Stradbally see off Courtwood challenge to reach Senior 'B' semi-finals once more

Stradbally and Courtwood would have had ambitious hopes heading into this year’s Laois Senior football championship. However, it has not necessarily worked out for either club this season.

Stradbally 1-14

Courtwood 1-8

Courtwood enjoyed an extremely impressive Division 1 league campaign. Ryan Van Haeften’s men reached the final where they were beaten by the reigning county champions, St Joseph’s.

The men from Ballybrittas enjoyed a nice opening round victory over Killeshin but came unstuck against Arles-Killeen before losing to St Joseph’s once more.

For Stradbally, they have failed to build on their Senior ‘B’ championship success from last season. Losses to Rosenallis and Clonaslee St Manman’s saw them enter this Senior ‘B’ competition for a second year running.

Courtwood seemed to show stronger form heading into this Senior ‘B’ quarter-final clash. It proved to be Stradbally’s night though, as they built up a six-point cushion at the break and held Courtwood off in the second-half.

Stradbally made the brighter start on a cold evening in Annanough. Colm Begley and Conor Goode knocked over frees to push the men wearing green two ahead early doors.

Alan Kinsella kicked over Courtwood’s opening score from play. However, Courtwood struggled with their shooting in front of the posts in the opening quarter.

A swift team move from Stradbally saw the ball eventually transferred over to Colm Begley who curled over with his left boot. Courtwood reduced the deficit back to one though thanks to Ryan Little.

Stradbally scored the first goal of the contest in the eighteenth minute of the match. Tom Shiel slipped midfielder Jack Deegan through on the run and Deegan rifled one past Matthew Byron in the Courtwood goals.

Full-back Liam Knowles would push Stradbally further clear then thanks to firing over a free from distance. Cian Doyle returned Courtwood to the scoreboard but Stradbally finished the half on top.

Jack Deegan was in terrific form all night long and probably deserves man of the match. Deegan recovered possession for his team inside Courtwood’s half, charged forward before splitting the posts nicely.

Tom Shiel then placed over a free to see Stradbally go in 1-6 to 0-3 to the good at the half-time interval. They had also played against the wind, so Stradbally were most certainly in the driving seat heading into the second-half.

Upon the restart, Stradbally were awarded a penalty minutes into the second-half after referee Eugene Dowdall deemed there was a trip in the square.

Liam Knowles stepped up knowing that another goal would almost put the game beyond Courtwood. However, Matthew Byron proved to be Knowles’ match in the net, as Byron sprung expertly to deny the spot-kick.

Conor Goode did get a point for Stradbally a minute later but Courtwood received a bit of much-needed luck themselves. Paul O’Flynn was deemed to have been hauled to the ground in the square and Eugene Dowdall spread his arms to award another penalty.

Courtwood midfielder Niall Dunne stepped up and made no mistake with the low finish past Jack Larkin. When Cian Doyle curled over another point a minute later, Courtwood were now only trailing by three.

Tom Shiel settled things down a bit for Stradbally by swinging over a super score off his left. While Niall Dunne added a point to his penalty goal for Courtwood, Shiel pushed Stradbally’s lead back to four through a placed ball.

Courtwood were playing with confidence and tenacity now though. The men wearing white registered three points on the trot to leave just the single point in it, with Paul O’Flynn (free), Niall Dunne and Alan Kinsella raising white flags.

However, that proved to be as close as Courtwood would come to a comeback. Stradbally found another gear in the final quarter to steer themselves to safety and the Senior ‘B’ semi-finals.

Eoin Buggie blasted over a beauty with the outside of his boot before Jack Deegan brought his tally to 1-2 for the evening for Stradbally. When substitute Fionn McEvoy fisted over another for Stradbally, they were four clear again.

Courtwood had a Niall Dunne goal ruled out for a square ball near the end of the match. Liam Knowles and Garry Comerford would point the final scores to send Stradbally through and Courtwood into a Senior relegation semi-final.