Slieve Bloom defeat Park-Ratheniska/Timahoe to seal Laois GAA IHC quarter-final place

Slieve Bloom have advanced to the Laois Shopping Centre IHC quarter finals after comprehensively beating Park Ratheniska/Timahoe in Timahoe on Wednesday night.

In a very physical encounter, both teams put everything on the line in a bid to avoid the dreaded relegation play-off and Slieve Bloom won that battle to put their fears of going down to bed. As for Park-Ratheniska/Timahoe,  they will have to regroup in the next few weeks to ensure they avoid the drop back down to the Junior Championship.

Slieve Bloom were worthy winners on the night with some brilliant displays from Ciaran Conroy, Kelvin Burke and Ben Conroy leading them to victory. Despite a fast start from the home side, they faded out mid-way through the first half and never really recovered from the dominance of Slieve Bloom.

Park-Ratheniska/Timahoe hit the first two scores of the game with Robbie Foyle hitting the net after Conor Fitzpatrick went on a run and his effort was saved, but Foyle was on hand to finish the rebound. Fitzpatrick then followed up the goal with a point of his own as they went into an early lead. Both sides would then trade points on multiple occasions, with Ciaran Conroy landing two for Slieve Bloom, with Kelvin Burke landing a brilliant sideline cut.

Foyle kept his side in the lead with another three points. Slieve Bloom then started to take over the game and hit four points in a row from Conroy (2) and Fergal Burke got a brace of his own. Foyle would hit another point for his side before Slieve Bloom hit turbo charge with 23 minutes on the clock. They would go on to hit the next six scores of the half, including their first goal. 

Kelvin Burke sparked the scoring spurt with a fine point just before the first goal of the game came through an effort from Martin Delaney, who made no mistake finding the net. They would go on to hit another four points through Conroy, who landed two more points while Kelvin Burke and Ben Shore got the others to lead at the break 1-12 to 1-6.

The home side needed to start quickly, but it didn’t come. Conroy added another free while Park-Ratheniska/Timahoe had to wait until the 40th minute to find their first score of the half through Foyle once again. Ben Conroy then got his name on the scoresheet with a brilliant point as the home side were really struggling to find end product, but Conor Fitzpatrick did manage to raise a white flag.

It was game over soon after, with Enda Conroy breaking through and firing the ball into the net for Slieve Bloom’s second goal of the night. To be fair, the home side stayed battling and added two more points through the brilliant Foyle and substitute Jimmy O’Connor. Ciaran Conroy grabbed another free for the victors before Ben Conroy put the cherry on the cake with a third goal and there was no stopping Slieve Bloom. Foyle did add another point for his side, but Slieve Bloom landed the last three points all through Ciaran Conroy as his side advanced to the quarter-finals, where they'll face Borris-Kilcotton.

Final Score

Slieve Bloom 3-18

Park/Ratheniska - Timahoe 1-13

SCORERS – Slieve Bloom: Ciaran Conroy 0-11 (seven frees), Ben Conroy 1-1, Kelvin Burke 0-3 (0-1 sideline), Martin Delaney, Enda Conroy 1-0 each, Fergal Burke 0-2, Ben Shore 0-1  Park-Ratheniska/Timahoe: Robbie Foyle 1-10 (0-8 frees), Conor Fitzpatrick 0-2, Jimmy O’Connor 0-1

SLIEVE BLOOM: Gavin Conroy; Rory Power, Shane Farrell, John Lowry; Tom Delaney, Evan Power, Gearoid Lowry; Fergal Burke, Darragh Delaney; Kelvin Burke, Ciaran Conroy, Ben Shore; Enda Conroy, Ben Conroy, Martin Delaney. Subs: Jake Collins for Tom Delaney (58)

PARK-RATHENISKA/Timahoe: Adam Ramsbottom; Cathal Kelleher, Joe Foyle, David Duggan; Colm Lalor, Danny Brennan, Damien O’Connor; Enda Shortall, Cian Nolan; Robbie Foyle, Tom Fingleton, Barry Fitzpatrick; Paul Ruddy, Conor Fitzpatrick, Michael Brennan. Subs: Jimmy O’Connor for Fingleton (16), Darragh Nolan for Ruddy (47)

REFEREE: Sean Higgins (Camross)