Killeshin advance to Laois GAA SFC quarter-finals after hard-fought win over The Heath

Killeshin are through to the quarter-finals of the Laois Shopping Centre Senior Football Championship after they weathered The Heath's storm to win by six points in the end.

Ryan Van Haeften's side had been leading by five points at half-time, but The Heath kicked the first six scores of the half to go ahead for the only time in the game, before 1-4 in the last ten minutes saw Killeshin over the line.

Killeshin started the better of the two sides as they raised the first two white flags of the contest. Killian Roche came forward to score a free while four minutes later, Evan Lowry made it two points to nil. Brian Ging was the scorer of The Heath's first point before Paddy Fitzpatrick opened his account after a Roche kick-out went straight over the sideline and The Heath took full advantage.

Evan Lowry took his tally to three points to put Killeshin two points up as he slotted over two points in a row. Fitzpatrick replied with a second score for The Heath, but Killeshin went down the pitch and rattled the back of the net. Cathal Byrne played a great ball into Eoin Lowry, who smashed the ball past JP Nerney. Fitzpatrick then tapped over a free that was brought forward to the 14-yard line. Mick Doran scored the game's only two-pointer to push Killeshin five points ahead.

Jimmy Nerney and Fitzpatrick pointed for The Heath while Evan and Eoin Lowry scored for Killeshin as they went into the dressing rooms ahead by five points, 1-8 to 0-6.

The Heath took over from here and scored six points in a row to go into the lead. Jimmy Nerney, Sean Kirby (two), Sam Rooney, Fitzpatrick (free) and Leon Holland all raised white flags as it looked as if The Heath would repeat their Round 2 heroics that got them past Clonaslee St Manman's. It wasn't to be however, as Killeshin took over once again and ended a 27-minute spell without a score.

Eoin Lowry got their first point of the second-half after 53 minutes before he slotted a free between the posts to push them a point ahead. The game was all but over in the 60th minute as Killeshin were awarded a penalty as Dylan Kavanagh touched the ball inside the small square to deny Leeson Hughes a goal. Roche came forward to send Nerney the wrong way.

Adam Deering ended the game with two points from play to record a six-point victory and seal their quarter-final place. The Heath will now drop down to the Senior 'B' competition.

Final Score

Killeshin 2-12

The Heath 0-12

SCORERS – Killeshin: Eoin Lowry 1-4 (0-1 free), Killian Roche 1-1 (1-0 pen, 0-1 free), Evan Lowry 0-4 (one free), Adam Deering and Mick Doran (two pointer) 0-2 each The Heath: Paddy Fitzpatrick 0-5 (three frees), Sean Kirby and Jimmy Norton 0-2 each, Brian Ging, Sam Rooney and Leon Holland 0-1 each

KILLESHIN: Killian Roche; Leeson Hughes, Jack Brennan, Dave McDermott; James Davis, Cathal Byrne, David Aston; Eoin Brennan, Conor Heffernan; Jack Milton, Mick Doran, Eoin Lowry; Evan English, Adam Deering, Evan Lowry. Subs: Pa Fitzgerald for J Brennan (35 mins), Mick Gaffney for Evan Lowry (38 mins inj), Paddy Walsh for Milton (49 mins), Paddy Doyle for Aston (53 mins)

THE HEATH: JP Nerney; PJ Larkin, Denis Booth, Alan Whelan; Jimmy Nerney, Aaron Thornton, Dylan Kavanagh; PJ Daly, David O’Brien; Sean Kirby, Paddy Fitzpatrick, Sam Rooney; Brian Ging, Ciaran Booth, Neil Keane. Subs: Leon Holland for Jimmy Nerney (HT), Conor Booth for D Booth (45 mins), Robbie Dowling for Thornton (57 mins)

Referee: Clifford Ward (Portarlington)