Rathdowney-Errill and Clough-Ballacolla through to Laois SHC Final

Laois SHC Semi Final

Rathdowney-Errill 1-19 Abbeyleix 3-10

By Alan Hartnett

A repeat of the 2012 Laois Senior Hurling Championship is in store after Rathdowney-Errill and Clough-Ballacolla were victorious in semi finals today.

Rathdowney-Errill had lost to Abbeyleix after extra time last year but they made no mistake this time.

This game was extremely slow to get going but when it did, in the sixth minute, it threatened to burst into life.

A long ball in deceived the entire Rathdowney-Errill full back like and Colin Byrne latched onto it and rattled the net.

Abbeyleix held a 1-6 to 0-8 lead at half time and a second goal from Eoghan Fennelly midway through the second half put them three clear.

But Ross King came to the fore with a flurry of points and a brilliant goal to wrestle back control of the game.

Abbeyleix did get a goal with the final puck of the game but Rathdowney-Errill were deserving winners.

Scorers for Rathdowney-Errill: Ross King 1-7 (0-4 frees), Tadhg Dowling and Scott Pearson 0-3 each, James Ryan, Padraig Rafter, Eoin Bourke, Eric Killeen, Paddy Purcell and Brandon McGinley 0-1 each

Scorers for Abbeyleix: Eoghan Fennelly 2-6 (0-5 frees), Colin Byrne 1-1, Cormac Byrne 0-2, Liam Delaney 0-1

RATHDOWNEY-ERRILL: Damien Madden; John Purcell, Joe Fitzpatrick, Shane Madden; Dylan Carroll, James Ryan, Liam O'Connell; Padraig Rafter, Paddy Purcell; Eric Killeen, Tadhg Dowling, Scott Pearson; Brandon McGinley, Ross King, Paddy McCane. Subs: Eoin Bourke for McCane (ht), Ray Bowe for McGinley (45, inj)

ABBEYLEIX: Enda Rowland; Eamon Fitzpatrick, Oisin Carroll, Mark Cahill; Aaron Carroll, Lawson Obular, Liam Doyle; Sam Quinn, Colm Walsh; Liam Delaney, Fionan Mahony, Ciaran Byrne; Cormac Byrne, Eoghan Fennelly, Colin Byrne. Subs: Cillian McEvoy for O Carroll (12 blood, reversed 15), Cillian McEvoy for Doyle (56), Eli Quinn for Mahony (58)

Ref: Patrick Phelan (Castletown)

Laois SHC Semi Final

Clough-Ballacolla 1-20 Camross 2-13

There will be new champions in Laois this year as holders Camross were eliminated by Clough-Ballacolla.

Camross had the breeze in the first half and started well, rattling the net in the seventh minute.

A long ball put Darren Drennan clear and he batted the ball below the outrushing Cathal Dunne and into the net.

This really lifted Camroiss as Tomas Keyes, Eoin Gaughan and Ciaran Collier all pointed to make it 1-6 to 0-2 after 15 minutes.

But Clough-Ballacolla got going after that and scored six points in a row to cut the deficit by half time - 1-9 to 0-11.

Camross pushed on again early in the second half when sub Zane Keenan drove a 21 metre free to the net.

But the excellent Stephen Maher set up Stephen Bergin for a goal soon after and Clough-Ballacolla never looked back.

Jordan Walshe was outstanding with four points from wing back as the 2020, 2021 and 2022 champions returned to the final.

Scorers for Clough-Ballacolla: Stephen Maher 0-9 (seven frees), Jordan Walshe 0-4, Stephen Bergin 1-1, Aidan Corby and Cillian Dunne 0-2 each, Willie Dunphy (sideline) and Podge Brennan 0-1 each

Scorers for Camross: Zane Keenan 1-3 (0-2 frees), Tomas Keyes 0-5 (three frees), Darren Drennan 1-0, Eoin Gaughan (frees) and Ciaran Collier 0-2 each, Oisin Bennett 0-1

CLOUGH-BALLACOLLA: Cathal Dunne; Diarmaid Conway, Darren Maher, Cormac Hogan; Joe Corby, Lee Cleere, Jordan Walshe; Aidan Corby, Willie Dunphy; Mark Hennessy, Kevin Mulhall, Robbie Phelan; Cillian Dunne, Stephen Maher, Stephen Bergin. Subs: Podge Brennan for Mulhall (42), Sean Corby for Hennessy (50)

CAMROSS: Tadhg Doran; Andrew Mortimer, Cathal Cuddy, Joe Phelan; Eoin Dowling, Eoin Gaughan, Tom Cuddy; Tomas Keyes, Eoghan Cuddy; Liam Delaney, Gearoid Burke, James Cuddy; Darren Drennan, Ciaran Collier, Oisin Bennett. Subs: Zane Keenan for Bennett (ht), Odhran Phelan for G Burke (45), Matthew Collier for E Cuddy and Dwane Palmer for Dowling (both 50), Rob Tyrrell for J Cuddy (61)

Ref: Padraig Dunne (Colt)