Colt-Shanahoe on target in Laois GAA intermediate hurling championship

Colt-Shanahoe got their Laois Shopping Centre Premier IHC campaign off to a winning start after overcoming St Lazerian’s GAA, Abbeyleix by three points in a hard-fought battle.

Cian Moffitt and Nathan Dunne were the difference makers for Colt-Shanahoe as they ran out deserving winners on the balance of play in Mountrath GAA grounds.

Although Abbeyleix kept danger man James Keyes relatively quiet, he still chipped in with a vital 1-1, including a point from an outrageous sideline ball

It took three minutes for a score, but the game burst into life. Conor Bergin fired in a goal for Abbeyleix with a brilliant finish, but Colt-Shanahoe went straight down the field from the puckout and found the back of the net from Keyes.

It was tit for tat after that, with both teams trading points on two occasions, with Eli Quinn and Eoin Reilly getting points for Abbeyleix with Moffit and Aaron McGowan getting on the scoreboard.

Abbeyleix hit the next three points through Declan Phelan, Quinn and Reilly putting their side into an early three-point lead at 1-5 to 1-2. MORE BELOW PHOTO.

Cathal Doyle, Abbeyleix St Lazerians, tries to pull on sliotar as Brian Guilfoyle, Colt Shanahoe, attempts block. Pic: Denis Byrne

The victors responded with their second goal with Moffit running through the defence to find the back of the net to level matters.

Phelan added another point for Abbeyleix but yet again Colt-Shanahoe reeled off the next two points from Dayle Bergin and Dylan Cuddy.

Abbeyleix added another free through Phelan before half time as the scores were 1-7 to 2-4.

Colt-Shanahoe came out flying in the second half and got four points straight from the off and it was the winning of the game. The scores came from a brilliant sideline from Keyes, and three quick points from Nathan Dunne.

Cathal Doyle who was a first half sub for Abbeyleix got a badly needed score with a point of his own. Enda McWey added his first of the night to narrow the gap to two points.

But as they did all through the match Colt-Shanahoe responded through Moffit and Dunne to establish a four-point lead.
Phelan added another free to reduce the gap which was cancelled by a point from Declan Brennan.

The rain then started to pour and made a scrappy last ten minutes and there were only two more scores one from Declan Phelan and the other from Nathan Dunne as Colt-Shanahoe held out for victory.

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Final score:

Colt-Shanahoe 2-12
Abbeyleix 1-12

SCORERS below photo

Declan Phelan, Abbeyleix and Dylan Cuddy, Colt Shanahoe compete for the liotar. Photo: Denis Byrne

Colt-Shanahoe: Cian Moffit 1-3, Nathan Dunne 0-5 (0-3 frees, 0-1 65) James Keyes 1-1 (0-1 sideline ball), Aaron McGowan, Dayle Bergin, Dylan Cuddy, Darren Brennan 0-1 each

Abbeyleix: Declan Phelan 0-5 (0-4 frees, 0-1 65)) Conor Bergin 1-0, Eoin Reilly 0-3, Eli Quinn 0-2, Enda McWey, Cathal Doyle 0-1 each

TEAMS below photo of captains:

COLT-SHANAHOE: Paul Kerwin; Owen Joyce, Brian Guilfoyle, Tim Drennan; Daniel Butler, Robert Delaney, Dylan Cuddy; Enda Mulhall, Dayle Bergin; Cian Moffit, Aaron McGowan, Nathan Dunne; Pauidie McDonald, James Keyes, Darren Brennan. Subs: Frankie McEvoy for McGowan (24)

ABBEYLEIX: David Sheeran; Conor Dooley, Steven Reilly, Michael Parlon; David Walsh, Alan Lynch, Stephen O’Donnell; Enda McWey, Eli Quinn; Kyle Mullen, Declan Phelan, Eoin Reilly; Kevin Fitzpatrick, JJ Murphy, Conor Bergin. Subs: Cathal Doyle for Murphy (24)

IN PICTURES: Top photos from Laois senior hurling championship round 1 

REFEREE: Jamie McDonald (Rosenallis)