Five-goal blitz propels St Joseph’s past Ballyroan-Abbey to secure JFC ‘C’ final place

St Joseph’s will contest the 2024 Laois Shopping Centre Junior ‘C’ Football final after a comprehensive victory over Ballyroan-Abbey in Monday evening’s semi-final played in the LOETB Centre of Excellence.

A superb second-half display was key to their win as they limited Ballyroan-Abbey to a single score for the second period.

St Joseph’s 5-12

Ballyroan-Abbey 0-6

This game took a few minutes to get going with St Joseph’s raising the first white flag with four minutes on the clock. Dan Dunne was the man who scored it as the bounce deceived his marker which allowed him to run towards goal before splitting the posts. James Fleming almost had a goal for his side but saw his shot blocked from close-range. St Joseph’s made it two points to nil after eight minutes as Darragh Farrell scored from play.

Ballyroan-Abbey’s first point came with 10 minutes on the clock as Mark McDonald had caught a mark before playing a ball inside to Eoghan Whelan, who turned and slotted the ball over the bar. The game was level a minute later as Liam Kavanagh kicked a great score for Ballyroan-Abbey but that’s as good as it got for them as St Joseph’s took full control and never let Ballyroan-Abbey get ahead at any stage.

Dan Dunne set up James Fitzgerald to point before the latter won an opposing kick-out and sent Lir McDonald through goal with McDonald drilling the ball into the net. Colm Lalor pointed a free in reply for Ballyroan-Abbey. Dunne pointed a second of the contest from a mark after McDonald had played him the ball. Fitzgerald set up another score with James Fleming raising a white flag this time around.

Mark McDonald and Lalor (free) left a goal between the sides as the game approached half-time. Peter Kealy kicked the final score of the first period to send St Joseph’s into the dressing rooms ahead 1-6 to 0-5.

Peter Kealy took his total to two points on the night for the opening score of the half as Lalor replied with another free, Ballyroan-Abbey’s only score of the whole second-half.

St Joseph’s never let the foot off the pedal and just kept attacking Ballyroan-Abbey at will. Peter Kealy had a great chance for goal but his shot flashed wide of the post as both sides were guilty of kicking some sloppy wires from promising positions. Colm Campion was then denied by a point-blank save from Ballyroan-Abbey goalkeeper Daire Phelan.

St Joseph’s did manage to get that second goal shortly after as Darragh Farrell’s first shot was saved but he followed in the rebound to give his side a healthy advantage. Dunne and Fitzgerald added a point each from play before Kealy   played a one-two with Fitzgerald to blast the ball into the top corner.

Farrell added a goal and a point to his name as Ballyroan-Abbey struggled to make any impact down the other end. John Fleming came off the bench to get a fifth goal for his side with Kealy and Adam Delaney adding a point each late on to secure a comprehensive victory and tee up a date with Courtwood in the Junior ‘C’ Football final after they got the better of Park-Ratheniska in the other semi-final, 4-6 to 1-4.