Ballyroan-Abbey seal quarter-final place with facile win over Rosenallis

Ballyroan-Abbey are the first team through to the quarter-finals of this year's Senior Football Championship after they dispatched of Rosenallis in Laois Hire O'Moore Park this evening.

Martin Murphy's side got off to a flying start and had racked up 1-4 within the first 10 minutes to Rosenallis' no-score.

Ballyroan-Abbey 2-17

Rosenallis 0-6

Diarmuid Whelan and Padraig McMahon got the first two points for Ballyroan-Abbey with three minutes played. McMahon added a second point five minutes later as he hand-passed the ball over. Diarmuid Whelan made it four points to nil with his second point. Their first goal came with the next play as Shaun Fitzpatrick put the ball on a plate for Davin McEvoy to put Ballyroan-Abbey into a commanding position.

Jack Claffey got Rosenallis' first point of the evening after 11 minutes. Fitzpatrick opened his account for Ballyroan-Abbey in reply to Claffey's score. Then came a huge talking point as David Dooley got hit with a head-high challenge by Martin Scully but referee Clifford Ward decided to show Scully a yellow instead of a red.

Rosenallis kicked two scores on the trot courtesy of Claffey with his second being a lovely strike off the outside of his left foot. Martin Scully, Conor Brennan and Davin McEvoy (free) ended the half with scores for Ballyroan-Abbey as they led 1-8 to 0-3 at the break.

Davin McEvoy kicked the opening score of the second period with another free. Joey Shelly and Brian Fitzpatrick got a point each for Rosenallis but they needed goals and fast. Aaron McEvoy came forward from corner-back to increase Ballyroan-Abbey's lead. Rosenallis almost got a goal to ignite them into life but Brian Fitzpatrick's effort was saved. Claffey (free) and Davin McEvoy traded points as Ballyroan-Abbey still held an eight-point advantage.

Ballyroan-Abbey finished the game with a further 2-6 without reply as they strolled into the quarter-finals. Shaun Fitzpatrick assisted the second goal as he teed up Brian Whelan. The latter added two more points with one coming from a free. David McEvoy scored a free and a point while MJ Tierney (45') and Diarmuid Whelan (mark) got a point each.