Laois GAA hurling star drives dramatic win for club in county championship

The second game of a double bill in the Laois SHC saw a replay of the 2024 Premier IHC final as Borris-Kilcotton met Ballinakill.

Borris-Kilcotton came out on top in that decider, but with the restructuring of the championships, both sides were promoted to the senior grade for 2025.

Their previous final was an exciting contest, but the sides dished out the most dramatic of games on Saturday, July 12 as Aaron Dunphy struck three points in injury time to bring his team from the brink of defeat to a massively important victory to open their championship at Laois Hire O'Moore Park.

Ballinakill came into the contest as the underdogs, but you wouldn't have thought it as they dominated for the majority of the contest and led from the first minute until the 55th minute without ever really looking in too much trouble.

Ultimately, the experience and doggedness of Borris-Kilcotton shone through as they battled right down to the wire and with some flashes of brilliance from Eoghain Coss in winning a penalty and Aaron Dunphy in take some fantastic scores they got over the line - and that's all that matters in the championship.

The sides went tit for tat for the majority of the first half after Ballinakill went two ahead early on through Brian Duggan and Dan Bergin.

Matthew Whelan, Niall Coss and Jer Quinlan were all on target for Borris-Kilcotton in the opening 12 minutes but a Duggan free ensured they remained level.

Cha Dwyer got off the mark and Ben O'Mara followed him with an excellent score from the left wing, but they were well matched by PJ Scully and Aaron Dunphy to make it five apiece at the first half water break.

Borris-Kilcotton fired first after the break with Scully launching a beautiful effort from the left wing between the sticks, but Ballinakill began to find their range after hitting a flurry of early wides.

A brace from Brian Duggan followed by a long range strike from Cha saw them go ahead by two. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Eddie Dwyer, Ballinakill in possession with Colm Stapleton keeping close.

The teams traded scores through Stephen Dunphy and Niall Coss to Seamus Fitzpatrick and Eddie Dwyer before Ballinakill again hit a hot streak with a quick pair of efforts from midfield by Cha sent them into a four point lead.

Balllinakill were well on top as the half progressed and the teams traded a further two points before half time as the pre-match underdogs led 0-14 to 0-10 at the break.

PJ Scully was replaced at half time, leaving free taking duties to Aaron Dunphy and he was successful with his first two minutes into the second half.

Ballinakill replied on the double with Ben O'Mara striking from midfield and Cha Dwyer landing his fifth from similar range before Duggan and Dunphy traded a brace of scores from placed balls.

Niall Coss landed the final score before the second half water break to reduce the gap to three points and that break in play proved to be the turning point in the contest as Borris-Kilcotton hit three scores in succession immediately after the restart.

Aaron Dunphy, Stephen Dunphy and Eoghain Coss were all on target within six minutes before a Cha free from 80 metres stopped the trend.

Ballinakill took a huge hit when Eoghain Coss danced past a couple of backs before being hauled down for a penalty and Eoin Fleming slammed it home to put his side into the lead for the first time in the contest.

Still reeling from the penalty Ballinakill went on the attack and Seamus Fitzpatrick popped over a contentious score, but crucially he was followed by O'Mara and Duggan as they flew back into a two-point point.

Trailing by two in injury time, Borris-Kilcotton had it all to do and one man stepped up to the challenge in Aaron Dunphy.
He launched over a free from his own 65 under the stand to bring it back to a point and he levelled with another free from close range.
Now in the 64th minute of injury time he took possession out on the right wing and despite the sea of maroon around him he found the space to put it between the sticks and steal a crucial victory for Borris-Kilcotton.

Next on the list for Ballinakill is Rathdowney- Errill on Thursday evening while Borris-Kilcotton have a clash with Clough-Ballacolla to look forward to on Saturday evening.

Final Score

Borris-in-Ossory / Kilcotton: 1-20

Ballinakill: 0-22

TEAMS AND SCORERS below picture

Pictured: Ethan Drury, Ballinakill, and Matthew Whelan, Borris / Kilcotton, compete for this sliotar

Borris-Kilcotton: Aaron Dunphy 0-6 (four frees), PJ Scully 0-3 (two frees), Niall Coss 0-4, Eoin Fleming 1-0 (penalty), Matthew Whelan 0-1, Stephen Dunphy 0-1, Jer Quinlan 0-1, Eoghain Coss.
Ballinakill: Brian Duggan 0-7 (three frees, one 65), Cha Dwyer 0-6 (one free), Eddie Dwyer 0-2, Ben O'Mara 0-3, Seamus Fitzpatrick 0-2, Dan Bergin 0-1, Gearoid Lynch 0-1.

BORRIS-KILCOTTON: Eoin Fleming; Conor Kilbane, Steven Finan, Enda Parlon; Evan Quinlan, Philip Tynan, Dean Carey; Colm Stapleton, Eoin Fitzpatrick; PJ Scully, Matthew Whelan, Stephen Dunphy; Aaron Dunphy, Jer Quinlan, Niall Coss. Subs: Eoghain Coss for Carey and Neil Foyle for Scully (both ht)

BALLINAKILL: Paul Simms; Noel Duggan, Ian Shanahan, Ryan Quinlan; Andrew McDonagh, Gearoid Lynch, Ethan Drury; Cha Dwyer, Eddie Dwyer; Ben O'Mara, Seamus Fitzpatrick, Cian O'Shaughnessy; Cathal O'Shaughnessy, Brian Duggan, Dan Bergin. Subs: Lir McDonald for C O'Shaughnessy (15). Jamie Drury for Ethan Drury (45, inj)

REFEREE: Anthony Stapleton (Rathdowney-Errill)