Standout Players: Laois Shopping Centre SHC Round 3

Standout Players: Laois Shopping Centre SHC Round 3

Clough Ballacolla: 1.22

Camross: 1.19

Standout Players

Clough Ballacolla

Picky Maher (0-13)

Picky Maher once again showed why he is regarded as one of the county’s premier forwards. His scoring display was simply exceptional as he finished with 0-13, striking scores from every angle, every range and from both play and placed balls. His accuracy was outstanding throughout, but one of the standout moments came in the second half when he converted a remarkable free from between his own 45 and 65-metre lines. Even after Camross threatened with a goal opportunity, as Mossy Keyes struck the crossbar: Maher immediately responded by calmly adding another point from play, underlining his composure and class, at the moment in the game when Clough Ballacolla needed him most.

As brilliant as Picky Maher was in attack, Clough Ballacolla needed a superb defensive performance to limit the danger of Camross’ forwards capabilities: Brian Corby came to the fore.

Brian Corby (0-0)

Brian Corby produced an excellent defensive display. Off the ball, his disciplined and intelligent man-marking gave his opponent very little room to operate. Corby also won a crucial puck-out in the second half before later delivering an accurate pass and long delivery that created another scoring opportunity for Clough-Ballacolla. His standout moment of displaying skill was when: instead of deciding to go down and scoop up a loose ball whilst under heavy pressure from Camross players, Corby made the really clever decision to keep possession by kicking the sliotar straight into the helping hands of the unmarked Robbie Phelan and Phelan then directly with a long ball, set up a Picky Maher point. It all began with the brilliant decision making of Brian Corby.

Camross

Eoghan Cuddy

Eoghan Cuddy was outstanding defensively throughout, producing a series of vital interventions. He brilliantly intercepted a Clough-Ballacolla puck-out before later making a superb block to deny what looked like a certain Willie Dunphy point from play.

He showed great physicality to claim a loose ball under pressure from Lee Cleere, using a strong but fair shoulder to retain possession before winning a free out.

His reading of the game was exceptional, and another perfectly timed hook on Stephen Bergin, that prevented the Clough-Ballacolla forward from getting away a shot, resulting in another important turnover.

Cuddy also won a valuable free after getting down first to a breaking ball, before later intercepting and clearing another dangerous attack to stop Mark Hennessy from racing through on goal.

He also helped create one of Camross’s scores by linking the play that ended with Liam Delaney (0-1) pointing from long range.

Ballinakill: 0.21

Borris in Ossory Kilcotton: 2.23

Standout Players

Ballinakill:

Seamus Fitzpatrick (0-3)

Seamus Fitzpatrick was a constant threat in attack, finishing with 0-3. He benefitted from excellent service throughout, timing his runs well to get on the end of quality deliveries. A superb run into space from Ethan Drury and an accurate pass picked him out for one score, while another excellent long puck pass into the danger area also created a scoring opportunity. Fitzpatrick also showed his defensive work rate with a brilliant hook on Niall Coss, a turnover that immediately led to a Cha Dwyer score.

Ethan Drury (0-1)

Ethan Drury produced an excellent all-round display. His distribution into the full-forward line was superb, repeatedly delivering dangerous long balls that directly created scores. Defensively, he tracked back brilliantly to intercept possession before immediately turning defence into attack by setting up Eddie Dwyer. Drury also capped his performance with an impressive point from play after a powerful long-range run, while his intelligent movement and passing continually created opportunities for his teammates.

Lir McDonald (0-1)

Lir McDonald was outstanding defensively during key stages of the game. He produced three vital plays in quick succession, first intercepting an attack before his intense man-marking forced Borris in Ossory Kilcotton into a wide. Moments later, after pushing forward, he got on the scoresheet with a well-earned point. Later in the contest he made a crucial goal-saving clearance from inside his own square before another superb tackle and turnover allowed Cha Dwyer to score from the wing.

Borris in Ossory Kilcotton 

Stephen Finan (0-0)

Stephen Finan made several important defensive contributions. A brilliantly timed tackle saw him win the ball cleanly before scooping up the loose sliotar and launching a quick attack. The move continued through Eoin Fitzpatrick before Joe Campion curled over a superb point from a very tight angle near the end line. Finan later showed his aerial ability by holding off Seamus Fitzpatrick to win a high ball into the Ballinakill attack before earning a valuable free out.

Philip Tynan (0-1)

Philip Tynan’s physicality and distribution were major assets. He repeatedly launched dangerous long deliveries into the Ballinakill defence, with his first creating the free converted by PJ Scully (1-14). Later, after battling brilliantly on the ground and emerging with possession despite heavy pressure, he delivered another long ball that again resulted in a long-range free for Scully. Tynan also won key 50-50 contests, used his pace and strength to hold off challenges and earned an important free out.

PJ Scully (1-14)

PJ Scully delivered another masterclass from placed balls and open play, finishing with an outstanding 1-14. His accuracy from frees was exceptional, while he also punished Ballinakill with a superbly taken goal. At one stage he reeled off five scores in succession early in the game, underlining just how influential he was throughout and constantly keeping the scoreboard ticking for Borris in Ossory Kilcotton.

Rosenallis 1.19

Rathdowney Errill 1.18

Rosenallis 

Conor Cosgrove (0-12)

Conor Cosgrove once again led the Rosenallis attack with an outstanding 0-12, showing incredible accuracy from placed balls, including an excellent free from midfield and another superbly struck free from the 45-metre line near the sideline to level the game. He was influential from play too, embarking on a great run before directly setting up a David Dooley point in the second half, while later his vision created the winning score. Joey Shelly’s driving run and powerful ball carrying also helped create one of Cosgrove’s crucial frees.

Joey Shelly (0-0)

Joey Shelly made a huge impact after coming on and played a key role in Rosenallis securing victory. He won countless possessions, used his relentless pace to burst through open space and constantly found dangerous pockets around the field. His work rate was equally impressive in defence, where he cleared important ball, while his powerful running directly set up a free converted by Conor Cosgrove. Shelly’s speed and ball carrying were also central to the move that allowed Cosgrove to level the game before he continued to drive Rosenallis forward during the closing stages.

Rathdowney Errill 

Shane Madden (0-0)

Shane Madden produced an energetic display from wing-back. He made an excellent run down the flank to directly set up Micheal Cleary (0-2) for a point before showing tremendous determination to battle for possession, winning a turnover that eventually led to Paddy Purcell earning a free which Thep Fitzpatrick (0-3) converted. Madden later showed his reading of the game with a superb interception on the wing to snuff out danger before it developed, while another excellent long delivery into Paddy Purcell created the attack that resulted in Purcell’s goal from play.

Jack Kelly (0-9)

Jack Kelly was once again at the heart of Rathdowney Errill’s attack, finishing with 0-9. Along with his excellent free-taking, which included a superb sideline cut, he also worked tirelessly around the middle third. Kelly won several important possessions in midfield, repeatedly claiming breaking ball and driving his side forward. He also won a crucial free before confidently converting it himself, underlining both his work rate and composure throughout the contest.

The Harps 1.23

Portlaoise 1.15

The Harps

Cody Comerford (0-1)

Cody Comerford (0-1) delivered a superb defensive performance. He dealt brilliantly with dangerous high balls into the Portlaoise attack, confidently winning possession under pressure on multiple occasions before clearing accurately downfield.

He also scooped up loose breaking ball with composure and later produced an outstanding tackle to deny a Portlaoise forward a clear run on goal.

His standout moment came in the second half when he rose high at full stretch to claim a dropping ball ahead of his opponent before striking an incredible point from well inside his own half,arguably the score of the game and one of the standout scores of the entire weekend. He later intercepted another attack and launched a long delivery that started the move leading to another Harps score.

Mikey Monaghan (0-0)

Mikey Monaghan was a constant nuisance to the Portlaoise defence with his relentless work rate. He piled pressure onto a short puck-out, forcing a turnover before drawing the foul that allowed Ciaran Comerford to convert a free. Monaghan’s movement off the ball was excellent throughout, continually finding space to receive hand passes on the run, while he also won an important puck-out on the wing during the second half.

John Brophy (0-3)

John Brophy (0-3) made a huge impact after coming on, producing three valuable points in the closing stages. His final score was particularly significant, arriving immediately after Portlaoise had scored a goal and missed a free while building serious momentum. With the lead reduced to just two points, Brophy calmly restored a three-point cushion with only minutes remaining, a score that went a long way towards securing victory for The Harps. The momentum brought by Brophy definitley helped James Duggan get a late goal as The Harps had the determination to not take their foot off the pedal despite already leading well near the end and went for the goal.

Portlaoise

Brochan O’Reilly (0-1)

Brochan O’Reilly produced an outstanding display between the posts and kept Portlaoise in the contest deep into the 2nd half with a series of superb saves. He first brilliantly denied Eoin Delaney before producing another excellent stop to keep out The Harps’ danger man succesively, then producing another superb save to keep out James Duggan. Later, he again came to Portlaoise’s rescue with a brilliant save from Tony Mahony, while in the second half he showed great bravery by racing off his line to gather a dangerous loose ball in the square and winning a crucial free out under heavy pressure.

Ryan Denny (0-3)

Ryan Denny (0-3) showed his quality with three excellent scores. His first point came from an extremely tight angle near the sideline while under heavy pressure, before he landed another outstanding long-range effort from just inside the halfway line. His clever movement and composed finishing ensured he remained Portlaoise’s biggest threat from play throughout.

Cormac Rigney (0-1)

Cormac Rigney (0-1) was hugely influential all over the field. A powerful run and accurate pass found Matthew Dempsey, who won a free that Rigney confidently converted from deep inside his own half. Moments later he won a long delivery before producing another superb pass into Ryan Denny (0-3), who finished brilliantly from a very tight angle. Defensively, Rigney was equally impressive, making an excellent challenge on The Harps’ full-forward James Duggan to win a sideline ball before immediately following it up with a superb interception from another dangerous attack.

Ballyfin 0.11

Abbeyleix 2.22

Ballyfin 

David Connolly (0-0)

David Connolly produced an industrious display, covering huge ground between defence and midfield. He battled tirelessly to win possession, fought hard in the tackle and earned valuable frees for Ballyfin throughout the contest. His distribution was also impressive, delivering a superb long ball from inside his own half that dropped perfectly into the path of Gary Hofmeister to create a scoring opportunity. Connolly also produced an outstanding hook on Killian Byrne, denying what looked like a dangerous scoring chance with excellent defensive awareness.

Ross Coffey (0-1)

Ross Coffey (0-1) made a major impact at both ends of the field. He brilliantly intercepted a Ballyfin puck-out intended for midfield before cleanly gathering possession and immediately setting up Eoin Reilly (0-3) for a point from play. Coffey later showed his athleticism by winning another high ball on the run before confidently splitting the posts himself with an excellent score from just inside his own half.

Eoin Reilly (0-3)

Eoin Reilly (0-3) impressed with his long-range accuracy, landing all three of his points from play from around midfield near the sideline. His confidence to strike from distance repeatedly paid off, while his clever movement ensured he was always available to finish off attacking moves, including the score created by Ross Coffey’s excellent turnover.

Ends