Rathdowney-Errill bounce back with big win over Portlaoise

Rathdowney-Errill bounced back from their shock defeat to Rosenallis with a comprehensive victory over Portlaoise in the Laois Shopping Centre Senior Hurling Championship at Laois Hire O’Moore Park on Sunday afternoon.

Rathdowney-Errill could ill afford another defeat after their surprise loss to Rosenallis two weeks ago, while they were also without captain Mark Kavanagh following his red card in that game.

However, they produced an emphatic response as Paddy Purcell proved a constant menace at full-forward, scoring two goals and a point in an outstanding individual display. Jack Kelly also stepped up in the absence of Kavanagh, taking over the free-taking duties and finishing with an impressive tally of nine points.

Portlaoise made the better start, with Gary Bergin opening the scoring inside the first minute. Rathdowney-Errill soon settled, though, with James Ryan and Kelly, from a free, putting them ahead.

Brochan O’Reilly then produced a superb low save to deny Purcell, who had found space inside, before Rathdowney-Errill added further points through Thep Fitzpatrick and Micheal Cleary. Cian Taylor and DJ White from a free responded for Portlaoise, while Tadhg Dowling added another for Rathdowney-Errill.

At the other end, Damien Madden was called upon to make a save from Cathal Duggan, with Cormac Rigney converting the resulting 65. White then levelled the game at 0-5 apiece after 17 minutes with another well-struck free. That proved to be as good as it got for Portlaoise, as Rathdowney-Errill took complete control.

Purcell made amends for his earlier missed chance when he found the net with a powerful finish that gave O’Reilly no chance. Kelly and Ryan added points before Kelly landed two more, including a free, as Rathdowney-Errill began to pull clear.

Their dominance continued when they were awarded a penalty after Purcell was fouled. Paddy McCane stepped up, but O’Reilly produced another fine save to keep the penalty out. Dowling was quickest to react, however, and fired the rebound into the net.

Fitzpatrick added another point before half-time, leaving Rathdowney-Errill with a commanding 2-10 to 0-5 lead at the interval.

Portlaoise needed a fast start to the second half but Rathdowney-Errill immediately resumed where they had left off, with Kelly converting another free. Their advantage grew further when McCane's shot dropped short in the strong wind, but Purcell got his hurl to the sliotar and directed it into the net for his second goal.

Rathdowney-Errill were reduced to 14 men when Eoin Bracken was shown a second yellow card, but Portlaoise could not take advantage of the numerical advantage.

Ciaran McEvoy and White, from a free, reduced the deficit slightly before Dowling responded for Rathdowney-Errill. Rigney then added another Portlaoise point, but Kelly continued to keep the scoreboard moving at the other end.

Kelly then set up McCane for a score without even having his hurl as he kicked the sliotar towards McCane and he split the posts. O’Reilly made another important save to deny Ray Bowe, but Bowe soon got his name on the scoresheet with a point.

Cathal Duggan replied for Portlaoise, but Kelly added two more frees as Rathdowney-Errill continued to dominate. Purcell then capped his excellent afternoon with a point to add to his two goals before Bowe set up McCane for Rathdowney-Errill’s fourth goal. Kelly completed the scoring with another free as Rathdowney-Errill ran out convincing winners.

The result puts Rathdowney-Errill in with a fighting chance to qualify, but they will still need results to go their way in the final round if they are to secure a top-three finish.

Portlaoise remain in pole position for a quarter-final place in Group A. Abbeyleix or Ballinakill will have to win their final game to dislodge them from third spot in the group.

FINAL SCORE

Rathdowney-Errill 4-18

Portlaoise 0-9

SCORERS- Rathdowney-Errill: Jack Kelly 0-9 (0-7 frees), Paddy Purcell 2-1, Tadhg Dowling 1-2, Paddy McCane 1-1, James Ryan and Thep Fitzpatrick 0-2 each, Micheal Cleary and Ray Bowe 0-1 each. Portlaoise: DJ White 0-3 (0-2 frees), Cormac Rigney 0-2 (0-1 65), Ciaran McEvoy, Cian Taylor, Gary Bergin and Cathal Duggan 0-1 each.

PORTLAOISE: Brochan O’Reilly; Conor Raggett, Frank Flanagan, Eoin O’Connor; Matthew Dempsey, Cormac Rigney, Cian Dowling Byrne; Ciaran McEvoy, Cian Taylor; Sean Luke Taylor, Gary Bergin, Ben Brennan; Cathal Duggan, Liam Conroy, DJ White. Subs: Sean Culleton for C Taylor (25 mins), Ross Brennan for B Brennan and Davy Delaney for S L Taylor (HT), Dean Lynch for Dempsey (51 mins)

RATHDOWNEY-ERRILL: Damien Madden; Shane Madden, Kevin O’Dea, Shane Bracken; Padraig Rafter, Dylan Carroll, Thep Fitzpatrick; James Ryan, Eoin Bracken; Micheal Cleary, Jack Kelly, Ray Bowe; Tadhg Dowling, Paddy Purcell, Ray Bowe. Subs: Paddy McCane for Cleary (15 mins, inj)

Referee: Alan Doheny (Castletown)