Walker leads the way as Graiguecullen defeat Killeshin

Graiguecullen are the final team through to the last four of this year's Laois Shopping Centre Senior Football Championship as three points separated them and Killeshin in Portlaoise on Sunday.

Lee Walker top-scored for Graiguecullen as the centre-forward scored six points all from play to propel his side into the semi-finals.

Graiguecullen 1-14

Killeshin 1-11

Graiguecullen came flying out of the blocks and had racked up three points to no score after four minutes along with Killian Roche having to make a superb point-blank save from Luke Aylsbury. The two Byrne's Brian and Jack kicked a score apiece with Lee Walker pointing off his left to give Graiguecullen a perfect start. 

Killeshin's first score came in the sixth minute and it levelled the game as Michael Doran rounded Patrick Scully to blast the ball into an empty net. Brian Byrne went up the other end and pointed from the resulting kick-out. Doran added a point to his goal to take his and Killeshin's tally to 1-1. Killian Roche then came forward to give his side the lead with a long-range score from outside the 45'.

Graiguecullen's forward line were moving well as Walker and Conor Kelly added a point each from play. Killian Roche pointed a free with Ben Dorgan replying for Graiguecullen as his shot just about squeezed inside the post. The two Lowry's combined for the next Killeshin score as Evan set up Eoin to split the posts. Evan English kicked his side in front yet again with a lovely left-footed effort.

The last five minutes of the half was when Graiguecullen came to life as they scored 1-2 before the break. Danny O'Reilly reacted quickest to a ball dropping in the square to kick the ball into the net along the ground. Conor Kelly's free was played short to Walker, who turned and swung the ball over. Walker kicked a fourth point of the first-half to give his side a four-point lead. Killeshin thought they had a second goal on the stroke of half-time but English's goal was disallowed for a square ball. Graiguecullen went into the dressing rooms ahead, 1-9 to 1-5.

Killeshin came out after half-time and got two points without reply courtesy of an Evan Lowry free and a mark from Michael Doran. Graiguecullen replied with two scores of their own as Brian Byrne kicked his third point of the contest while Ben Dorgan raised a second white flag. Brian Byrne was the next player to be denied by Roche as he pulled off another point-blank save. Evan Lowry (free) and Michael Doran pointed to cut Graiguecullen's lead to two points after 47 minutes.

Graiguecullen kept the scoreboard ticking with Lee Walker pointing when a goal was on while it was the same man again who kicked his sixth score, all from play for the winning side. Adam Deering and Luke Hand traded points to still leave four points in it as the clocked showed 55 minutes. Evan Lowry pointed a free to leave a goal between the sides but that goal never came. Evan Lowry did have a late chance to snatch a draw but his 21-yard free was blocked with the whole Graiguecullen side inside the large parrellogram.