Three-point win sends Abbeyleix through as Rathdowney-Errill crash out

Abbeyleix have a Laois Shopping Centre SHC quarter-final to look forward to after they beat Rathdowney-Errill in the first of Sunday’s double-header.

The game was must win for both sides, but more so for Abbeyleix as they needed a result to avoid the dreaded relegation play-off. The loss for Rathdowney-Errill means that they finish fourth in Group B and their season is ended prematurely.

It was them who got the game’s first scores as Mark Kavanagh pointed a free before Micheal Cleary got their first from play. Fionan Mahony, who finished with 1-3, opened his account for the victors. Eoin Bracken and Mahony traded scores before Rathdowney-Errill went three points up when Jack Kelly and Tadhg Dowling got their first scores of the contest.

The game was level with 14 minutes played as Mahony scored his and Abbeyleix’s third point before Cormac Byrne scored from play and from a free. Then came the game’s first goal and it came from a familiar face as Paddy Purcell climbed above his marker before being fouled but played on and stuck it in the bottom corner past Enda Rowland

Abbeyleix’s response was a good one with Greg Cuddy’s side scoring 1-3 in reply. Their goal came four minutes after Purcell’s and it was goalkeeper Enda Rowland who scored it. He had been earlier denied from a 21-yard free, but he wasn’t to be denied this time around as his free flew into the net. Liam Delaney and two scores from Eoin Reilly put them three points up with eight minutes of the first half to play.

Mark Kavanagh got a point from a free to try stop the Abbeyleix momentum, but it didn’t work as they got another 1-3 before half-time. Reilly, Colin Byrne and Colm Walsh got the points, while Mahony added a goal to his three points as he flicked the ball past Eoin Fleming after a ball in from Walsh.

Cleary and Eli Quinn traded scores before half-time and it saw Abbeyleix go into the dressing rooms ahead, 2-12 to 1-7, having had the benefit of a strong breeze.

Rathdowney-Errill were back within five points shortly after the restart as Cleary, Dowling and Kelly (free) all raised white flags. For Abbeyleix, it was all about making sure they got something out of the game as even a point would have saw them go through.

Cormac Byrne and Kelly traded scores before Reilly took over the free-taking duties for Abbeyleix and nailed his first one. Cormac Byrne added another point and suddenly their lead was back to seven points with 20 minutes to play. Dowling and Kelly (free) were matched with scores by Sam Quinn and a free from Reilly. The Byrne brothers then scored a point each to push Abbeyleix nine points up and from here it looked a long way back from Rathdowney-Errill with their season on the line.

Kelly kept Rathdowney-Errill in touch with three more frees, but they’d need a goal or two to get back into the contest with time almost up. Cormac Byrne and Eoghan Fennelly (2) kept Abbeyleix six up heading into injury time.

Dowling took his total to 1-3 and then Paddy Purcell flicked in a late goal for his second of the day, but it was too little too late as Abbeyleix won by three points in the end.

Final Score

Abbeyleix 2-22

Rathdowney-Errill 3-19

SCORERS – Abbeyleix: Cormac Byrne 0-6 (0-1 frees), Fionan Mahony 1-3, Eoin Reilly 0-5 (0-2 frees), Enda Rowland 1-0 free, Eoghan Fennelly (0-1 free)and Colin Byrne 0-2 each, Liam Delaney, Eli Quinn, Colm Walsh,and Sam Quinn 0-1 each. Rathdowney-Errill: Jack Kelly 0-7 (0-4 frees), Paddy Purcell 2-0, Tadgh Dowling 1-3, Micheal Cleary 0-3, Mark Kavanagh 0-2 (frees) and Eoin Bracken 0-1.

RATHDOWNEY-ERRILL: Damien Madden; Shane Madden, Kevin O'Dea, David Poynton; Shane Bracken, Dylan Carroll, Thep Fitzpatrick; Eoin Bracken, James Ryan; Jack Kelly, Mark Kavanagh, Micheal Cleary; Tadgh Dowling, Paddy Purcell, Ray Bowe. Subs: Jack Dowling for Kavanagh (28m, inj), James Keegan for Bracken (46m), Eoin Bourke for Bowe (50m), Paddy Hassett for Cleary (57m), Aaron Costigan for Poynton (59m).

ABBEYLEIX: Enda Rowland; Eamon Fitzpatrick, Oisin Carroll, Eli Quinn; Stephen O'Donnell, Liam Delaney, Ross Coffey; Colm Walsh, Eoin Reilly; Liam Kavanagh, Cillian McEvoy, Fionan Mahony; Colin Byrne, Alan Lynch, Cormac Byrne. Subs: Sam Quinn for Kavanagh (37m), Jack Finlay for Walsh (46m), Killian Byrne for McEvoy (50m), Eoghan Fennelly for Reilly (53m).