Holland hat-trick helps The Heath to a winning start in 2024

The 2024 Laois club football season returned to action this weekend, with the first round of the Kelly Cup getting underway. Stradbally were the winners of this competition in 2023.

Senior outfit, The Heath, met Intermediate side Timahoe on a wet Saturday afternoon in Timahoe GAA. The Heath’s Leon Holland, who had missed most of the 2023 season due to travelling, starred here as he helped himself to 3-3 in a win for the men wearing black and amber.

The Heath 3-11

Timahoe 1-7

The Heath were on the front foot early and their youthful-looking team were playing some lovely, quick football. In the fourth minute of the match, The Heath midfielder PJ Daly played a delightful ball into Paddy Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick took on his marker along the end line before handpassing the ball near the square. Leon Holland rose highest to fist the ball into the back of the net and get The Heath’s 2024 campaign off to a bright start.

From the following Timahoe kickout, PJ Daly impressively claimed it and the ball was quickly moved forwards into the hands of Holland again. The Heath corner-forward cut inside on to his stronger left and Holland’s shot went past Timahoe goalkeeper Eoin Culliton.

Timahoe looked a bit out of sorts even at this early stage, but they did register their opening score through a Robbie Foyle point. The Heath would respond with the next two points though to further assert their dominance over their Intermediate counterparts.

Holland turned provider as he set up full-forward Andrew Booth for the first of those two points. Then Paddy Fitzpatrick picked off another, as some strong running through the middle from PJ Daly was rewarded with the score.

Timahoe centre-forward and former inter-county player Damien O’Connor curled over a cracking crossfield pass for Robbie Foyle to float over another point for the home side. Holland replied for The Heath with his first point of the day.

However, Timahoe were beginning to show life now and scored a goal to get back into the game. Wing-back Andy Daly dropped a delightful over-the-top ball into the hands of Damien O’Connor.

He coolly lobbed The Heath goalkeeper Mikey Harrison, as O’Connor wheeled away in celebration. That Timahoe goal boosted their confidence, but The Heath remained on top until half-time.

Holland added another point to his tally and while Robbie Foyle responded for Timahoe with his third point, Holland struck for a first-half hat-trick before the break.

A high, hopeful ball was kicked inside from The Heath. Holland again showed his athleticism to reach highest and fist over the clutches of Eoin Culliton. That green flag saw The Heath take a 3-5 to 1-3 lead into the interval and they were well worth that eight-point advantage.

Paddy Fitpatrick added to that advantage upon the resumption for The Heath, as the wing-forward curled over his second point of proceedings. However, Timahoe showed real fight and character in the third quarter to give themselves a chance at a result here.

Timahoe wing-back PJ Daly opened the home team’s account for the second-half with a fine point. The Heath were backing off Timahoe a bit now and that allowed corner-back Jimmy Whelehan to get forward and pop over another point.

Damien O’Connor was showing well throughout, and he curled over a classy score to make it three on the trot for Timahoe. When the same man added another only minutes later, the Timahoe deficit was back to just five points.

However, that would prove to be as close as Timahoe would get to their opponents for the remainder of the affair. The Heath, boosted by fresh legs off the bench, finished the contest strongly to make sure they would grab the points on offer here.

PJ Daly ended The Heath’s drought before Holland planted over his first point of the second-half. Further white flags were raised down that end as Paddy Fitzpatrick, Dylan Keyes and James Phelan all kicked over scores for the comfortable winners.

The Heath welcome the reigning Kelly Cup champions, Stradbally, in round two. Timahoe will be hoping to bounce back against another Senior outfit in the form of Emo.