Goals prove key as Courtwood claim Division 2 title over Ballyfin

Courtwood have been crowned Laois Shopping Centre ACFL Division 2 champions after a superb all-round performance from start to finish saw them get the better of Ballyfin this evening.

Niall Dunne and Dylan Keane got the goals for the winning side as Dunne scored 1-2 from midfield while Keane fired in the same from full-forward.

Courtwood 2-13

Ballyfin 0-11

Ballyfin got the game’s opening score as Darragh Connolly scored straight from throw-in. Niall Donoher would get Courtwood’s first point with a stunning outside of the boot effort.

The next four scores were traded as Jack Preistly and James Finn getting Ballyfin’s points with Alan Kinsella (free) and Conor Hogan replying for Courtwood. Ballyfin pushed themselves into a two-point lead as Preistly pointed while off-balance with Darragh Connolly getting his second of the contest.

That would be Ballyfin‘s final score of the half as Courtwood fired over four points before the end of the first period. Hogan and Dunne both split the posts either side of points from Alan Kinsella. Courtwood holding a 0-7 to 0-5 lead at half-time.

The second-half started the same way the first had ended as Dunne and Hogan both dissected the posts to give themselves a four-point advantage. A free from James Moore finally got Ballyfin back within three points. Keane opened his tally soon after with Aidan Keenaghan replying for Ballyfin.

Hogan fired over his fourth point of the game before the first goal arrived. A super piece of build-up play saw Kinsella tee up Keane to fire a low shot into the Ballyfin net. Ballyfin went in search of goals but could only muster up placed balls as James Moore pointed three frees without reply.

Another goal would follow for Courtwood as Keane turned provider this time around to give Dunne an easy task of firing into the back of the net. James Finn and a free from Kinsella were the game’s final scores as Courtwood won well in the end to lift the Division 2 trophy.