Donohue the hero as Stradbally Parish Gaels crowned Minor Football champions

A late goal from David Donohue was the match-winning score as Stradbally Parish Gaels defeated St Joseph's in a thrilling Minor final in Laois Hire O'Moore Park this afternoon.

Two goals back-to-back from St Joseph's had put them ahead by five points but even with 14 men for a period, Stradbally Parish Gaels kept plugging away to be crowned champions.

Stradbally Parish Gaels 2-11

St Joseph's 3-7

St Joseph's began on the front foot and almost got in for goal straight from the throw-in. Callum Hogg bursted through the Stradbally Parish Gaels defence and saw his shot deflected with the rebound falling to Conor Murphy, who's effort rattled the post.

The game's opening score came in the second minute as Fionn McEvoy Mullally split the posts for Stradbally Parish Gaels. St Joseph's replied in the best way possible with Hogg going on a superb run through the middle of the field before drilling the ball past Anthony Skelly in the Stradbally Parish Gaels net.

Stradbally Parish Gaels hit the front with them firing over six consecutive scores in response to the St Joseph's goal. David Donohue pointed a free as did Ben Dillion with a helping hand from St Joseph's which took it over the bar. Oran Dracy also kicked two frees off his left boot before Donohue showed his soccer skills to get his second point of the game. Dillon kicked a free which dropped around the square and Dillon volleyed the ball over to push his side three points ahead. Darcy pointed another fine score from a tight angle as Stradbally Parish Gaels took control.

St Joseph's weren't going down without a fight as they kicked over the next four scores. Eoin Johnson rounded off a well-worked team move while Sean Rowan pointed twice from placed balls. Johnson got his second point of the contest to level the game but it would be Stradbally Parish Gaels who would be ahead come half-time as Donohue got his third score of the game. Stradbally Parish Gaels leading 0-8 to 1-4 at the break.

Stradbally Parish Gaels increased their lead at the beginning of the half as Donohue kicked his fourth of the contest. St Joseph's would get the next three scores, two goals and a point. Bobby Rowan getting the first goal as he was first to react to a ball into the square. Sam Lynch rattled the net soon after while Ben Murphy raised a white flag with St Joseph's now ahead by five points. Stradbally cut the lead to two points as Donohue drilled the ball into net after Dillon had kicked a free into the square. Bobby Rowan pointed to add to his earlier goal as St Joseph's led by three points.

Stradbally Parish Gaels were then dealt a major blow as Fionn McEvoy Mullally was shown a black card by referee Seamus Mulhare. Stradbally Parish Gaels were superb in that 10-minute spell as they held St Joseph's scoreless while pointing twice themselves. Darcy and Dillon (free) both scored which meant there was only one point between the sides as we approached the final five minutes.

Donohue stepped up when his club needed him the most as Stradbally Parish Gaels capitalised on a slack pass from St Joseph's defence to bury the ball into the top corner of the net to send the crowd into raptures. St Joseph's came forward with a minute to go but could only add another point to their tally as Johnson kicked a free. Stradbally Parish Gaels winning out by a single point.