Goals galore as O'Dempsey's defeat Rosenallis to seal Laois SFC quarter-final place

O'Dempsey's are the first team through to the quarter-finals of this year's Laois Shopping Centre Senior Football Championship after them and Rosenallis played out a great game of football in Laois Hire O'Moore Park on Saturday evening.

O'Dempsey's 5-16

Rosenallis 3-12

Eoin Kearns' side came flying out of the blocks and raced into a seven-point lead with only four minutes played. Matthew Finlay kicked the game's opening score from a placed ball. The game's first goal followed as Mark Barry played in Ryan Phelan but his shot was saved by Donal Lalor. However, Pat Maher was on hand to blast the rebound into an empty net. Matthew Finlay raised a second green flag a minute later as he tucked the ball under Lalor in the Rosenallis goal.

Rosenallis' first score also ended up in the back of the net as Eoin Dunne's shot was parried into the path of Brian Fitzpatrick and he unleashed a rasping shot into the O'Dempsey's goal. Eoin Dunne raised Rosenallis' first white flag before O'Dempsey's went on another scoring rampage. Barry kicked a free with Eoin Finlay catching a wayward Barry free to get his first point of the contest. A third goal rattled the Rosenallis net as Pat Maher got his second of the contest. Rosenallis kicked the next three points courtesy of two from Charlie Friel and John O'Loughlin.

O'Dempsey's replied in the same fashion as Mark Barry scored from play after playing a one-two with Matthew Finlay. Barry also pointed a free while Ben Coen kicked a superb score that landed on the roof of the net. Rosenallis ended the half with three points unanswered. Friel was fouled and took the resulting free. Jimmy Hyland and Brian Fitzpatrick raised a white flag each as Rosenallis trailed 3-6 to 1-7 at the break.

The first score of the second period came within 20 seconds of the restart as Barry Kelly put the ball between the posts. Having been denied in the first-half by Podge Bannon, Eoin Dunne made sure he would get his goal as he turned his man after catching a long ball in from Jimmy Hyland. The goals just kept coming as O'Dempsey's got their fourth and it was a family affair as Eoin Finlay set up his brother Matthew Finlay to palm the ball over the onrushing Donal Lalor. Mark Barry kicked two more points to take his tally to five points.

Joey Shelly got a point back for Rosenallis and what a point it was as he curled it over off his right foot. The Finlay brothers combined again as Eoin set up Matthew yet again but this time it was only a point. Jack Claffey pointed a free having come on before O'Dempsey's got another three scores on the trot. Mark Barry got his sixth and final score while Matthew Finlay kicked a wonderful score and a free. Eoin Dunne and Matthew Finlay (free) traded points as O'Dempsey's led by nine points with six minutes to play.

The game's seventh goal came courtesy of a Rosenallis penalty after Charlie Friel was fouled in the square. Friel dusted himself off and slotted the ball into the bottom corner. Dan McCormack was sprung from the bench and got his name on the score sheet almost instantly with a point. Jack Claffey kicked Rosenallis' final score of the contest but O'Dempsey's would get a further 1-1 before the end. Conor Kearney done the same thing that McCormack done as he scored off the bench. The two Dan's combined for O'Dempsey's fifth goal as McCormack teed up Dan Punch to score and he also came on as a substitute.

O'Dempsey's are into the quarter-finals of the Senior Football Championship while Rosenallis head for the Senior 'B' Championship.