Kelly stars in Rathdowney Errill's Laois GAA championship win over battling Ballinakill

Rathdowney-Errill’s winning start to the 2025 Laois Senior Hurling Championship continued last Thursday evening as they faced Ballinakill in Laois Hire O’Moore Park in the first game of round two.

Despite leading from the opening minute and dominating the ball for the vast majority of the contest, strong favourites Rathdowney-Errill came away with just a four-point victory in Portlaoise.

Bar a brief two-minute spell after a second-half goal from Ben O’Mara that put two points between the sides, there was never a sense that Ballinakill could recover after Mark Kavanagh’s opening goal just seconds into the contest.

It was a disastrous start at Laois GAA HQ for Ballinakill, who came into the contest as huge underdogs. While no doubt disappointed to come away with a second loss to open their championship, they will take some solace in the scoreline.

Jack Kelly starred for the victors as he slotted five from play while putting in his usual energetic and combative shift from centre forward, while the Rathdowney-Errill backs were also excellent as they cleared a world of high balls in from Cha Dwyer in particular who was again operating much deeper than usual.

Rathdowney-Errill are in a decent position now after the opening two rounds with a huge victory over Rosenallis to start their campaign and now overcoming this potential banana skin. MORE BELOW PHOTO.

Shem Fitzpatrick, Ballinakill, looking to secure this sliotar with Kevin O'Dea, Rathdowney Errill challenging. Photo: Denis Byrne

There was confusion in the stands as Ballinakill lined out somewhat in line with the positions named on the program. However, the players were wearing the numbers that they were entered as for the game against Borris-Kilcotton last week. Cha Dwyer was named at centre back and to be wearing six, and he did line out there but he was wearing 14.

Within seconds of the throw-in in Mark Kavanagh had the ball in the Ballinakill net after Jack Kelly launched it into the square and Kavanagh was first to the jump to strike home off the ground.

Padraig Rafter got the game's first point six minutes in after he found himself in a world of space on a run down the field. Arguably, he may have taken it in for a goal, but he opted for a point.

The game kicked into gear after a drab opening 10 minutes with Brian Duggan firing over a free from 60 metres to wake up Ballinakill as Cha Dwyer followed with an excellent strike from the right wing well inside his own half and Eddie Dwyer matched him under the stand with an excellent drive.

Ballinakill did have the deceptively strong wind behind them as they shot towards the town end. Gearoid Lynch benefited with a well taken point from midfield. Despite the Ballinakill scores they couldn't keep Rathdowney-Errill at bay in the Abbeyleix end.

Jack Kelly, James Ryan and Paddy Purcell all picked off scores from play in response to the Ballinkaill revival, while Mark Kavanagh was always a threat from placed balls when the opportunities arose.

Rathdowney-Errill began to pull away as the half wore on and despite a late second score from Lynch they led 1-10 to 0-7 at the break.

IN PICTURES: Top snaps from Laois round 1 hurling games

Eoin Bracken pointed on his second start in the SHC after the break and also created a good score for Jack Kelly late in the half, but not before Ballinakill made their opponents sweat.

A long range effort from Brian Duggan reignited the flame and they were in for a goal of their own in the 40th minute when Ethan Drury picked out Brian O'Mara just inside the 45 with a fabulous ball from under the stand and the forward raced out to the left before finishing expertly low into the far corner. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Padraig Rafter, Rathdowney Errill, goes for a score. Photo: Denis Byrne

Just two teams separated the sides after another Duggan free and the Ballinakill crowd began to believe once again, but a brace each from Kavanagh and Kelly quickly quelled their hopes as six points split them once again with 10 minutes left to play.

Rathdowney-Errill substitutes Paddy McCane and Eoin Bourke each got on the scoreline late in the game, though any zip had left the contest by this stage with Ballinakill really unable to land major blows up front.

A late flurry of frees from Duggan cut the deficit back to four points before the final whistle as the opener of round two came to a close.

Abbeyleix lay await in Round 3, which is down for Friday, August 1 and Ballinakill are due to face The Harps on Saturday, August 2. Times TBC.

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Final score: 

RATHDOWNEY-ERRILL 1-20
BALLINAKILL 1-16

SCORERS below photo:

Ian Shanahan, Ballinakill looks to break out. Photo: Denis Byrne

Rathdowney-Errill: Mark Kavanagh 1-8 (0-7 frees, 0-1 65), Jack Kelly 0-5, James Ryan 0-2, Padraig Rafter, Paddy Purcell, Paddy McCane, Eoin Bracken and Eoin Bourke (free) 0-1 each.

Ballinakill: Brian Duggan 0-9 (eight frees), Ben O'Mara 1-1, Gearoid Lynch and Cha Dwyer 0-2 each, Eddie Dwyer and Dylan Byrne Gray 0-1 each.

Teams:

RATHDOWNEY-ERRILL: Damien Madden; John Purcell, Liam O'Connell, Shane Madden; Shane Bracken, Kevin O'Dea, Thep Fitzpatrick; Dylan Carroll, Padraig Rafter; James Ryan, Jack Kelly, Paddy Purcell; Brandon McGinley, Mark Kavanagh, Eoin Bracken. Subs: Paddy McCane for McGinley (36), Eoin Bourke for Kavanagh (50), Ray Bowe for Fitzpatrick (55), Tadgh Dowling for E Bracken (59).

BALLINAKILL: Paul Simms; Noel Duggan, Ian Shanahan, Cian O'Shaughnessy; Andrew McDonagh, Cha Dwyer, Lir McDonald; Eddie Dwyer, Gearoid Lynch; Ben O'Mara, Seamus Fitzpatrick, Ryan Quinlan; Dan Bergin, Brian Duggan, Jamie Drury. Subs: Dylan Byrne Gray for Bergin and Ethan Drury for J Drury (both ht).

REFEREE: Alan Doheny