Stradbally crowned Senior 'B' champions after comfortable victory over neighbours The Heath

Rivals Stradbally and The Heath met in the first edition of the Laois Shopping Centre Senior football championship ‘B’ final in Laois Hire O’Moore Park. Stradbally had defeated Park-Ratheniska and Ballyroan Abbey to reach this stage, while The Heath got the better of Clonaslee St Manman’s and Ballyfin.

Unfortunately, this rivalry failed to live up to any of the pre-match hype. Stradbally got an early goal here and never looked back from that point, as The Heath’s attack wasn’t up to scratch on the evening.

Stradbally 3-9

The Heath 0-5

Stradbally’s last championship title was that famous Senior championship in 2016 where they ended Portlaoise’s ten in-a-row bid. While this championship wasn’t anywhere near as crazy, the ‘Little Town’ will feel this could prove to be a solid building block for the coming years.

Stradbally’s Tom Shiel has been in unstoppable form in this ‘B’ championship since he recovered from injury. Shiel was the top-scorer in the two games for far and opened the scoring here with a free.

Then Darragh Carolan registered Stradbally’s first point from play to double their advantage, The Heath hadn’t really go going at this stage, as Stradbally seemed comfortable.

Then Stradbally struck for the first of their three goals on the evening to really open up a nice lead. Conor Goode cut straight through and spotted the onrushing Eamonn Delaney who palmed home/

Damien Murphy, who covered every blade of grass throughout, kicked Stradbally’s third point to put them 1-3 to 0-0 ahead already.

However, The Heath finally managed to come to grips with the game somewhat after that score and showed some life. Full-forward Evin Keane registered their first point before they were awarded a penalty.

Leon Holland cut inside and was deemed to have been brought to ground unfairly by referee Joe Brennan. However, Keane’s resulting spot-kick struck the post and The Heath let a golden chance go by.

Evin Keane did somewhat atone for that miss though after that. He kicked two points to leave The Heath only trailing by a goal as we headed for half-time.

However, Stradbally found their feet just before the break. Conor Goode and Tom Shiel, who were both very influential in the Stradbally forward line, landed a point apiece to break their scoring drought.

Evin Keane did kick the final score of the first half through a free. That saw The Heath only trail by 0-4 to 1-5 at half-time and kept them well in the championship final.

However, Stradbally’s second goal at the start of the second-half put further daylight between the sides again. JP Nerney’s kickout was intercepted by Shiel, who struck it first time into the empty net.

Midfielder Colm Begley knocked over another point after that, as Stradbally had now opened up an eight-point cushion.

The Heath desperately needed scores now to keep this competitive but their shooting boots let them down. They registered four wides during the following period and that saw the contest get away from them.

Conor Goode curled over his second point to push Stradbally comfortably ahead on a score of 2-7 to 0-4 as we entered into the final quarter in Portlaoise.

This final petered out predictably after that for a bit. Stradbally seemed content with their lead and The Heath looked like an outfit well beaten at this stage.

It was Stradbally who fittingly finished with a flourish to make sure the cup was headed back their way. Colm Begley’s long ball was flicked on by Stradbally substitute Cillian Maher and Ronan Creery tucked home.

Substitutes Cillian Maher and Colm Kelly kicked the final two scores for Stradbally to see them cruise to a facile fourteen-point victory in the end.