Borris-Kilcotton recover from 12 points down to get the better of Abbeyleix

An injury-time goal from Neil Foyle and three injury-time points from Aaron Dunphy saw Borris-Kilcotton complete a hugely impressive comeback to defeat Abbeyleix in Laois Hire O'Moore Park on Saturday evening.

Dunphy led the way throughout the contest, even when Borris-Kilcotton were in trouble early on, as they trailed by 12 points early in the second half, but he kept plugging away with points from frees and eventually got them over the line, finishing with an incredible tally of 1-16.

Abbeyleix will be desperately disappointed to have dropped the points here after holding such a commanding lead while also hitting a huge number of wides and the result sees them potentially in danger of not advancing to the next round, depending on results, while Borris-Kilcotton are now in pole position in Group B.

Corner forwards Cormac Byrne and Jer Quinlan traded scores to open the game, before Colin and Ciaran Byrne also both pointed within the opening five minutes to give Abbeyleix the lead. Despite seeing several chances wasted early on, Abbeyleix continued to hold the upper hand as they struck through Cormac, Ciaran and Killian Byrne either side of a well-taken score in response from Aaron Dunphy.

After a lacklustre start, Borris-Kilcotton eventually seemed to find their feet in the contest with Niall Coss and Aaron Dunphy both finding the target, but Abbeyleix continued to cause them trouble at the other end with Colin Byrne in particular being a real handful as he slotted his second of the game.

A long-range strike by Connor Kilbane was followed by a brace of frees from his own half, either side of the water break from Aaron Dunphy brought the sides level at seven points apiece after 17 minutes. Things quickly began to go pear-shaped for Borris-Kilcotton, however, as they would concede 11 points in a row after battling to get back on level terms.

Colin Byrne slotted again before long-range efforts from Cormac Byrne and Aaron Carroll, and an easy score for Killian Byrne, who was left completely unmarked in the Borris-Kilcotton half. Enda Rowland got in on the act with a brace of frees from his own 45 while Colin Byrne continued to dazzle as he pointed a pair from play and assisted a Colm Walsh score, while his brothers Ciaran and Cormac also increased their tallies. The final score of the half was from a Dunphy free to make it 0-18 to 0-8 to Abbeyleix at the break.

Abbeyleix started the second half with a goal from Sam Quinn from close range after a great ball inside by Cormac Byrne and given how the game was going, that appeared to be that. Borris-Kilcotton dug in, however and scored the next four points in a row with a trio from Aaron Dunphy followed by one from Stephen Dunphy.

They were also given a major boost when Eli Quinn received a second yellow card for a foul on Colm Stapleton, which increased the momentum building behind Borris-Kilcotton and ignited their support into louder cheers. Aaron Dunphy rifled in a 21-metre free after scores for Abbeyleix from Byrne and Walsh, which put just six points between the sides with 15 minutes remaining. Dunphy followed by slotting two long-range frees and Eoin Fitzpatrick struck from play to reduce the gap to three.

Abbeyleix desperately tried to settle the ship with scores from Cormac Byrne and Eoghan Fennelly keeping them in front, but the Borris-Kilcotton comeback was feeling inevitable and they got a huge breakthrough in injury time when sub Eoghain Coss tore inside with his first possession and played a high ball into Neil Foyle, who eventually got it over the line. Borris-Kilcotton finished with a flourish as Aaron Dunphy pointed three times in injury time to claim the win and a vital two points.

Final Score

Borris-Kilcotton 2-22

Abbeyleix 1-23

SCORERS - Borris-Kilcotton: Aaron Dunphy 1-16 (1-11 frees), Neil Foyle 1-0, Jer Quinlan 0-1, Niall Coss 0-1, Stephen Dunphy 0-1, Eoin Fitzpatrick 0-1, Connor Kilbane 0-1, Matthew Whelan 0-1. Abbeyleix: Cormac Byrne 0-6 (four frees), Colin Byrne 0-5, Ciaran Byrne 0-3, Killian Byrne 0-2, Sam Quinn 1-0, Enda Rowland 0-2 (frees), Colm Walsh 0-2, Eoghan Fennelly 0-2, Aaron Carroll 0-1.

BORRIS-KILCOTTON: Eoin Fleming; Enda Parlon, Matthew Whelan, Steven Finan; Connor Kilbane, Philip Tynan, Noah Quinlan; Evan Quinlan, Eoin Fitzpatrick; Colm Stapleton, Neil Foyle, Niall Coss; Stephen Dunphy, Aaron Dunphy, Jer Quinlan. Subs: Dean Carey for Coss (40), Eoghain Coss for Tynan (58).

ABBEYLEIX: Enda Rowland; Mark Cahill, Oisin Carroll, Eamon Fitzpatrick; Aaron Carroll, Fionan Mahony, Jack Finlay; Colm Walsh, Sam Quinn; Ciaran Byrne, Eli Quinn, Killian Byrne; Colin Byrne, Liam Kavanagh, Cormac Byrne. Subs: Eoghan Fennelly for Kavanagh (40), Lewis Churchouse for Cahill (57), Lawson Obular for Walsh (58).

REFEREE: Alan Doheny (Castletown)

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