Timahoe get the better of Park-Ratheniska in the Laois Ladies SFC
The home side had 13 points to spare on Wednesday evening
The Timahoe Senior Ladies team have gotten their second win in this year's Senior Football Championship after they got the better of local rivals Park-Ratheniska in Wednesday evening's Round Three fixture.
Timahoe lost their opening game to last year's finalists St Conleth's but they've bounced back with victories over St Brigid's and Park-Ratheniska. Meanwhile, Park-Ratheniska have lost their second game on the trot having lost to St Conleth's in Round 2 but got the better of St Brigid's in the opening game. Both sides have still qualified for the knockout stages.
Timahoe 2-11
Park-Ratheniska 0-4
Laois star Orla Hennessy got the game off to the perfect start for Timahoe as she opened the scoring after 16 seconds. Timahoe led four points to nil after 10 minutes as Katie Donoghue and Mo Nerney (two) got scores for the home side. Their lead would soon be increased to eight points as Ava Dempsey kicked a superb score for Timahoe's fifth point before Hennessy rattled the Park-Ratheniska net.
Tara Byrne got Park-Ratheniska's first point with 16 minutes played but Dempsey replied almost instantly for Timahoe. Ellen O'Byrne, who has been in excellent form in the championship for Park-Ratheniska, kicked their second score from a free. Sarah Larkin and two more scores from Donoghue gave Timahoe a comfortable cushion as the game approached half-time. O'Byrne kicked a second score before the break as her side trailed 1-8 to 0-3 at the break and facing an uphill battle in the second period.
The first score of the second-half came from the penalty spot as Timahoe's Jenny Murphy was brought down inside the square. Sharp-shooter Mo Nerney stepped up and made mistake from the spot as Timahoe looked to be easing towards victory. Nerney added another point to her tally before Timahoe goalkeeper Aoibhe Brennan made an excellent save to protect her clean sheet. Jenny Murphy and Sarah Larkin added a point each late on as O'Byrne kicked the final score of the game but the result was never in doubt.
Both sides have secured their place in the quarter-finals with Timahoe finishing second above Park-Ratheniska in Group A. Timahoe will play the third-placed team in Group B at home in the last eight while Park-Ratheniska will travel to play the second-placed side in Group B. The two quarter-finals are scheduled for Sunday, September 8.