Laois Shopping Centre: Hurling Championships knockout stages confirmed & SHC Round 3 Recap

2024 Laois Shopping Centre: Hurling Championships knockout stages confirmed & SHC Round 3 Recap

Photo credit: Paul Dargan

Written by Laois PR Team

Following the conclusion of the group stage rounds in the Laois Shopping Centre: Hurling Championships this past weekend.

All knockout stage pairings have now been confirmed.

First, we look back on the 3 games from Round 3 of the Laois Shopping Centre: Senior Hurling Championship.

Below is the confirmed knockout stage pairings for all of SHC, PIHC, IHC, JHC ‘A’ Semi Finals and JHC ‘C’ Final.

Junior B has now concluded.

The Laois Shopping Centre: JHC ‘B’ Final was the first adult hurling championship final to take place this season.

On Friday August 23rd, Clough-Ballacolla were crowned the Laois Shopping Centre: 2024 Junior B Hurling Champions after their victory over Borris in Ossory/Kilcotton on a scoreline of:

Clough-Ballacolla: 2-17 (23)

Borris in Ossory/Kilcotton: 1-7 (10)

SHC Round 3 Recap

Abbeyleix vs The Harps: on Saturday August 24th in Laois Hire O’Moore Park

Abbeyleix: 2-20 (26)
The Harps: 1-22 (25)

Standout players:

Abbeyleix:

Ross Coffey at half back, was very solid in defence throughout. He was excellent at catching high balls in, running forward effectively and passing accurately. Coffey set up a score too, with a lovely long and low ball into Colin Byrne who’s pace drew a foul for Eoghan Fennelly to convert the free. Cormac Byrne (1-4) was electric in attack, his standout point from play scored, as he was tightly marked and under defensive pressure. In the next play, Cormac scored a great goal from play at a vital time at near 20 minutes in, to reduce the deficit to 2 points after The Harps had a fast scoring start to lead by 6 pts after 15 mins. In the 2nd half, Fionan Mahoney (0-1) sent in great ball to Cormac Byrne and Byrne won frees for Fennelly to score. (Total 0-10, 9 frees). Mark Cahill & Liam Doyle displayed courage and were very strong defensively in the 2nd half, made crucial tackles & interceptions to prevent attacks and combined with Enda Rowland’s scores (1-3 frees) helped Abbeyleix to get the comeback win.

The Harps:

Had a quick scoring start to lead by 0-9 to 0-3 within 15 mins of the 1st half. But at the opposite end of the field, corner back Cathal Phelan done very well defensively and always out front of his marker, to win possession and contribute to his side being able to take a good mid 1st half lead, by helping to keep Abbeyleix out of attack. Helped by the great pace & hard work rate of Mark Downey, James Duggan was outstanding to get the scores in attack (1-4 from play), with 2 of these points got from out wide from distance and difficult angles near the sideline. Duggan’s goal was a work of magic with brilliant pace that ended with a superb high & chipping flick of the sliotar off his hurl and into the net. Eoghan Doheny scored an amazing point from play from inside his own half also. Cody Comerford’s (0-5) excellence was on display as with a clean catch from a puckout in midfield, ran all the way to the forward line and ended the move with a point. Michael Lanigan (0-5) then produced a stunning flick pass from behind his back, as defenders blocked his way forward.

Rathdowney-Errill vs Castletown: on Sunday August 25th in Laois Hire O’Moore Park

Rathdowney-Errill: 1-32 (35)
Castletown: 2-12 (18)

Standout players:

Rathdowney-Errill:

Eric Killeen’s (total 1-3) opening goal was an outstanding display of skill. After making an anticipated run out wide to recieve a great Liam O’Connell pass, Killeen then with a quick & low flick on the ground got the ball out around and past his marker, Killeen was 1st out in front to scoop up the flicked ball, and then with a powerful strike, into the right top corner of the net. Killeen’s points from play (3) were taken very well, after he was under defensive pressure. Also lively in attack was Scott Pearson (0-4), with strong catching skills, possession winning ability, his pace to get in behind markers, scores taken after long runs and with an excellent goal chance too, denied only by a great save. Half back Darragh Carroll was very impressive in defence and combined with Ross King’s accuracy from placed balls (Total 0-12, 7 frees) helped their side get a huge win.

Castletown:

Ryan Peters and Joseph Phelan were excellent in midfield from the outset. Ryan Peter’s with great long and accurate strikes of the ball forward and Joseph Phelan with very effective catching skills and on the run with the ball he helped to win a free for Tadgh Cuddy (total 0-5, 4 frees, 1 from play) to convert. Joseph Phelan also sent really good ball out wide for corner forwards to run onto. Goalie Gearoid Gaughan done exceptionally well keeping out goals. First with a run out to intercept a rolling ball into the square. In the very next play, he made a point blank save from Eoin Burke. Followed up by another point blank save to deny a strong Scott Pearson shot on goal. Eoin Peter’s had some really solid moments in defence, with passes forward, man marking and tackles in defence to prevent Eoin Burke further attacking opportunities. Tadgh Dowling had a lively impact as a substitute.

Camross vs Portlaoise: on Sunday August 25th in Laois Hire O’Moore Park

Camross: 1-20 (23)
Portlaoise: 0-11 (11)

Standout players:

Camross:

Eoin Dowling had a great game at half back. Jumping full stretch to win ball and struck his passes down the field, from inside his own half. Gearoid Burke (0-4) was very effective when striking the ball from distance and got some excellent long range points from play. James Cuddy (0-1) produced the standout score of the game, with a wonderful strike that curled over the bar, from a tight angle out wide, on the right near the sideline and whilst he was also being marked by defenders. Mossy Keyes (0-3) marked his return with a great display of skill, bouncing the ball off the ground while on the run from distance and finished with a point. Tom Cuddy (0-1) was the standout of the 2nd half. Intercepting ball in midfield, on the run beat 3 markers at once, won a free, blocked a James Conroy shot on goal and set up Gearoid Burke with a point.

Portlaoise:

Full back Ciaran McEvoy and John Mark Foley worked very hard in defence throughout. Both displayed strength in physical presence and made good interceptions & tackles. McEvoy created turnovers from making strong tackles, intercepted 2 long balls into the box and then made clearances from passes out. His standout tackle, was one that prevented Mark Dowling a goal chance. John Mark Foley won a great amount of dangerous high balls into the box and with his pace going forward, also won a free out. He got a blocking touch onto a long low ball sent into the box also. James Conroy (0-1) effectively won some frees for Aaron Bergin (0-8) to accurately convert and Bergin scored the majority of his frees from long range, combined with a massive point from play, from midfield. Brochan O’Reilly made a great point blank range save from Mossy Keyes.

What’s next?

SHC Quarter Finals:

Camross vs The Harps

Abbeyleix vs Portlaoise

SHC Semi Finals:

Rathdowney-Errill vs winner of Abbeyleix v Portlaoise

Clough-Ballacolla vs winner of Camross v The Harps

PIHC Quarter Finals:

Ballinakill vs Clonaslee St. Manman’s

Ballyfin vs Camross

PIHC Semi Finals:

Borris in Ossory/Kilcotton vs winner of Ballyfin vs Camross