The Heath's Neil Keane prepares his side for battle ahead of championship opener
Ballyroan-Abbey will provide the opposition in Ratheniska
The Heath are set to get this year's Laois Shopping Centre Senior Football Championship underway when they take on Ballyroan-Abbey in Ratheniska on Wednesday evening.
Neil Keane was speaking ahead of their opening round game at the launch of the club championships on Thursday, July 11.
"We did well to get to the Division 2 league final against Emo. It was fairly tight at the top between ourselves, Emo and O’Dempsey's. We had three good matches there. Nice to get a win in that, so yeah, all going well. There's a lot of young lads coming up there and a lot of them going well. Hopefully we build on that now for the first round of the Championship against Ballyroan," he said.
Ballyroan-Abbey, now under the management of Martin Murphy, come into the championship having under performed in last year's championship which saw them drop into the Senior 'B'. Eventual winners Stradbally beat them in the semi-finals. Keane knows that they're in for a battle on Wednesday evening.
"Ballyroan, they're always a strong side. I think it was two or three years ago we played them in the first or second round and they gave us a good beating in that, so look, we'll be well up for it too. They're always a tough challenge, so I'm expecting nothing less than a good match," Keane said.
The Heath forward says that that their Division 2 league title win will give the group a huge amount of confidence coming into the championship
"It's great after getting relegated a few years ago and coming up and we were struggling there for a while, but look, we're moving well and I think to finish in the top tier of the table the past two or three years and then to drive on and win it this year, I think it was a good achievement for the lads. So look, it'll definitely boost the confidence of the lads in the team and yeah, we'll keep driving on," he said.
The Heath were relegated from the Senior Championship in 2021 but came straight back up in 2022 and Keane reckons that his side has loftier ambitions than in recent years and that they're now a stronger side compared to previous years.
"I don't think relegation is in anyone's mind in comparison to other years. I think we're a much stronger side than we were a couple of years ago. So yeah, look, to stay up senior is obviously number one, but to drive on and get something out of it this year is definitely on the cards," Keane ended.
The Heath and Ballyroan-Abbey throws-in at 7.15pm on Wednesday, July 24 in Ratheniska. The Leinster Express/ Laois Live will be providing a free live blog pitchside for those unable to attend. Tickets can be bought here.