Whelan to the fore as Ballyroan-Abbey see off Barrowhouse to lift Laois GAA Junior Football crown

Ballyroan-Abbey are the 2025 Laois Shopping Centre Junior Football champions after they defeated Barrowhouse in Laois Hire O'Moore Park on Friday evening.

Ballyroan-Abbey's second-string had come into the game off a big win over Stradbally, while Barrowhouse got the better of The Rock in their semi-final. Even though they lost, Barrowhouse will represent Laois in the AIB Leinster Club Junior Football Championship.

It took five minutes for the first score to be registered as Lee Day split the posts for Barrowhouse. Earlier, Evan McEvoy had to be carried off the field with what looked like a knee injury. Ballyroan-Abbey's first chance at goal hit the upright as Padraig McMahon's shot cannoned off the post. Barrowhouse would go five points ahead before Ballyroan-Abbey managed to get on the scoreboard. Kodi Dunne split the posts before James Baldwin raised two flags back-to-back, one orange, one white. 

Ballyroan-Abbey began to find their feet as they replied with four points on the trot. Ben McDonald got their first point of the contest in the 12th minute, while Darren Mulhall, Padraig McMahon and a second from McDonald saw a point separate the sides with 17 minutes played.

Emmet Malone pointed a free to increase his club's advantage, but Ballyroan-Abbey would soon go ahead courtesy of McMahon, Jack Finlay and Mulhall. The half ended with Emmet Malone putting a 45' between the posts while Brian Whelan was on the end of a good attacking move to send Ballyroan-Abbey into the dressing rooms ahead, 0-8 to 0-7.

Whelan, having got the final score of the first-half, raised a green flag to get Ballyroan-Abbey to the perfect start within 30 seconds of the restart. His goal came after Finlay's shot for goal dropped short and McMahon palmed the ball into Whelan's path to smash it past Darragh Phelan. Barrowhouse responded in the best way possible as James Baldwin was quickest to react after Day's shot had been saved by Ed Slevin. Oran Kelleher levelled the sides for the third time when he raised a white flag from play.

A second goal nearly followed, but James Baldwin's fisted effort hit the crossbar after Malone's shot dropped into the square. McMahon took his tally to three points before Whelan pointed two frees to push Ballyroan-Abbey three points ahead again. Lochlann Kelleher came on for Barrowhouse and made an instant impact as he split the posts. Whelan finished the game with 1-4 to his name as he scored his second point from play. 

TJ Burke got in on goal for Barrowhouse, but couldn't find the back of the net. Day cut the deficit back to two points, but Ballyroan-Abbey went down the other end and raised an orange flag from goalkeeper Ed Slevin's two-point free. The game ended with the sides trading scores as Scott Flynn and a free from Ben McDonald saw Ballyroan-Abbey win the game by four points and with it a spot in next year's Intermediate Football Championship.

FINAL SCORE

BALLYROAN-ABBEY 1-15

BARROWHOUSE 1-11

SCORERS- Ballyroan-Abbey: Brian Whelan 1-4 (0-2 frees), Ben McDonald (0-1 free) and Padraig McMahon 0-3 each, Ed Slevin (two-point free) and Darren Mulhall 0-2 each, Jack Finlay 0-1. Barrowhouse: James Baldwin 1-3 (one two-pointer), Emmet Malone (0-1 45') and Lee Day (0-1 free) 0-2 each, Kodi Dunne, Oran Kelleher, Scott Flynn and Lochlann Kelleher 0-1 each.

BALLYROAN-ABBEY: Ed Slevin; Ruairi Dunne, Patrick Whelan, Jack Finlay; Evan McEvoy, Niall Walsh, Charlie Whelan; Michael Brennan, Stephen O’Donnell; Alan McWey, Brian Whelan, Paudi McDonald; Ben McDonald, Padraig McMahon, Darren Mulhall. Subs: Sam Quinn for McEvoy (3 mins, inj), Stephen Thompson for P McDonald (55 mins), Michael Parlon for Brennan (57 mins), Jack O'Dea for McWey (63 mins).

BARROWHOUSE: Darragh Phelan; James Brennan, Alex Robinson, Josh Deveraux; Kodi Dunne, Martin Murphy, TJ Burke; Emmet Malone, Oran Kelleher; Alex Kenny, Brian Malone, Séan Phelan; Lee Day, James Baldwin, Andrew Baldwin. Subs: Denis Brophy for Brennan (42 mins), Lochlann Kelleher for Phelan (45 mins), Scott Flynn for Kenny (50 mins), Mark Kenny for Dunne (60 mins), Luke Malone for A Kenny (63 mins)

Referee: Colin Bailey (Mountrath)