Little on the double as Courtwood defeat Park-Ratheniska in final round of Division 2

Courtwood have comfortably advanced through to the next stage of the Laois ACFL Division 2 stage. They were already through regardless of the outcome of their last match against Park-Ratheniska, but that didn’t stop the Ballybrittas-based men from putting in a strong display here.

Despite the loss as well, Park-Ratheniska will join them as they managed to secure the final fourth place. 

Courtwood 2-14

Park-Ratheniska 1-11

Park-Ratheniska played with the wind at their backs in Ballybrittas for the first half. After no score in the first five minutes, the away side struck for the opening point through a James Connolly free.

Courtwood enjoyed plenty of possession in the opening ten minutes but were slightly wasteful with it. While they did level through marksman Niall Donoher after he played a one-two with David Duffy, Park-Ratheniska rattled off the next two scores.

Centre-forward Kieran Delaney dropped one just inside the post to edge Park-Ratheniska back ahead. Then Stephen Knowles picked out fellow corner-forward James Connolly with a fine kick-pass, with Connolly taking the mark and scoring his team’s third point.

Courtwood began to turn their possession into scores after that though. Rory Doyle dropped over a free before the delightful Niall Donoher floated over two more brilliant scores from play.

Park-Ratheniska midfielder Simon Fingleton fired in a long ball into James Connolly shortly after. Connolly judged the flight of the ball perfectly, as he caught, turned on a six-pence and fisted over the bar.

The sides were level at this stage, but Courtwood took control of this one in the second quarter, with their talented youngster Ryan Little coming alive. Rory Doyle had a shot blocked down, but Little was alert to the breaking ball and slid one into the bottom right corner of the Park-Ratheniska net.

 Courtwood’s confidence grew following that goal, as they continued to play some superb football. Rory Doyle floated a lovely ball over the top to Dylan Keane and he kicked over, with Ryan Little adding another from the next possession.

Park-Ratheniska responded by grabbing the next two points to settle the tide somewhat. Kieran Delaney (free) and Stephen Knowles raised white flags for John Sugrue’s side, but Courtwood finished the half on top.

Conor Hogan curled one over after Niall Donoher set him up. Then Ryan Little struck for a further 1-1 just before the break, with his second goal being nicely set up by Laois Senior inter-county player Sean O’Flynn.

Kieran Delaney landed a point from a placed ball for Park-Ratheniska and that would be the final score of an entertaining first half. Courtwood enjoyed a 2-8 to 0-7 lead at this stage on a sunny afternoon in Ballybrittas.

Courtwood kicked a couple of wides at the start of the second half and Park-Ratheniska punished them down the other end. Richie Hitchcock burst through three Courtwood challenges before laying it off to Cian Nolan inside, with Nolan nailing his shot into the top right corner of the net.

The home team responded to that goal in style though by registering the next three points and restoring their seven-point cushion. Dylan Keane kicked over his second point after strong defending from Sean O’Flynn started the Courtwood counter-attack.

Niall Donoher then managed to get a yard of space off his marker to drop over another, with Rory Doyle planting over his second free straight after. Park-Ratheniska could have hit back with a goal but Simon Fingleton’s chance came back off the crossbar.

Kieran Delaney did leave six points between the teams after he knocked over a free. However, Courtwood scored the next two points to give themselves some breathing room down the stretch here.

Their wing-forwards, Paul O’Flynn and David Duffy, both worked their socks off all afternoon and were both rewarded with a point each. O’Flynn fired over from play while Duffy converted a mark.

Mark G Delany landed a mark himself for Park-Ratheniska but the pacy Dylan Keane replied down the opposite end for Courtwood with a fisted effort. While Park-Ratheniska registered the final two scores from frees through Kieran Delaney and James Connolly, they were merely consolation scores.

Both sides will be satisfied with how their league campaigns went though, with a chance at promotion and a Division 2 final place still at stake.