Strong second-half sees Stradbally conquer Courtwood in Round 1 of Laois Shopping Centre SFC

A fantastic performance in the final quarter from Stradbally saw them come from behind to beat Courtwood by eight points in their Senior Football Championship clash in Laois Hire O’Moore Park on Saturday. 

Courtwood led from the first minute until the 49th minute, but Stradbally dug deep and the introduction of Jody Dillon and Gary Comerford on 45 minutes proved to be an inspired decision as they played a vital role in the comeback. 

STRADBALLY 2-12  

COURTWOOD 1-8 

Courtwood’s wayward shooting throughout the game proved costly, but Stradbally were extremely accurate finishing with just one wide. 

The sides were neck and neck all the way through in a very entertaining contest, but Stradbally were able to up their game when it was in the melting pot and they pulled away in the final quarter. 

An exciting start to the game saw two goals and a point within the opening two minutes. Conor Hogan fired Courtwood ahead with a point mere seconds after the throw in. The lead was very short lived when a long ball from deep found its way to Ciaran O’Neill in front of the Courtwood goals and he finished coolly to get Stradbally off the mark with a goal. 

It was advantage Courtwood again from the next attack when Niall Donoher played an inch perfect diagonal pass from the left side of the 45 to Alan Kinsella who bore down on goal before rattling the top corner. 

After an electric start there was no score for 10 minutes when Cian Doyle kicked over a point from the left side off the outside of his boot. Dylan Keane was looking dangerous up front for Courtwood and he went on an incisive run before being hauled down and Niall Dunne pointed the resulting free. 

After going 15 minutes without a score Stradbally hit a purple patch, scoring three points to no reply in three minutes. Colm Begley kicked the first from play before Darragh Carolan kicked a good mark. Conor Goode completed the trio with a good score after some patient build up play by Stradbally. 

Courtwood’s accuracy in front of goal was poor as they kicked several wides from scoreable positions but they eventually got back on track with a free from Doyle and a well taken score from play by Keane after another dangerous run inside to put Courtwood two ahead with five minutes remaining in the half. 

Stradbally’s accuracy and Courtwood’s lack of helped to keep the former in touch and Stradbally brought it to a one-point game before half time when Begley was fouled on the 21 metre line and proceeded to kick the free between the posts to bring it to 1-5 to 1-4 at the break. 

The second half began at a frantic pace with both sides looking dangerous on the attack but they both failed to pull the trigger with an accuracy. Colm Begley eventually broke the duct on 37 minutes with a pointed free. 

That score spurred the second half into life as Courtwood went straight on the attack and wona free inside with Kinsella pointing.  

Stradbally levelled the game again with a great score by Darragh Carolan before Conor Buggie saw a shot at goal bravely stopped by Matthew Byron. 

Dylan Keane found space on the right hand side once again, this time cutting inside and kicking it over the bar. Stradbally introduced Jody Dillon and Garry Comerford a moment later, and the latter assisted the former for a score with their first involvement in the game. 

Niall Dunne pointed a free for Courtwood but Stradbally were on the charge and took the lead for the first time in the 49th minute since their early goal with two great points from Comerford and Carolan. 

Stradbally’s dominance late in the game continued with the introduction of Comerford and Dillon proving very beneficial. Eoin Buggie put them two ahead after a powering run down the middle and Dillon increased the lead to three on 60 minutes. 

Jack Deegan brought the lead to four deep into injury time as Stradbally fended off several Courtwood attacks in their search for a goal. 

Darragh Carolan completed a wonderful second half performance from Stradbally when he coolly slotted the ball home from the ground with the final kick of the game.