Courtwood edge past O'Dempsey's to tee up Laois GAA SFC quarter-final clash with Portlaoise

Courtwood became the eighth and final team through to the quarter-finals of this year’s Laois SFC as they got past the challenge of O’Dempsey’s on Sunday afternoon.

Three points separated the sides at the end with Cian Doyle’s well-taken goal proving the difference between the two sides.

It didn't take long for the game's first score as Matthew 'Hatch' Finlay curled a point over the bar of his right boot. Courtwood's first score came courtesy of Niall Dunne as he split the uprights from outside the arc. Matthew Byron came forward from the goals to open his account from a placed ball.

Barry Kelly got O'Dempsey's second point of the contest before their goalkeeper, Podge Bannon, was forced to make a point-blank save from Sean O'Flynn after Ryan Little had made a great run along the end line.

Alan Kinsella and Mark O'Halloran pointed to increase Courtwood's lead to three points after 13 minutes. Kelly popped up with a second score from wing-back for Kieran Kelly's side.

The first-half fizzled out with both sides adding two more points each. Paul O'Flynn and Byron (free) got the scores for Courtwood, while Mark Barry (free) and Eoin Finlay pointed for O'Dempsey's. Courtwood led 0-8 to 0-5 at the break with both sides having registered five wides each.

Courtwood came flying out of the traps in the second period and fired in 1-2 inside the opening four minutes. Ryan Little and Paul O'Flynn got the points while Cian Doyle slotted the ball through Podge Bannon's legs after a one-two with Rob Tyrell. Byron was then called into action as he made a one-on-one save from Fionn Holland before Matthew Finlay curled over a two-pointer.

Paul O'Flynn was almost in for his side's second goal after Byron played a quick free, but Bannon denied him from close range, with Byron pointing the resulting 45'. Hatch then replied with a 45' of his own after Byron had dealt with a high ball into Dan McCormack. Byron took his tally to four points with another free with Matthew Finlay cutting Courtwood's lead to five points with 15 minutes to play.

O'Dempsey's took over and got within one point as McCormack pointed before Holland raised a green flag and it was now game on with 10 minutes to play. Courtwood steadied the ship and kicked the next three scores through Ryan Little, Jake Doyle and Dylan Keane. The next four points were traded as Mark Barry and Finlay (free) were matched with scores from Cian Doyle and Keane. Kinsella had a great chance to seal victory, but Bannon made himself big to deny him late on. 

Courtwood would finish the game with 14 men after Ryan Little was shown a black card for a deliberate trip. Barry added one more point to O'Dempsey's tally, but it wasn't to be as Courtwood claimed the bragging rights. They'll face Portlaoise in the quarter-finals.

Final Score

Courtwood 1-17

O’Dempsey’s 1-14

SCORERS– Courtwood: Matthew Byron 0-4 (0-3 frees, 0-1 45’), Cian Doyle 1-1, Ryan Little 0-3, Paul O’Flynn, Dylan Keane and Niall Dunne (two-pointer) 0-2 each, Jake Doyle, Alan Kinsella and Mark O’Halloran 0-1 each. O’Dempsey’s: Matthew Finlay 0-7 (one two pointer, one two point free, one free, one 45), Mark Barry 0-3 (one free), Fionn Holland 1-0, Barry Kelly 0-2, Eoin Finlay and Dan McCormack 0-1 each 

COURTWOOD: Matthew Byron; Eoghan Slattery, Dan Boland, Adam O’Halloran; Mark O'Halloran, Robbie Flynn, Darragh McEvoy; Sean O’Flynn, Rob Tyrell; Niall Dunne, Cian Doyle, Paul O’Flynn; Niall Donoher, Ryan Little, Alan Kinsella. Subs: Jake Doyle for M O’Halloran (36 mins), Dylan Keane for Flynn (45 mins)

O'DEMPSEY'S: Podge Bannon; Adam O’Leary, Shane Nerney, Cormac O’Hora; Ryan Phelan, Johnny Kelly, Barry Kelly; Barry Howlin, Fionn Holland; Stephen Lennon, Brian Nugent, Jack Lennon; Matthew Finlay, Mark Barry, Eoin Finlay. Subs: Dan McCormack for E Finlay (38 mins), Ben Coen for Jack Lennon (46 mins), Tom Kelly for Nugent (55 mins), Eoghan Fitzpatrick for O’Leary (59 mins)

Referee: Brendan Hickey (Graiguecullen)