Superb second-half sees Clough-Ballacolla crowned Laois GAA Senior Hurling champions

Clough-Ballacolla are the 2024 Laois Shopping Centre Senior Hurling champions after they got the better of Rathdowney-Errill in Sunday's County Final.

Willie Hyland's side were excellent in the second period and limited Rathdowney-Errill to just seven points.

Clough-Ballacolla 2-22

Rathdowney-Errill 0-22

It certainly didn't take long for this game to come to life as Paddy Purcell put the ball between the posts after seven seconds. Tadgh Dowling made it two points to nil soon after. Clough-Ballacolla replied with two scores of their own as Stephen Bergin and Stephen 'Picky' Maher raised white flags. Paddy McCane and Joe Corby traded scores before a free from Picky Maher edged Clough-Ballacolla in front for the first time.

Enda Meagher's side then scored four points in three minutes as they began to find their feet. Ross King started it with a free before three points from play courtesy of McCane from a tight angle, Brandon McGinley and a second point of the game from Dowling. Clough-Ballacolla responded in the best way possible as the ball fell to Bergin from his own puck-out and he went on a great run which ended with him kicking the ball past Damian Madden with King (free) and Lee Cleere trading scores soon after.

The joy of Bergin's goal drawing the sides level was short-lived however as yet again Rathdowney-Errill scored five points on the trot. A third free from King was followed with scores from Dowling (two), Eric Killeen and McCane. Mark Hennessy pointed for Willie Hyland's side to end an 11-minute spell without his team registering a score. Lee Cleere got a second point from centre-back to leave Rathdowney-Errill ahead by three points as the game approached half-time. Purcell and a free apiece from Picky and Roddy left the score at 0-15 to 1-8 in favour of Rathdowney-Errill at the break.

Picky Maher and Liam O'Connell traded scores at the beginning of the second period before Clough-Ballacolla finally awoke and scored 1-3 without reply. Three frees from the stick of Picky Maher before a well-worked team score saw Picky Maher baring down on goals and he made no mistake with his finish.

The next three points were frees with Roddy getting one for Rathdowney-Errill and Picky Maher getting two for Clough-Ballacolla. Brandon McGinley and Willie Dunphy scored a point each as three points separated the sides. Roddy and Liam O'Connell slotted over a free each with Aidan Corby replying for Willie Hyland's side. The now county champions then drove towards home and got the next four scores. Three frees from Picky and a first score of the game from Robbie Phelan.

Purcell (free) and McCane left four points between the sides and with four minutes added on. Rathdowney-Errill needed a goal but it never came as a third score from Cleere and a point from Picky ensured that Bob O'Keefe would return to Clough-Ballacolla.