Late Rowland free sees Abbeyleix and Rathdowney-Errill end all square

Rathdowney-Errill have secured their place in the semi-finals of this year's Laois Shopping Centre ACHL Division 1 after they and Abbeyleix shared the points in Rathdowney on Friday evening.

The home side led by two points with five minutes of normal time remaining, but a point each for Colm Walsh and a free from Enda Rowland in the 61st minute saw the game end all square.

Rathdowney-Errill 0-15

Abbeyleix 1-12

Mark Kavanagh opened the scoring with a free that sailed narrowly over the bar despite a strong cross-field wind. Colm Walsh quickly responded for the visitors before Ben Galvin restored Rathdowney-Errill’s lead with their second point. Paddy McCane and Ray Bowe continued to keep the scoreboard ticking for last year’s county finalists, though a contentious moment followed when an Abbeyleix point was ruled wide by the umpires at the opposite end.

Abbeyleix responded impressively to the controversy, capitalising on the puck-out to surge forward. Killian Byrne’s shot was initially saved by Damian Madden, but Kevin Fitzpatrick was on hand to bury the rebound, and he added a point shortly after to swing momentum in their favour.

Kavanagh notched his second score from a placed ball, and Bowe also chipped in with another. A crucial defensive play came late in the half when Jack Finlay denied Shane Madden with a vital block to keep Rathdowney-Errill within one. The visitors finished the half in stronger fashion, with three unanswered points, two frees from Declan Phelan and a long-range free from Enda Rowland, giving them a two-point cushion at the break (0-6 to 1-5).

Rathdowney-Errill burst out of the blocks after the restart, adding three points in as many minutes and creating an early goal chance. Brandon McGinley opened the second-half scoring, while James Ryan was denied when hooked while bearing down on goal. Galvin added to his tally, followed by a second from McGinley.

It took Abbeyleix nine minutes to register their first score of the half, a free from Phelan that brought the sides level for the third time. Phelan continued his reliable form from placed balls, converting two more in quick succession.

Rathdowney-Errill then enjoyed a dominant spell, reeling off four consecutive points, two from Kavanagh, including a free from inside his own 45, and one each from Eoin Burke and McGinley, to edge two points clear with ten minutes remaining.

In a tense final stretch, Abbeyleix edged the closing exchanges, outscoring their opponents three points to one. Phelan and Kavanagh exchanged frees, before Walsh and a second long-range free from Rowland ensured the teams finished level. The draw sees Rathdowney-Errill secure their semi-final place while Abbeyleix are still chasing a top-four finish and a spot in the knockout stages as Clough-Ballacolla can still pip them.