Keane kicks Courtwood into Round 3 as they get the better of Park-Ratheniska

Courtwood are through to the third round of this year's Laois Shopping Centre Senior Football Championship after a dominant display against Park-Ratheniska in Laois Hire O'Moore Park this evening.

Dylan Keane was superb at full-forward with his tally of 1-3 proving decisive in the end. Sean O'Flynn, Ryan Little and Niall Dunne were also excellent for the victors.

Courtwood 1-14

Park-Ratheniska 1-9

It would be Courtwood who would kick the opening score of the contest as Ryan Little pointed within the first 60 seconds. Park-Ratheniska followed suit with their first point as Jimmy Langton was fouled with Kieran Delaney pointing the resulting free early on. Niall Dunne opened his account for the game as he pointed a long-range free.

The next score would be fortuitous in its making as a scuffed shot from Alan Kinsella found the boot of Dylan Keane who finished superbly on the volley to raise the game's first green flag. Keane would be the scorer of the next point too as his outside of the boot shot sailed over the black spot.

Podge Dunne replied for Park-Ratheniska with their first point from play as Courtwood looked to have that extra yard on their counterparts. Courtwood pushed themselves seven points ahead after 20 minutes as they hit three scores unanswered. Sean O'Flynn, Rob Tyrell and Cian Doyle all raised white flags for the first time. Courtwood almost got in for their second goal, only to see Alan Kinsella's goal-bound effort dealt with by the Park-Ratheniska defence. 

Kinsella did get his first point soon after as a kick-out from Matthew Byron found Tyrell, who teed up Kinsella to score. Ryan Little pointed his second of the contest as Courtwood held a comfortable eight point advantage. Park-Ratheniska scored the final point of the half as Kieran Delaney pointed from a free for the second time.

The second-half began the same as the first as Courtwood's Keane pointed the opening score of the half. This would be their last score for 15 minutes or so as Park-Ratheniska raised four white flags without reply. James Connolly pointed two frees while the Delaney twins, Mark and Kieran both split the posts to leave four points between the sides.

The next piece of action would be game-defining as Park-Ratheniska's Cian Nolan was shown a black card and it proved costly as Courtwood managed the ball well and made sure of every pass. John Sugrue's men were unfortunate not to get in for goal as a misplaced pass from Courtwood left Mark G Delaney baring down on goal with Byron not in his goal. His effort rattled off the crossbar and had that gone it could have been a different story.

Courtwood mad the most of their man advantage as they tacked on four unanswered scores. Kinsella and Doyle pointed before Little took his tally to three points with two lovely points. Paul Brennan and a goal from Marc Ramsbottom late in the day wasn't enough for Sugrue's men as Courtwood won by five points in the end to seal their spot in the pot for Round 3. For Park-Ratheniska, they now drop down to the newly formed Senior 'B' Championship.