Courtwood end Stradbally’s unbeaten start to 2026 to keep Division 1 semi-final hopes alive

Stradbally have been beaten for the first time in 2026 as Courtwood got the better of them in ACFL Division 1 at Courtwood GAA on Tuesday evening.

Padraig Clancy’s side came into the game having won the Kelly Cup and the first five games of the league, but Courtwood’s ability to take their goal chances at crucial times proved key. Stradbally probably had the better of the goal opportunities, but couldn’t manage to find the back of the Courtwood net.

Courtwood played with the aid of whatever breeze there was in the first half on what was a perfect evening for football. So much so that referee Colin Bailey gave the players a water break halfway through each half.

David Dineen got the game’s first score when he pointed off his right foot. Stradbally handed Courtwood their first point as they were penalised for not having three players in the Courtwood half. Alan Kinsella tapped over the free from in front of the posts. Ryan Little made it two points to one before Niall Dunne raised the game’s first orange flag. Damien Murphy got Stradbally’s second point before Courtwood went 0-8 to 0-2 ahead after 13 minutes.

Little got his second score of the evening for the home side. Shortly after, Tadhg Slattery was denied a goal by Stradbally goalkeeper Garry Comerford. Slattery made up for his miss two minutes later as he split the posts. Courtwood kicked a second two-pointer courtesy of Cian Doyle. Conor Goode was presented with Stradbally’s first big goal chance, but he blasted the ball over the bar rather than under it.

A few minutes later, David Donohue looked destined to raise a green flag when he was put through on goal, but he drilled his effort wide. Benny Lawlor was fouled and took the resulting free as Stradbally halved Courtwood’s deficit. However, that’s as close as they would get as Courtwood scored 2-3 in the last six minutes of the half to take full control at half-time.

Their first goal came from the penalty spot after Sean O’Flynn was fouled in the square. Niall Dunne tucked away the spot-kick. Doyle scored his second two-pointer, this time from a free outside the arc that was brought forward after Stradbally had disagreed with referee Colin Bailey. Little raised his third white flag of the half before adding a goal to his name after he played a one-two with Alan Kinsella. Lawlor replied with a two-point free for Stradbally as Courtwood led 2-11 to 0-6 at the break.

Slattery added another point to his account, and it looked like Kinsella would score a third Courtwood goal. However, the Courtwood number 14 missed the target. Jody Dillon and Niall Dunne traded points, with Dunne’s point coming after Cian Doyle had hit the post. Courtwood finally raised a third green flag when Niall Donoher played a great ball into Little and he got his second goal of the contest.

Conor Goode and Conor Buggie both scored a point each for Stradbally, but the game was well and truly over, with still a quarter of an hour to play. Dunne’s second two-pointer increased Courtwood’s lead further, with Sean O’Flynn also scoring to put them 16 points ahead. The game ended with Lawlor (free) and Colm Wilson adding a point each for their respective sides.

Courtwood’s win sets up a final round clash with Portlaoise, where they’ll need just a point to secure a semi-final place. There could be a situation where Courtwood, Ballyroan-Abbey and Portlaoise all finish on eight points and scoring difference will determine the last two semi-finalists to join the already-qualified St Joseph’s and Stradbally in the last four.

FINAL SCORE

COURTWOOD 3-17

STRADBALLY 0-10

SCORERS- Courtwood: Ryan Little 2-3, Niall Dunne 1-5 (1-0 pen, two two-pointers), Cian Doyle 0-4 (two two-pointers), Alan Kinsella (free), Sean O’Flynn and Colm Wilson 0-1 each. Stradbally: Benny Lawlor 0-4 (one two-point free, 0-1 free), Conor Goode 0-2, Jody Dillon, David Dineen, Conor Buggie and Damien Murphy 0-1 each.

COURTWOOD: Luke Doyle; Eddie Boland, Dan Boland, Collins Ugochukwu; Jake Doyle, Niall Dunne, Darragh McEvoy; Sean O’Flynn, Mark O’Halloran; Niall Donoher, Cian Doyle, Tadhg Slattery; Ryan Little, Alan Kinsella, Robbie Flynn. Subs: Ciaran Boland for Flynn (18 mins, inj), Dylan Keane for J Doyle (39 mins), Danny Luttrell for McEvoy (52 mins), Colm Wilson for C Doyle (59 mins)

STRADBALLY: Garry Comerford; Sean Maher, Eamon Delaney, Jack Langton; Eoin Buggie, James Devoy, Ben Dillon; Conor Goode, Joe Larkin; David Dineen, David Donohue, Damien Murphy; Benny Lawlor, Jody Dillon, Cillian Maher. Subs: Conor McDonald for Delaney (HT, inj), Conor Buggie for Maher and Colm Begley for Murphy (Both 38 mins), Darragh Carolan for J Dillon (46 mins).

Referee: Colin Bailey (Mountrath)