Keogh hat-trick fires St Joseph’s past Emo and into Laois GAA SFC quarter-finals

St Joseph’s booked their place in the Laois Senior Football quarter-finals with a high-scoring win over Emo in Laois Hire O'Moore Park on Saturday evening. A lively first half saw both sides hit the net, but Joseph’s carried a three-point lead into the break after Michael Keogh and Brian Daly led the way in attack.

Emo briefly turned the tide early in the second half, but once Keogh struck for his second goal, the 2023 champions took complete control. He went on to complete a hat-trick as Joseph’s piled on 5-19 in total, pulling clear to secure a convincing victory and leave Emo heading for the Senior ‘B’ competition.

St Joseph's started this game the brighter, as Brian Daly pointed a free from outside the arc before Michael Keogh got their first from play as they led three points to no score after three minutes. Emo cut St Joseph's lead to one point with their first score as Ross Meredith raised an orange flag from a free. From here, St Joseph's took over and scored 1-3 without reply, leaving Emo scoreless for 14 minutes.

Keogh added two more points to his name while Mikie Dempsey opened his account. Their goal was a superb team move, which ended with Keogh kicking the ball into an empty net after Eoghan O'Flaherty assisted him. Emo seemed to spark into life and replied with 1-3 of their own. Paul Lawlor pointed two frees with Nigel Murphy getting their score from play after 21 minutes.

The Emo midfield then combined for their goal as James O'Rourke played Liam Crowley through on goal. It looked like the chance was gone, but Crowley tucked the ball past the onrushing Aaron Cooney and now St Joseph's only led by a single point. 

A second two-point free from Daly ended 17 minutes without a score for St Joseph's, with the number 14 adding another point from the resulting kick-out. Lawlor tapped over a free to end the first-half as St Joseph's went into the dressing rooms leading by three points, 1-9 to 1-6.

St Joseph's three-point advantage was eradicated inside the first minute of the second-half as Brian Gorman palmed the ball into an empty net after Emo had won a St Joseph's kick-out and Paddy Hosey had passed him the ball. Pa Kirwan put Emo ahead for the first time, soon after, before Ross Meredith pushed them two points clear.

Josh Lacey reduced the deficit to a single point before Keogh set up Dempsey for their second goal to put them into the lead again. Aaron Cooney was then called into action as he made a great save from Nigel Murphy. A third goal soon followed for the 2023 County Champions as Keogh raised his second green flag of the evening. Eoghan O'Flaherty added his only score of the game as they now led by six points.

Ross Meredith got a point back for Emo, but St Joseph's weren't letting up and scored 2-4 on the trot. Keogh completed his hat-trick in the 43rd minute before he scored an outrageous point from under the stand. Substitute Eoin Johnson added to his side's lead with Daly getting a handy free from in front of the posts as Emo broke the three-back rule. Oisin Hooney opened his account before laying a goal on a plate for Matty Campion to finish. Pa Kirwan did manage another point with Daly replying with another free. Kirwan got Emo's third goal of the evening as Campion added a point to his goal from the bench.

Lawlor got Emo's last score with his third placed ball as Daly (free) and Seamus Farrelly scored a point each to see St Joseph's into the quarter-finals, while Emo will now play in the Senior 'B' competition.

Final Score 

St Joseph's 5-19

Emo 3-11

SCORERS - St Joseph's: Mick Keogh 3-4, Brian Daly 0-8 (two two point frees, four frees), Matty Campion and Mikie Dempsey 1-1 each, Eoin Johnson, Josh Lacey, Oisin Hooney, Eoghan O'Flaherty and Seamus Farrelly 0-1 each Emo: Ross Meredith 0-5 (one two point free, one free), Padraig Kirwan 1-2, Liam Crowley and Brian Gorman 1-0 each, Paul Lawlor 0-3 (frees), Nigel Murphy 0-1

ST JOSEPH’S: Aaron Cooney; Conor Kealy, Adam Campion, Jack Lacey; Tom Dunne, Danny Hickey, Sean Brennan; Mikie Dempsey, Gearoid Lynch; Robbie Murphy, Eoghan O’Flaherty, Josh Lacey; Michael Keogh, Brian Daly, Oisin Hooney. Subs: Dylan Doyle for Lynch (29 mins, inj), Eoin Johnson for Brennan (39 mins), Seamus Farrelly for Josh Lacey (49 mins), Matty Campion for O'Flaherty (51 mins), Aidan Brennan for Doyle (52 mins, inj)

EMO: Eoin Butler; Shane Murphy, Tom Fennelly, Sean Greene; Cian Langford, Pa Kirwan, Jamie O’Connor; James O’Rourke, Liam Crowley; Brian Gorman, Nigel Murphy, Darren Strong; Ross Meredith, Paul Lawlor, Paddy Hosey. Subs: Eoin Montague for Fennelly (17 mins, inj), Ruairi Bourke for O'Rourke (46 mins), Colm Poole for Hosey (49 mins), Jack Murphy for Gorman (54 mins), Charlie Hand for Murphy (55 mins)

Referee: Hugh Coughlan (Park-Ratheniska)