Goal-hungry Killadooley topple Abbeyleix in Shield final

Abbeyleix got off to a flyer in the opening game of this year’s Cumann na mBunscol finals on Wednesday, May 14, when Rory Thompson split the posts early on. They would soon have a goal as Daniel Kenna fired the ball past Senan Bowe Whelan in the Killadooley net.

Oliver Russell proved a tricky player to mark as he got Killadooley’s first two points from a free and 45’. Fionn Hyland stood over a free for Abbeyleix, and it somehow ended up in the back of the net to give them an early five-point advantage. Russell reduced Abbeyleix’s lead to four shortly after as he pointed a free. Hyland replied with a free of his own to add to his earlier goal.

Killadooley 9-6

Abbeyleix 3-5

Hyland’s tally rose to 2-1 in the next attack as he fired the ball into the top corner. From here, Killadooley took over as they scored four goals on the trot before half-time. Russell scored all four goals, with his hat-trick coming after a great pass by number 9 Conor Carroll. The score was 4-4 to 3-2 in favour of Killadooley at half-time.

Will Fitzpatrick got in on the scoring act for the champions as he fired over a point before he raised a green flag. Russell went on to score three more goals for his school, with Fitzpatrick adding a point to take his tally to 1-2. Hyland got two points back for Abbeyleix from play, but Killadooley had the game wrapped up thanks to Russell and Fitzpatrick’s scoring exploits.

Carroll, having had a great game full-forward for Killadooley, finally got his name on the scoresheet as he blasted the ball into the Abbeyleix net for his school’s ninth goal. The game ended with a point from Hyland for Abbeyleix, but it was Killadooley who got their hands on the Roinn 1 Boys Shield in Laois Hire O’Moore Park. SCORERS AND TEAMS BELOW PICTURE.

SCORERS–Killadooley: Oliver Russell 7-6 (5-4 frees, 0-1 45’), Will Fitzpatrick 1-2, Conor Carroll 1-0. Abbeyleix: Fionn Hyland 2-4 (0-1 free), Daniel Kenna 1-0, Rory Thompson 0-1

KILLADOOLEY NS: Senan Bowe Whelan, John Coss, Seán Kealy, Seán Ryan, Oliver Russell, Will Fitzpatrick, Oisín Nangle, Mossie Moynan, Conor Carroll. Subs: Conor Patterson, James Phelan, Ben Pearson, Cian Bergin, Denis Coss, Riley Fitzpatrick, Conor Keegan, Lee McCartney, Tommy Kelly, Luke Phelan, James Ryan, Adam Stanley.

SCOIL MHUIRE ABBEYLEIX: Kieran Clancy, Liam Noone, Finn O’Connell, Seán Gaughan Hall, James Hartford, Fionn Hyland, Rory Thompson, Daniel Kenna, Iarlaith Fitzpatrick. Subs: Ciaran Brady.