2024 Laois Shopping Centre: SFC Quarter Finals Recap and Semi Final Draws.
Photo credit: Paul Dargan
Written by Laois PR Team
Following the conclusion this past weekend of the:
Laois Shopping Centre:
SFC Quarter Finals
SFC B Quarter Finals
IFC Semi Finals
IFC B Semi Finals
The confirmed pairings for the SFC semi finals and IFC & IFC B finals, plus the JFC ‘A’ Quarter Finals are as follows:
SFC Semi Finals:
Portlaoise vs O’Dempseys
Graiguecullen vs Portarlington
SFC B Semi Finals:
Stradbally vs The Heath.
Emo vs Clonaslee St Manman’s.
SFC Relegation Semi Finals:
Rosenallis vs Ballylinan.
Courtwood vs Ballyfin.
IFC Final:
Crettyard vs Mountmellick.
IFC Relegation Final:
Portlaoise vs Ballyroan Abbey.
JFC ‘A’ Quarter Finals:
The Heath v St.Josephs
The Rock v Spink
Barrowhouse v Graiguecullen
Kilcavan v Killeshin
Laois Shopping Centre: SFC Quarter Finals Recap:
Graiguecullen v Killeshin: on Sunday September 15th
Graiguecullen: 1-14 (17)
Killeshin: 1-11 (14)
Standout Players:
Graiguecullen:
Corner back Brian Byrne was excellent: solid in his defensive role but also contributed greatly to the attack: with turnovers and great pace going forward, he scored 3 great points from play, was involved in the set up of the goal opportunity for Luke Aylsbury that was saved by Killian Roche, done really well to stop a ball from going out over the sideline and helped set up all 3 of, Lee Walker (0-6), Jack Byrne (0-1) and Conor Kelly (0-1) with scores. Although at half corner forward, Shane O’Neill was everywhere: won a mountain of ball in midfield from kickouts and worked hard defensively, too. With a strong tackle, O’Neill turned over the ball from Evan Lowry and won a free as he attacked. Moments later, O’Neill with a lovely kick pass set up Ben Dorgan with a point from play. The outstanding Lee Walker was the standout in attack from play: with his incredible pace all game, he won multiple frees, set up Daniel O’Reilly’s goal, had a goal chance himself, scored 6 points and beat 5 defenders at once on the run for one of these scores.
Killeshin:
Right half back, Brendan McDonald had a super game in defence throughout. He done very well to get out in front to anticipate ball: for multiple turnovers and interceptions. First, McDonald intercepted a ball from Jamie Sheehan and went on to aid in the attack in the same play with his pace and set up Eoin Lowry directly with a point from play, from a lovely kick pass forward. McDonald man marked well and put defensive pressure on Luke Hand when he came on, to prevent him going through on goal and McDonald won frees out to prevent danger. Full forward, Conor Heffernan displayed an immense work rate throughout in attack to set up scores and produced a solid midfield performance when he came back out. Heffernan came out to midfield on multiple occassions to create turnovers in possession and with 2 accurate kick passes into the forwards, he set up Michael Doran (1-1) directly with a goal from play and also Doran’s point from play. Heffernan won a great amount of kickouts very well (4 in total) and had to be fouled going forward to get frees. (3 in total).
O’Dempseys v Arles Killeen: on Sunday September 15th
O’Dempsey’s: 2-9 (15)
Arles Killeen: 0-10 (10)
Standout Players:
O’Dempsey’s:
Both midfielders Fionn Holland and Barry Kelly produced very physically strong performances. Fionn Holland jumped full stretch to win kickouts and used his physcial strength on runs forward to be awarded with frees, alongside intercepting 3 balls from the Arles Killeen midfielders. Barry Kelly was the perfect link between midfield and attack, Kelly set up forwards with 2 goal chances, one wide and next blocked by a defender. Kelly’s wonderful long balls up front found Ryan Phelan (0-1) which led to a score. Kelly won a free that was scored by Matthew Finlay, won an excellent mark in midfield to set up an attack, which led to a Dan Punch point from play and Kelly made a superb tackle on Billy O Louglin to prevent an Arles Killeen attack. Up front, Matthew Finlay continues to be in top form and with a total 0-4 scored, 3 of these were taken brilliantly from distance and difficult angles. He scored a free from the ground on the 45 m line out wide, scored another free from distance near midfield and scored a point from play from out wide whilst being marked.
Arles Killeen:
Full back Joe Mulhare in the opening minutes, kept a very cool head defensively and dealt successfully with early attacking pressure very well as Mulhare made 2 fantastic tackles in a row and turned over the ball from Eoin Finaly, as Finlay bore down on goal twice and also prevented an opportunity of a point. Also very effective in defence was right half back, Adam Donoghue. He made 3 massive runs down the wing from his back line to just outside the D, to open up the O’Dempsey’s defence and one of these runs led to a point from play from Conor Keightley after Donoghue beat multiple markers. Although he played in attack, Enda O’Rourke produced a vital moment in defence his side when he went to the full back line to help out and punched away to deny a shot on goal from Mark Barry, moments later O’Rourke also won a free out to clear danger. Corner forward Donie Kingston also had a good game, beat 3 markers at once on the run, scoring 2 points from play himself and set up Paul Kingston (0-4) and Colin Dunne (0-1) with scores.
Portarlington v Ballyroan Abbey: on Saturday September 14th
Portarlington: 1-10 (13)
Ballyroan Abbey: 1-8 (11)
Standout Players:
Portarlington:
Centre back Jason Moore was brilliant. He was most effective when on the attack, dictacting play when in possession with his pacey runs to beat markers, some starting from his own back line up to 45 line. 2 great long balls from Moore into Darragh Galvin (0-2) led to scores. With another kick pass, Moore also directly set up Rioghan Murphy with a great goal chance blocked by a defender and set up crucial scores by both Jake Foster and Ronan Coffey. Corner back Alex Mahon was very solid in the back line with 2 turnovers created and won 2 frees out. He also scored a lovely point from play from out wide and from distance after making a fantastic run from defence. Ronan Coffey is proving to be reliable and consistent in attack with another fabulous display. He won great ball, set up Jake Foster and Darragh Galvin points, his direct ball from a free led to Rioghan Murphy’s goal and Coffey excellently converted a free in the final minute.
Ballyroan Abbey:
Centre back Martin Scully had a great game defensively and was rock solid. He dealt with the task of man marking Darragh Galvin very well and reduced him to just 2 points throughout. Scully made 2 strong blocks on Galvin to deny scoring chances, won 3 frees out from turnovers, he made a super tackle to intercept Eoin McCann in midfield and won a sideline ball too. Young half forward Conaire Gee’s (1-1) pace in attack, was a joy to watch. He beat 3 markers on a long run from out wide into the box and scored a great goal from play, a reward from a lovely quick hand passing combination of Killian Byrne and Conor McWey, who both worked hard to bring the ball up from the back. Conaire Gee’s point from play was wonderfully curled over from the edge of the D, straight from throw in of the 2nd half. Conaire Gee also intercepted loose ball on many occasion and set up Diarmuid Whelan with a well worked point from play, as Conaire Gee turned over the ball inside his own 45.
Portlaoise v St.Josephs: on Saturday September 14th
Portlaoise: 5-15 (30)
St.Joseph’s: 0-15 (15)
Standout Players:
Portlaoise:
Right half back, Chris Finn was excellent in defence. He won a great amount of high ball in, with tackles and turnovers to prevent Josh O’Brien and Eoghan O’Flaherty attacks plus directly set up a Benny Carroll point from play with accurate passing. Benny Carroll hit the ground running from the outset and it was his ability to run around the defence with pace, and his physical strength to hold off tackles, that opened up gaps for Lillis and Larkin’s goals as he passed forward after doing the hard work. The combination of Kieran Lillis (2-2) and Damon Larkin (1-2) provided a scintillating attacking display. Lillis notched points from great angles and his 1st goal was a result of a punch on the end of, a superb high ball into the box from Damon Larkin, who commanded play in midfield from winning kickouts. They both set up Paul Cahilliane (0-5) and Benny Carroll (1-2) with scores too. Lillis created ambulance of turnovers which led to his 2nd goal and set up a Benny Carroll and a Damon Larkin goal too.
St. Joseph’s:
James Kelly with superb long balls kicked accurately using the outside of his boot, to curl into the forward line, led to points by Eoghan O’Flaherty and Dan Hickey. Kelly also made a vital and strong tackle on Josh Hogan, which prevented another goal. Oisin Hooney (0-1) was really impressive at half forward, with a hard worked point from play himself, his pacey runs won frees and interceptions and his passes directly set up scores by Matty Campion, Brian Daly and Eoghan O’Flaherty. O Flaherty produced a perfect display, in his usual free taking duties. Never missing the target when he stood over a dead ball and scored a total 8 frees. Corner back Conor Kealy followed up his fine display versus Courtwood with another fine perfomance: intercepted a dangerous ball from Dj White, a turnover set up a Oisin Hooney point, set up a Dan Hickey point, with electric pace then ran from the backline to midfield, with passes into attack and also, won frees out.
By Laois PRO Mon 16th Sep
