Late Fitzpatrick goal earns Park-Ratheniska/Timahoe ACHL Division 4 final date with Ballypickas

Park-Ratheniska/Timahoe and Ballypickas will contest the Laois GAA ACHL Division 4 final after both came through dramatic semi-finals on Wednesday evening, with Park-Ratheniska/Timahoe requiring a goal with the last puck of the game to edge out Colt-Shanahoe in Colt.

Aaron Fitzpatrick was the hero for the visitors as his injury-time effort, which took a deflection on its way past Brian McDermott, secured a remarkable 2-21 to 1-23 victory. In the other semi-final, Ballypickas held off Clough/Ballacolla by the minimum, 3-13 to 2-15, after an entertaining encounter in Ballacolla.

Colt-Shanahoe enjoyed the assistance of a strong breeze in the opening half and made full use of it, taking the lead in the opening minute through a Nathan Dunne free before Arran McGowan doubled their advantage. Robbie Foyle got Park-Ratheniska/Timahoe up and running, but scores from Harry Stapleton and another Dunne free kept the home side in control.

Aaron Fitzpatrick and Josh Hickey exchanged scores before Foyle reduced the gap from a free. Keyes opened his account shortly after and, despite an immediate response from Aaron Fitzpatrick, Colt-Shanahoe seized the initiative.

Franky McEvoy, James Keyes and Dunne all contributed during a spell that yielded four unanswered points, and the hosts then struck for the game's opening goal. McEvoy's effort was hooked, but Billy Brennan reacted quickest to the loose ball and found the net. Another Keyes point stretched the advantage to eight.

Park-Ratheniska/Timahoe responded with scores from Foyle and Marc Ramsbottom, but Dylan Cuddy had the final say of the half. The visitors were handed a golden opportunity before the break when Conor Fitzpatrick was fouled inside the square. Foyle's penalty was brilliantly saved by McDermott, with the ball spinning over the bar as Colt-Shanahoe went in leading 1-12 to 0-9.

Foyle's accuracy from placed balls kept Park-Ratheniska/Timahoe in contention during the third quarter, but each time they threatened to gain momentum, Colt-Shanahoe had an answer. McGowan and Keyes added points before Cuddy and Keyes again responded after Foyle and Aaron Fitzpatrick had found the target.

The visitors finally began to make serious inroads with four consecutive points, three of them coming from Foyle and the other from Conor Fitzpatrick. However, Keyes halted the momentum with an important score after Josh Hickey claimed a puck-out and picked him out.

Foyle converted another free before Conor Fitzpatrick blasted to the net with nine minutes remaining to cut the deficit to a single point and set up a grandstand finish. Colt-Shanahoe responded impressively with points from Keyes, Cuddy and McEvoy to restore daylight between the sides.

With injury time approaching, Foyle and substitute Cillian Dunne left two points between the teams. Keyes then stretched the margin to three, but Park-Ratheniska/Timahoe threw everything forward in search of salvation. Foyle pointed after gathering possession around the middle and, with one final attack, Aaron Fitzpatrick unleashed a shot that took a touch on its way past McDermott to spark wild celebrations among the visitors.

Park-Ratheniska/Timahoe's reward is a meeting with Ballypickas, who survived a thrilling contest with Clough/Ballacolla in the other semi-final. Clough/Ballacolla held a 1-8 to 1-6 lead at the interval before eventually emerging with a 3-13 to 2-15 victory to book their place in the decider.

SCORERS- PARK-RATHENISKA/TIMAHOE: Robbie Foyle 0-15 (0-7 frees), Aaron Fitzpatrick 1-3, Conor Fitzpatrick 1-1, Cillian Dunne and Marc Ramsbottom 0-1 each. COLT-SHANAHOE: James Keyes 0-10, Nathan Dunne 0-4 (0-2 frees, 0-1 65), Billy Brennan 1-0, Dylan Cuddy 0-3, Arran McGowan and Franky McEvoy 0-2 each, Josh Hickey and Harry Stapleton 0-1 each.

COLT-SHANAHOE: Brian McDermott; Sean Murphy, Niall Brennan, Darren Cuddy; Dayle Bergin, Robert Delaney, Colin Ryan; Harry Stapleton, Dylan Cuddy; Nathan Dunne, Jack Delaney, Josh Hickey; Franky McEvoy, Arran McGowan, Billy Brennan. Subs: James Keyes for Delaney (11 mins), Cian Moffitt for Ryan (35 mins), Robbie Moffitt for Brennan (40 mins), Jack Delaney for McGowan (47 mins).

PARK-RATHENISKA/TIMAHOE: Evan O’Connor; Cathal Kellher, Danny Brennan, Dinny Troy; Michael Brennan, David Duggan, Liam McEvoy; Marc Ramsbottom, Enda Shortall; Ethan Kelly, Robbie Foyle, Aaron Fitzpatrick; Declan Fingleton, Conor Fitzpatrick, Tomas Duff. Subs: Eoin Shortall for Duff (42 mins), Cillian Dunne for Fingleton (51 mins).

Referee: Patrick Phelan (Castletown)

BALLYPICKAS: Colin Kinsella; Tim Cass, Enda Kehoe, William McDonald; Colin Rowan, Daire McWey, Aaron O’Dea; Conaire Gee, James Hennessey; Noel Leech, MJ Lalor, James McWey; Calum Costigan, Kieran Bowe, Conor Headen. Subs: Kevin Hennessey for J Hennessey and Brian Brennan for Leech.

CLOUGH/BALLACOLLA: James Rea; Matthew Bergin, Brian Costigan, Ben Holohan; Sean Hayes, John Delaney, Aaron Boyhan; Jim Hyland, Kyle Handcock; CJ Brennan, Canice Coonan, Fergal Brennan; Conor Whelan, Ben Delaney, Shane Hyland. Subs: Pat Phelan for Bergin, TJ Hally for S Hyland and Liam Ryan for Whelan.

Referee: Brian Farrell (The Harps)