Hurling Finals Recap: SHC, MHC, PIHC & IHC.

Hurling Finals Recap: SHC, MHC, PIHC & IHC.

Photo credit: Paul Dargan

Written by Laois PR Team 

We look back on the county hurling finals, that took place this past weekend. Saturday October 6th and Sunday October 7th.

Laois Shopping Centre:

Senior Hurling Championship Final

Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Final

Intermediate Hurling Championship Final

Midlands Park Hotel:

Minor Hurling Championship Final

Recap: Intermediate Hurling Championship Final.

Abbeyleix vs Mountmellick: on Saturday October 6th in Laois Hire O’Moore Park

Abbeyleix: 0-12 (12)

Mountmellick: 1-9 (12)

As the IHC Final ended in a draw result, the replay will take place on Saturday October 26th in Laois Hire O’Moore Park (Time TBC).

Standout Players:

Abbeyleix:

Corner back Connor Dooley had a great game. He made super tackles on Ryan O’Connor to prevent him going through on goal, used his speed to get out in front, made vital interceptions, won 2 free’s out to prevent other chances and put in a great shift of man marking throughout, whilst also contributed going forward with some lovely passes up the field. Half forwards Stephen O’Donnell and Rory McEvoy (0-2) were fully of energy up front with perfectly timed runs, passes and scores. Plus O’Donnell done very well when he came out to operate in midfield at times to win the ball back. Declan Phelan’s possession winning rate was almost at 100 percent and he got some excellent scores from tight angles and distance, as a result. (0-3)

Mountmellick:

At right half forward, Jake Colbert produced an overall brilliant performance and made a big impact for his side. With physical strength on the run: won 3 frees in for Mick Bermingham to convert, whilst also creating other attacking opportunities through his attacking presence and had a solid pair of hands to catch difficult high ball both sent his way and balls he ran out to win. Colbert directly set up Finn Culleton with a goal chance saved by the keeper too. Corner back Rory Culleton and centre back Laurence Kenny were both immense defensively with great clearances and their incredible work rate greatly limited the threat of Abbeyleix’s full forward line: preventing the goal, vital to earn their draw result.

PIHC Final Recap:

Borris in Ossory-Killcotton v Ballinakill on Saturday October 6th in Laois Hire O’Moore Park

Borris in Ossory-Killcotton: 2-16 (22)

Ballinakill: 0-19 (19)

Standout Players

Borris in Ossory-Killcotton –

PJ Scully was absolutely electric in attack, as every touch he got, it lead to a score. Total: 2-5. With accuracy from frees (0-3) and extremely powerful strikes for his goal finishes, both hitting the top corner. Stephen Dunphy displayed superb strong ball carrying ability and was everywhere on the pitch as he provided an excellent link from defence to attack, with some lovely long passes into the full forward line after winning possession. Full back Matthew Whelan was rock solid in defence and dealt brilliantly with the late pressure from Ballinakill forwards as they worked hard for a goal that never came thanks to the strength of Whelan as he won and came out with, the dangerous high balls in.

Ballinakill:

Ethan Drury was brilliant in midfield, won a mountain of ball and started many attacks and scores, alongside scoring 2 excellent points himself from play. Seamus Fitzpatrick was outstanding, a constant threat in attack for opposition defenders, with 4 strong goal chances saved only by great stops. (3 by keeper Eoin Fleming and 1 blocked by defender) Fitzpatrick got some superb scores from range and difficult angles too (0-3), one with brilliant skill on display, as he side stepped to get by his marker before popping over the bar. Ian Shanahan was impressive in defence: won alot of high ball, got a fantastic point from play himself and after a long run, set up a Fitzpatrick score. When he came out to midfield also, he made vital interceptions and tackles on Conor Kilbane.

MHC Final: Castletown v The Harps in Laois Hire O’Moore Park on Sunday October 7th:

Castletown: 2-18 (24)

The Harps: 1-20 (23)

Standout Players:

The Harps –

Full forward Eoin Delaney (1-13) was magnificent: as he was constantly lively in attack throughout: with pacey runs to beat markers, when he collected the ball in both midfield and forward line. Scored points from outrageous angles whilst under defensive pressure (7 from play) Had a goal chance saved by keeper before he scored his goal. Delaney’s scores were as a result of the hard work of midfielder Jack Kennedy, who won possession and provided the excellent passes in for many scores and also a goal chance for Jay Brophy too that was saved. Full back Tony Mahoney was very solid in defence: winning high ball, getting in blocks, (one which prevented a goal chance out for 45) and made well timed tackles before long clearances up the field.

Castletown:

Most vital for their win as their scores was: equally contributory for the thrilling 1 point win, was the outstanding performance of goalkeeper Odhran Cuddy: who’s interceptions in the box he came out to clear (2) and point blank range saves at full stretch, double saves made twice on Eoin Delaney in both the 1st and 2nd half, meant Castletown were never out of sight throughout and a long puckout also led directly to a Kyron Cuddy goal from play. Kyron Cuddy was exceptional for the entirety: never let up in front of goal, and scored his points both from play and frees from nearly every angle and distance. (Total 1-13), In the backline, Taidgh Dalton was very strong defensively to fend off many dangerous attacks also with strong tackles, turnovers and crucial interceptions.

SHC Final Recap: Clough-Ballacolla v Rathdowney-Errill in Laois Hire O’Moore Park on Sunday October 7th:

Clough-Ballacolla: 2-22 (28)

Rathdowney-Errill: 0-22 (22)

Standout Players

Clough-Ballacolla–

Centre back Lee Cleere was outstandingly solid in defence throughout: strong ball winning ability, tackles to fend off Rathdowney-Errill forwards on many occasion, some great runs forward as he took some superb scores from long range from midfield(0-3 from play in total) Cleere’s most vital defensive moment was in the 2nd half when he tackled and turnovered from Paddy McCane who tried to go through on goal. Joe Corby produced some really good tackles and got a lovely point from play himself as he turnedover. Right half forward Mark Hennessy was a brilliant link between midfield and the full forward line: winning great ball and setting up scores through passes and winning frees in for Picky to convert. Hennessy scored a lovely point from play himself. Picky Maher’s flawless accuracy from frees from a variety of angle and distance (total 10 points from frees) combined with his superb goal and 3 points from play, as he done very well using a combination of his physical strength & pace, to get in behind defenders, before slotting over the bar.

Rathdowney-Errill:

Midfielder James Ryan was brilliant throughout: he won a great amount of ball from play and from puckouts, set up with pin point accurate passes, all of Tadgh Dowlings scores from play (0-4 in total), an incredible pass from inside his own half led to a Paddy McCane score too. Ryan made great block on a long range shot from Kevin Mulhall to prevent a score too. Corner forward Paddy McCane was electric and won nearly every ball that came his way (total score 0-4) with his scores super efforts, all got from long range. Full back Joe Fitzpatrick had an excellent strike of the ball for clearances that turned into lovely passes into the forwards for scores, including directly setting up points by Ross King and Eric Killeen: defensively Fitzpatrick made a strong tackle to prevent a 2nd Picky Maher goal and Liam O’Connell continued to be in top form for Rathdowney-Errill, with scores from frees from way out, popped over the bar under pressure, plus when he came out to operate in midfield on occasion, he won possession and his pace down the line out wide, contributed to the attack.