photo: Denis Byrne
O'Dempsey's 3-17
Crettyard 1-15
O'DEMPSEY'S are safely through to the third round of the Laois Shopping Centre SFC after an exhilarating victory over Crettyard on Friday evening in Ratheniska.
The game was on a knife-edge for the first 45 minutes as Mark Barry and Cormac Murphy put on an incredible display on either side.
O'Dempsey's pulled away with two goals midway through the second half before an ill-tempered end to the game saw two mass brawls result in two red cards for either side. O'Dempsey's came into the game in search of redemption after a heavy opening-round defeat at the hands of Portlaoise and recovered well here t book their place in the third round.
It was a baptism of fire for Crettyard in the first round when Courtwood put them to the sword, and despite a much-improved performance this defeat means John Murphy's side will now move into the SFC 'B' to compete for the John Conway Cup for the very first time.
O'Dempsey's were 0-4 to 0-1 up after an impressive opening ten minutes including three frees from the always accurate Barry. Murphy responded with the first of his three two-point frees before the captain gave his side the lead with a thunderous strike into the top corner after 13 minutes.
O'Dempsey's responded right from the kick-out, with Barry tearing through Crettyard's defence before picking out the bottom corner of the net to raise a green flag of his own. He and Ryan Phelan added a point each to leave O'Dempsey's up by three midway through the first half.
Murphy hit back only for Matthew Finlay to point twice for O'Dempsey's, but the Crettyard captain continued put his hand up for County selection with three glorious points on the bounce. Phelan landed one last score for O'Dempsey's as his side led by two points at half time, up 1-9 to 1-7.
O'Dempsey's kicked four quick scores after the break, including another two from Barry, but Crettyard, inspired by a 50-metre free from Murphy, cut the gap to a single point approaching the final quarter.
The game then turned completely when Barry rattled the net for a second time before Finlay lobbed the ball over a stranded Eoin O’Shea to put O'Dempsey's nine points up. Finlay and Murphy were exceptional at either end and traded two-point frees either side of those mass brawls as the game came to an unexpectedly volatile conclusion.
SCORERS:
O'Dempsey's: Mark Barry 2-7 (0-4fs), Matthew Finlay 1-6 (0-1 '45, 1 two-point f), Ryan Phelan 0-2, Fionn Holland and Barry Howlin 0-1 each.
Crettyard: Cormac Murphy 1-10 (0-9fs, 3 two-point fs), Brian Brennan 0-2 (fs), Michael Nash and Jonah Kelly 0-1 each.
O'DEMPSEY'S: Podge Bannon; Adam O’Leary, Shane Nerney, Stephen Lennon; Eoghan Fitzpatrick, Pat Maher, Johnny Kelly; Brian Nugent, Fionn Holland; Matthew Finlay, Barry Howlin, John Lennon; Joe Finn, Mark Barry, Ryan Phelan.
Subs: Barry Kelly for Maher (44m), Cormac O’Hora for Fitzpatrick (51m), Eoin Finlay for Nugent (55m), Sam Molloy for Finn (57m).
CRETTYARD: Eoin O’Shea; Evan Dunne, Pierce Nash, James Kelly; Ciaran Burke, John Brennan, Dara Kelly; Patrick O’Reilly, Adam Kavanagh; Alex Whelan, Cormac Murphy, Michael Nash; Brian Brennan, Jonah Kelly, James Brennan.
Subs: Kyle O’Reilly for Whelan (37m), Pauric Lawlor for Kavanagh (47m), Patrick Brennan for B Brennan (51m), Criostoir Maher for D Kelly (57m).
Referee: Brendan McCann (Portarlington)
