Slieve Bloom bow out of Leinster after defeat to Gusserane O'Rahillys

Slieve Bloom's Leinster Championship campaign came to an end in Wexford on Saturday as they fell to an 11-point defeat to a much stronger Gusserane O'Rahillys side.

A powerful second half proved the difference as the Wexford team found their range in front of goal and proved too much for the Laois side, while Slieve Bloom faded somewhat and could only register three points in the second half after a very competitive first half.

They will be disappointed by their shooting in the first half, but Gusserane O'Rahillys were equally as wasteful in front of goal. But all in all, Slieve Bloom will be very happy with their season.

In an even first half, it was the home side that went into the lead, which they would never give up. Sean Ryan fired over the first and man of the match Mark O'Neill scored their second. Ben Conroy got Slieve Bloom up and running in the eight minute, but it would take another nine minutes for another point as both teams totted up the wides.

Gavin Sheehan and Mark O'Neil (free) put the Wexford side in control of the game. Ciaran Conroy responded for Slieve Bloom as they were digging in to stay in the contest. O'Neil and Conroy then traded points as the first half was coming to a close. Mark O'Neil who was the tormentor in chief found his fourth point of the half to give Gusserane O'Rahillys a three-point lead.

Slieve Bloom then got some joy and would hit the last two points from Josh Holmes and Ciaran Conroy with the score at 0-6 to 0-5 in favour of Gusserane O'Rahillys at half-time.

The victors came out with a higher intensity after the break and hit three brilliant points in a row as they threatened to run away with the contest. Mark O'Neil got the scoring going with a brilliant effort from play, while Mark Rossiter hit a huge point from a huge distance out. O'Neil then added a further point to his tally to widen the gap to four points.

Ciaran Conroy then got a badly needed point for the visitors, but it was all Gusserane O'Rahillys now. Sean Ryan and Ciaran Conroy swapped points again, before Gusserane O'Rahillys won the game in the next 12 minutes.

O'Neil added a 65 before Gusserane O'Rahillys hit the fatal blow through Darren Rossiter after a brilliant long ball into him. He made no mistake finding the net to finish the game as a contest. Again, O'Neil hit two more points as the game was coming to an end. Kelvin Burke did add another point for Slieve Bloom, but Gusserane O'Rahillys were at their ease.

They finished with a flourish, with Sean Ryan hitting the last three points of the game to put the icing on the cake and end Slieve Bloom's season.

FINAL SCORE

Gusserane O’Rahillys 1-16

Slieve Bloom 0-8

SCORERS - Gusserane O'Rahillys: Mark O'Neil 0-9 ( five frees, one 65), Sean Ryan 0-5, Darren Rossiter 1-0 Gavin Sheehan and Mark Rossiter 0-1 each. Slieve Bloom: Ciaran Conroy 0-5 (three frees, one 65), Ben Conroy, Josh Holmes and Kelvin Burke 0-1 each

GUSSERANE O’RAHILLYS: Michael Ryan; Eoghan Foran, Jamie Sheehan, Paraic Conway; Adrian Redmond, Mark Rossiter, Mitch Cullen; Graeme Cullen, Jack Rossiter; Sam Wall, Mark O'Neil, Sean Ryan; Gavin Sheehan, Darren Rossiter, Luke Kent. Subs: Aaron Whelan for Gavin Sheehan (25 mins), Liam Murphy for Kent (45 mins).

SLIEVE BLOOM: Gavin Conroy; Rory Power, Sean Nolan, Tom Delaney; Jake Collins, Evan Power, Darragh Delaney; Fearghal Burke, Shane Farrell; Ciaran Conroy, Martin Delaney, Ben Conroy; Kelvin Burke, Connor Madden, Josh Holmes. Subs: Enda Conroy for Holmes (50 mins), John Lowry for Madden (61 mins).