Paddy Purcell’s goal crucial as Rathdowney-Errill defeat Clough-Ballacolla in Laois GAA SHC

Rathdowney-Errill have put themselves in a fantastic position in Group B of the Laois SHC after coming away with an impressive five-point victory over champions Clough-Ballacolla in Laois Hire O'Moore Park on Saturday evening.

The loss leaves Clough-Ballacolla now under pressure to get a win in their last game against The Harps in three weeks, as Group A is extremely tight. Despite an early goal for Clough-Ballacolla, Rathdowney-Errill led for most of the contest and while there was a niggly element at times in the second half, the game never really kicked into life.

A goal midway through the second half from the excellent Paddy Purcell ultimately won the game for Rathdowney-Errill as it fired them into a four-point lead heading into the final stretch after Clough-Ballacolla were beginning to look dangerous.
Mark Kavanagh was also very impressive for the victors as he finished with ten points, including two sideline cuts and two from play, while Padraig Rafter was very solid at centre back. Rathdowney-Errill took the lead after just 42 seconds as Mark Kavanagh slotted a free from midfield to open the game before Willie Dunphy and Tadhg Dowling went on to trade scores.

The atmosphere appeared to be sucked out of O'Moore Park after the dramatic end to the first game, and not even a great goal from Willie Dunphy seven minutes into the game could ignite it. Kavanagh added to his earlier free with a pair of fabulous points from sideline cuts and not to be outdone, Cillian Dunne popped over one of his own at the opposite end.

The teams were going tit for tat with Stephen Bergin and Lochlainn Conway on target for Clough-Ballacolla, while Kavanagh, Jack Kelly and Brandon McGinley fired for Rathdowney-Errill. Further scores from Kavanagh, Dowling, Kelly and Paddy Purcell saw Rathdowney-Errill build up a three-point lead despite scores in response from Cormac Hogan and Aidan Corby.

Clough-Ballacolla finished out the half on the up, however, with Joe Corby and Mark Hennessy both raising white flags in injury time to reduce the deficit to a single point at the break at a score line of 0-12 to 1-8. Hennessy levelled it up four minutes after the restart with another well-taken point, but Rathdowney-Errill took control once again as James Ryan replied with a monster score from out the field before Kavanagh notched his first from play and added a brace of frees.

Clough-Ballacolla's first point from a free came in the 42nd minute when Stephen Bergin split the posts just before Jordan Walshe saw a shot at goal fizz just wide of the post. Willie Dunphy was on target for a second point and Bergin added another free to cut the gap to a point with 15 minutes remaining.

However, Rathdowney-Errill shot further ahead once more when James Ryan won a high ball outside the 21 and handed it off to Paddy Purcell, who was making a trademark gallop down the field. He took it inside and slotted it low into the net.
Kavanagh added another from a free and after a reply from Bergin, Jack Kelly pointed twice from play and Eoin Bracken marked his introduction with a score of his own.

Two late points for Stephen Bergin were little more than consolation as Rathdowney-Errill held on to their lead to win by five points and put themselves in a great position in Group B.

Final Score

Rathdowney-Errill 1-20

Clough-Ballacolla 1-15

SCORERS - Rathdowney-Errill: Mark Kavanagh 0-10 (six frees, two sidelines), Paddy Purcell 1-1, Jack Kelly 0-4, Tadhg Dowling 0-2, Brandon McGinley, James Ryan and Eon Bracken 0-1 each. Clough-Ballacolla: Stephen Bergin 0-6 (four frees), Willie Dunphy 1-2, Mark Hennessy 0-2, Joe Corby, Lochlainn Conway, Cormac Hogan, Cillian Dunne and Aidan Corby 0-1 each.

RATHDOWNEY-ERRILL: Damian Madden; John Purcell, Liam O'Connell, Shane Madden; Kevin O'Dea, Padraig Rafter, Shane Bracken; Dylan Carroll, Paddy Purcell; James Ryan, Jack Kelly, Tadhg Dowling; Brandon McGinley, Mark Kavanagh, Ray Bowe. Subs: Eoin Bracken for McGinley (33, inj), Ross King for Dowling (44), John Keane for J Purcell (59), David Poynton for R Bowe (62).

CLOUGH-BALLACOLLA: Cathal Dunne; Joseph Pearson, Darren Maher, Diarmaid Conway; Lochlainn Conway, Lee Cleere, Cormac Hogan; Robbie Phelan, Jordan Walshe; Mark Hennessy, Aidan Corby, Joe Corby; Cillian Dunne, Willie Dunphy, Stephen Bergin. Subs: Kevin Mulhall for Hogan (15 - 20, inj), Brian Corby for Phelan (ht), Kevin Hyland for J Corby (49), Kevin Mulhall for L Conway (55).

REFEREE: Patrick Phelan (Castletown)

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