Padraig Clancy’s charges march on as Stradbally secure second SFC 'B' final in three seasons

The 2023 Laois Shopping Centre SFC 'B' champions, Stradbally, will have the chance to win a second championship in three seasons after they came through Saturday evening's semi-final against Rosenallis.

Rosenallis had started the better of the two sides and raced into an early four-point lead thanks to a point from Jack Claffey and a goal from centre-back David Dooley. That was as good as it got for Rosenallis as Stradbally showed their class to win by five in the end. They had led by eight points nearing full-time, but substitute Paul Maher scored a late goal in injury time to reduce the winning margin.

The aforementioned Claffey and Dooley got their scores in the first and third minutes of the contest. David Dineen got Stradbally off the mark in the eighth minute as Stradbally scored five points on the trot. Gary Comerford slotted over three frees in a row before Conor Goode scored from play. Stradbally had a big goal chance just before Goode's point as Stradbally were dominating the Rosenallis kick-out and it led to Fionn McEvoy going through on goals, but Donal Lalor made a great save to deny him.

Jimmy Hyland broke a barren spell of scores for Rosenallis, but their kick-outs were killing them as Stradbally got the next three scores. Goode pointed his second before Cillian Maher fired over two frees, one of them from outside the arc. The half ended with Charlie Friel and Comerford trading scores. Stradbally led 0-10 to 1-3 at the break.

The second-half was more of the same for Padraig Clancy's side as they pointed the first three scores. David Donohue, a free from Maher, a two-point free from Comerford and Fionn McEvoy put Stradbally nine points ahead with 20 minutes to play.

Rosenallis began to find their feet as they raised four white flags without reply. Jack Friel, two points from Charlie Friel and a score from Claffey got Rosenallis back into the game. Substitute Conor Buggie settled Stradbally to regain their six-point advantage. Charlie Friel added another free for Rosenallis before they were reduced to 14 men. Jack Friel and Conor Goode were both shown yellow cards by Brendan McCann, but that was Friel's second one so he was shown a red. However, on his way off the field, he struck a Stradbally player, which prompted McCann to upgrade his two yellows to a straight red card.

Stradbally brought on Benny Lawlor to steady the ship as he scored a two-point free and a normal free to see them on to 19 points. Rosenallis had a big goal chance in the middle of Lawlor's two frees, with Eoin Buggie clearing Brian Fitzpatrick's effort off the line with Darren Maher beaten. Paul Maher scored a late goal for Rosenallis after being set up by Brian Fitzpatrick, but the game was well beyond them at that stage.

FINAL SCORE

Stradbally 0-19

Rosenallis 2-8

SCORERS-- Stradbally: Garry Comerford 0-6 (0-3 frees, one two-point free), Cillian Maher 0-4 (0-2 frees, one two-point free), Benny Lawlor 0-3 (0-1 free, one two-point free), Conor Goode 0-2, David Donohue, David Deenan, Fionn McEvoy and Conor Buggies 0-1 each. Rosenallis: David Dooley and Paul Maher 1-0 each, Charlie Friel (0-2 frees) and Jack Claffey (0-2 frees) 0-3 each, Jimmy Hyland and Jack Friel 0-1 each.

STRADBALLY: Darren Maher; Liam Woulfe, Eamon Delaney, Ben Dillon; Liam Knowles, Eoin Buggie, Damien Murphy; Conor Goode, Jack Deegan; David Donohue, Cillian Maher, Cathal Buggie; Fionn McEvoy, Gary Comerford, David Dineen.

ROSENALLIS: Donal Lalor; Colin Bennet, Paddy Keating, Fiachra C-Fennell; John Lennon, David Dooley, Diarmuid Dooley; John O’Loughlin, Jack Friel; Joey Shelly, Jimmy Hyland, Shane Farrell; Jack Claffey, Brian Fitzpatrick, Charlie Friel.

Referee: Brendan McCann (Portarlington)