Walker leads the way as Graiguecullen get the better of neighbours Killeshin

Laois Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final 

Graiguecullen 1-14 

Killeshin 1-11 

This was the final game of four Laois Shopping Centre Senior Football Championship quarter-finals played in Laois Hire O'Moore Park over the weekend, with Graiguecullen prevailing over Killeshin. Lee Walker put in a memorable performance, leading Graiguecullen to a hard-earned three-point win.

Killeshin were in the game until the bitter end and almost forced extra time with the last kick of the game. They will rue a big call late in the first half, when they had the ball in the net only for it to be chalked off – a cruel exit to the championship.

But it is Graiguecullen who progress, continuing their wonderful run which started when they upset county champions, St Joseph's, winning by a single point in the opening round. They backed up that result in Round 2 with a narrow win over Portarlington after extra time.

Killeshin, on the other hand, lost to highly-fancied Courtwood in Round 1 before getting back on track in a big way after that, scoring 4-17 in a mighty win over Ballyfin. They were too strong for Emo in Round 3, but they came up just short on Sunday.

Graiguecullen almost opened the scoring with a goal inside the opening few moments, but Killian Roche made a vital save to deny Luke Alsybury one on one. He could nothing about the points, however, as Jack Byrne, Brian Byrne and Lee Walker all raised white flags.

But Killeshin were level in the sixth minute with a goal out of nowhere. Conor Heffernan turned the ball over and released Michael Doran who put his shot past Patrick Scully. Brian Byrne replied with a score down the other end, but Doran cancelled that out with a great finish.

Killian Roche converted a 45 to put Killeshin in front for the first time, but that lasted less than a minute. Lee Walker's point made it 1-2 to 0-5 after a breathless opening ten minutes.

The scoring then slowed momentarily as the sides added two points each over the next ten minutes with Conor Kelly and Ben Dorgan on the mark for Graiguecullen while Roche and Eoin Lowry's scores at the other end ensured the teams stayed level.

A monster score from Evan English was quickly cancelled out when Graiguecullen got in for a 24th-minute goal. Danny O’Reilly popped the ball to Walker who got eaten up by a tackle, but the ball fell back to O’Reilly whose reflex shot found its way into the net.

Walker added another two points following the goal to leave Graiguecullen four points ahead.

Evan English thought he'd scored Killeshin's second goal just before half time, but the umpires said he was in the square and the break the scoreboard read Graiguecullen1-9 Killeshin 1-5.

KIlleshin got off to the better start in the second half with two early scores from placed balls; first, a free from Evan Lowry and then a mark from Michael Doran. Brian Byrne and Ben Dorgan both slotted scores from play to restore Graiguecullen’s four-point lead with 20 minutes left on the clock.

Another Evan Lowry free midway through the second half was quickly followed with a fine score once again from Michael Doran after some nice passing down the left wing; one of several good moves by the Killeshin forwards.

Lee Walker had a fantastic goal opportunity but could not get his shot away in time, instead settling for a point. He continued to lead the charge for Graiguecullen, pointing yet again five minutes later.

Adam Deering and Evan Lowry pointed for Killeshin, but a late score from Luke Hand secured the three-point win for Graiguecullen.

They now march on to the semi-finals where they have been drawn, once again, with Portarlington. The winners will face the winners of the other semi-final featuring Portlaoise and O’Dempsey’s.

SCORERS:

Graiguecullen: Lee Walker 0-6, Brian Byrne 0-3, Danny O’Reilly 1-0, Ben Dorgan 0-2, Conor Kelly, Jack Byrne and Luke Hand 0-1 each.

Killeshin: Michael Doran 1-3 (0-1 mark), Evan Lowry 0-3 (fs), Killian Roche 0-2 (0-1), Adam Deering, Eoin Lowry and Evan English 0-1 each.

GRAIGUECULLEN: Patrick Scully; Trevor Collins, Luke Alsybury, Sean McGrath; Aaron Dorgan, Mark Timmons, Danny McGrath; Danny O’Reilly, Ben Dorgan; Jamie Sheehan, Lee Walker, Shane O’Neill; Brian Byrne, Jack Byrne, Conor Kelly.

Subs: Luke Hand for O’Neill (42m), Ross Hennessy for J Byrne (57m), James Horohan for Kelly (61m).

KILLESHIN: Killian Roche; Darragh McDonald, Brendan McDonald, Eoin Cawley; Leeson Hughes, Jack Brennan, Michael Gaffney; Cathal Byrne, Michael Doran; Conor Heffernan, James Davis, Adam Deering; Evan English, Eoin Lowry, Evan Lowry.

Subs: Eoin Brennan for J Brennan (27m, inj), David McDermott for D McDonald (39m), Jack Milton for Gaffney (49m).

Referee: Seamus Mulhare (The Heath)