Five-star Courtwood hammer Ballyroan-Abbey to secure quarter-final place

2025 Laois SFC county finalists Courtwood are into the quarter-finals of the Laois Shopping Centre SFC after their goal power saw them past Ballyroan-Abbey in Laois Hire O’Moore Park on Saturday evening.

The sides were level with 22 minutes played, but from that point on, Courtwood dominated the game and raised five green flags in the process as they won by 16 points.

Courtwood almost rattled the back of the net with their very first attack as Ryan Little’s shot struck the post. Ballyroan-Abbey’s James McWey pointed a free outside the arc to get his side up and running. Little was the scorer of the first Courtwood point before Enda McWey raised their second orange flag as they led 0-4 to 0-1 after five minutes. Alan Kinsella opened his account down the other end and then Ballyroan-Abbey were dealt a major blow when Diarmuid Whelan went off injured.

The next 10 minutes were dominated by Courtwood as they went 0-6 to 0-4 ahead. Matthew Byron kicked a 45, Cian Doyle curled over a score off the outside of his boot, Alan Kinsella scored a free and Little pointed a mark after a great pass from Rob Tyrrell. Ballyroan-Abbey having not scored in 17 minutes drew the fame level thanks to their third two-pointer of the half, a second for James McWey.

The game wasn’t level for long as Courtwood responded with 1-2 in two minutes. Cian Doyle got the goal after great work from Kinsella. Ryan Little and Doyle got the points as the latter took his first half tally to 1-2. James McWey pointed a free in reply, but Courtwood finished with three more points to lead by double scores at the break, 1-11 to 0-7. Doyle and a two-point free from Byron put them in a great position.

Ballyroan-Abbey reduced the deficit to five points as James McWey (free) and Cathal Doyle scored a point each for Martin Murphy’s side. Courtwood then went and scored a second goal with Cian Doyle raising his second green flag to go with his three white flags. Byron came forward and took his tally to five as he kicked a second two-point free.

Conaire Gee got his only score of the game for Ballyroan-Abbey, but a third goal from Courtwood killed the game as a contest. A great driving run from Sean O’Flynn created the space before he gave the ball to Little and he tucked it home. James McWey kept the scoreboard ticking with frees, but Courtwood got a fourth goal as Little squared it for Dylan Keane to score.

Ballyroan-Abbey scored four points in a row courtesy of Odhran Delaney, two James McWey frees and a score from Davin McEvoy. There was still time left for Courtwood to increase the winning margin as Byron kicked a 45, Keane added a point to his goal and with the last kick, Little scored his second goal to finish with 2-4.

Ballyroan-Abbey will go into Round 3 of the championship and will be drawn against a Round 2 Qualifier winner on Sunday evening.

FINAL SCORE

Courtwood 5-16

Ballyroan-Abbey 0-15

SCORERS- Courtwood: Ryan Little 2-4 (0-1 mark), Cian Doyle 2-3, Matthew Byron 0-6 (two two-point frees, 0-2 45s), Dylan Keane 1-1, Alan Kinsella 0-2 (0-1 free). Ballyroan-Abbey: James McWey 0-9 (one two-point free, one two-pointer, 0-4 frees), Enda McWey 0-2 (two-pointer), Odhran Delaney, Davin McWey, Conaire Gee and Cathal Doyle 0-1 each.

BALLYROAN-ABBEY: Robbie Eyres; Ned Fitzpatrick, Patrick Whelan, Colm Walsh; Charlie Whelan, Conor Brennan, Conaire Gee; Cathal Doyle, Shaun Murphy; Davin McEvoy, Diarmuid Whelan, Aaron McEvoy; James McWey, Killian Byrne, Enda McWey. Subs: Odhran Delaney for Whelan (9 mins, inj), Adam Jones for Eyres (31 mins), Stephen Thompson for Walsh (55 mins)

COURTWOOD: Matthew Byron; Darragh McEvoy, Dan Boland, Adam O'Halloran; Jake Doyle, Sean O'Flynn, Eddie Boland; Mark O'Halloran, Rob Tyrrell; Paul O'Flynn, Alan Kinsella, Tadhg Slattery; Cian Doyle, Ryan Little, Niall Donoher. Subs: Danny Luttrell for P O’Flynn (13 mins, inj), Dylan Keane for McEvoy (47 mins), Ciaran Boland for Slattery (56 mins)

REFEREE: Colin Bailey (Mountrath)