Former Laois GAA champs lay down a marker in overpowering win

St Joseph’s didn’t live up to expectations in last year’s Laois championship as reigning champs after emerging from the pack to shock Portlaoise in the 2023.

But they’ve laid down an early marker to allcomers in 2025 in the Laois Shopping Centre SFC campaign by totally overpowering Ballyfin on Friday night in Ratheniska GAA club.

St Joseph's started like a house on fire and led by five points at half time before a goal not long after the restart from Oisin Hooney put the game to bed.

It was a tough night at the office for Ballyfin as St Joseph's eased their way to victory without ever reaching anything like their best - or needing to.

St Joseph's got off to a blistering start with two points each from Mick Keogh and Seamus Farrelly and one from Mikie Dempsey who was magnificent in the engine room. Ballyfin's only score in the first ten minutes came courtesy of a free from Sean Moore as they trailed by four points. MORE BELOW PHOTO.

Mikie Dempsey, St Joseph's, attacking goal in their SFC Rd 1 game with Ballyfin. Photo: Denis Byrne

They had a huge opportunity to shrink the deficit when Shane Connolly got through on goal only to be denied by the crossbar. St Joseph's went up the other end where Brian Daly slotted a free to make it a five-point game after 15 minutes.

Ballyfin dominated the possession throughout the third quarter but struggled to make that count on the scoreboard and had only two more frees from Moore to show for their efforts. They launched several high balls in on top of the Joseph's goal, but Aaron Cooney and Adam Campion had the answer every time.

Mick Dempsey's men were far more clinical at the other end and scores just before the break from Farrelly and Keogh left St Joseph's up by 0-8 to 0-3 at half time.

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The second half started as the first did - with Joseph's running amok in front of goal. Jack Lacey, Gearoid Lynch and Mick Keogh all pointed with Eoghan O’Flaherty weaving his way through the Ballyfin defence to set up Hooney, who raised a green flag in the 37th minute. Moore pointed Ballyfin's first score from play but a pair of Daly frees had St Joseph's 12 points up entering the final quarter.

Far from resting on their laurels, Joseph's conceded only on final score - a point from play from Moore, the only man to get on the score-sheet for Ballyfin. Hooney added a score for Joseph's with another two each coming from Daly and Keogh as they wrapped up a highly impressive 16-point win.

St Joseph's efforts to defend their crown ended abruptly last year, only making it as far as the quarter-finals, where they came unstuck against Portlaoise. Meanwhile, after four successive defeats last season, Ballyfin were forced to survive a relegation final against Ballylinan to retain their senior status. They will need a big improvement if they are to avoid a similar fate this time around.

St Joseph's now advance to the Winners section of Round 2, while it's off to the Losers section for Ballyfin.

Final Score:

St Joseph's 1-18

Ballyfin 0-05

TEAMS & SCORERS below photo

Brian Daly, St Joseph's, looking to turn on goal with Darragh Connolly, Ballyfin, trying to challenge. Photo: Denis Byrne

SCORERS 

St Joseph's: Mick Keogh 0-6 (one free), Brian Daly 0-5 (three frees, one '45), Oisin Hooney 1-1, Seamus Farrelly 0-3, Jack Lacey, Gearoid Lynch and Mikie Dempsey 0-1 each.

Ballyfin: Sean Moore 0-5 (three frees).

ST JOSEPH'S: Aaron Cooney; Conor Kealy, Adam Campion, Ian Shanahan; Tom Dunne, Danny Hickey, Jack Lacey; Mikie Dempsey, Gearoid Lynch; Oisin Hooney, Eoghan O’Flaherty, Josh Lacey; Mick Keogh, Brian Daly, Seamus Farrelly. Subs: Aidan Brennan for Shanahan (44), Dylan Doyle for O’Flaherty (48).

BALLYFIN: Eoin Connolly; Conall Rowney, Darragh Connolly, Owen Walsh; Thomas Lynch, Max Connolly, Allan Connolly; James Finn, Eanna Lyons; Ronan Carroll, Gene O'Connor, Ciaran Connolly; Adam Connolly, Sean Moore, Shane Connolly. Subs: David Connolly for Carroll (HT), Sam O’Loughlin for M Connolly (57), Conor Cleary for Adam Connolly (59).

REFEREE: Colin Bailey (Mountrath)