Barry goal proves to be the match-winner for O'Dempsey's against The Heath in the Laois SFC

On a night when both the sun was shining and rain was pouring, O’Dempsey’s and The Heath entertained us with a good game of football with O’Dempsey’s coming out on top in Sunday evening's Round 2 Qualifier clash in Ratheniska. 

Playing against the breeze in the first half, Mark Barry got the games opening score after 90 seconds played, before returning a favour and setting up Brian Nugent for his opening score of the game, with Barry sending over a close range free to give O Dempsey’s an ideal start as they led by three after four minutes played. 

O’Dempsey’s 1-11

The Heath 0-11

Things got worse for Sean Cotter’s side as Nugent once again was the heart of the build up as his overhead pass found Mark Barry and he made no mistake in blasting his effort into the roof of the net to leave it 1-3 to no score after just seven minutes on the clock. 

The Heath were not making good use of the wind as they kicked three wides early on and were in desperate need of a score just to settle themselves, and they did thanks to Daithi Carroll’s 11th minute free which he then followed up with his and The Heath’s first score from play. Neil Keane got on the scoresheet then for the first time moments later thanks to his left boot, and The Heath started to gain some momentum as they landed a fourth score in a row thanks to a Daithi Carroll free and suddenly it was only a two point game after 13 minutes. 

Brian Ging took his effort nicely to leave one between the sides as O’Dempsey’s started losing possession in around the middle third and The Heath began building nicely and their patient build up led to the leveller thanks to PJ Daly, but Mark Barry did restore O’Dempsey’s lead thanks to a close range free moments after seeing his effort from play come crashing off the post. 

Dan McCormack was doing great work in the middle of the field as he turned over possession before finishing off the move he started to leave two in it. It took until the 24th minute for O’Dempsey’s to hit their first wide due to Mark Barry uncharacteristically missing an expected routine free, as Daithi Carroll dispatched his close range free two minutes before the half time break. 

The build up play from O’Dempsey’s was positive until they looked like they were aiming for goals for every break, and taking points instead was becoming rather difficult for them due to the hard working defence of The Heath as referee Michael Tarpey blew for half time leaving just one between the sides and everything still to play for. 

Matthew Finlay got the second half’s first score from another scorable free, before Jimmy Nerney’s ball into the square found Denis Booth who laid it off to Ciaran Booth and he coolly sent over a lovely point to make it a one point game. Finlay began taking the game by the scruff of the neck, winning individual frees and taking on chances from distance and succeeding in doing so as he found space to get his first from play.  

Tom Kelly then got a monster score after some lovely build up from out the back before Daithi Carroll got his first score of the half from a free and leaving them just two behind with 15 minutes to play and not out of it by any means.  

Soon afterwards it was a three point game again as Ryan Phelan’s recycled pass found Barry Kelly in space as he slotted over his opening score, with James Phelan and Mark Barry exchanging scores with the game still very much in the balance heading into the final 10 minutes. 

With both sides aiming to see the game out, efforts at goal were beginning to go to waste, particularly with The Heath who’s wide count was far bigger than their counterparts, and this would come to bite them due to Mark Barry’s good hold up play resulting in his pass outside to Ryan Phelan who made no mistake in curling his effort over. 

The Heath were trying hard to break down the opposition defence but were struggling and O’Dempseys were quite contempt with sitting back and holding onto their advantage, as they had to settle for a point through Neil Keane with time almost up. 

Despite their best efforts O’Dempsey's held out for a huge win and kept their championship hopes alive. Victory for O’Dempsey’s now means they progress to Round 3 of the Laois Senior Football Championship to face Rosenallis while The Heath will contest the Senior 'B' Championship for the second year in a row.