O'Dempsey's defeat Graiguecullen to grab first win in Division 1

Last year’s runners up in the Laois Senior football championship, O’Dempsey’s, have had a rocky start to Division 1 of the league this season.

However, Eoin Kearns men did grab their first league victory of the season thanks to a hard-fought three-point win over Graiguecullen at home. The two teams will square off in the first round of the Jack Delaney Cup this year as well.

O'Dempsey's 0-13

Graiguecullen 0-9

Graiguecullen began the brighter of the two teams in the Old Pound in Killenard. Their corner-forward, Conor Kelly, kicked two frees inside the first six minutes to give the Carlow-border outfit the edge early on.

O’Dempsey’s opened their account for the evening through Liam Whelehan, as he swung over following an assist from Matthew Finlay. Graiguecullen restored their two-point cushion though thanks to another Conor Kelly free.

Graiguecullen could have gone further in front in the first quarter, but their forwards weren’t quite in sync, and they let O’Dempsey’s off the hook. It was the home side who got next score, with full-forward Dan Punch blasting over.

Conor Kelly kept Graiguecullen two to the good through another point from a placed ball. However, unfortunately for Jason Ryan’s team, that proved to be their last score of the half as O’Dempsey’s dominated the second quarter.

They did all this despite being reduced to fourteen men for ten minutes as well. Cormac O’Hora intentionally tripped Mikee Horohan as he made his way through and O’Hora was rightfully shown a black card by referee Brendan McCann.

O’Dempsey’s seemed to shrug off that blow though as they powered forwards. Lorcan O’Sullivan curled over a score from a tight angle after another nice assist from Matthew ‘Hatch’ Finlay.

Centre-forward Brian Nugent levelled the teams then after he bombed one over before Matthew Finlay grabbed his first point. Finlay did brilliantly to catch a long ball in, before showing composure to fire one between the uprights.

Finlay placed over another point, this time from a 45’, to put O’Dempsey’s three points ahead. They could have had a goal as well but Johnny Kelly’s shot was excellently stopped by Graiguecullen goalkeeper Danny Bolger.

O’Dempsey’s were back to a full deck of fifteen in the twenty-seventh minute and kicked two more points before half-time. Wing-back Tom Kelly grabbed one of those after he intercepted a Graiguecullen pass coming out and swung over, while Brian Nugent landed his second score.

The home team enjoyed a 0-8 to 0-4 advantage at the interval. While their attack began to click in the second quarter for them, it was their defence despite being a man down that stood out during the first half.

Graiguecullen needed to move the ball quicker up front in the second half if they were to overcome the deficit. They did manage to get the opening point of the second half and their first from play, with Conor Harte kicking over.

O’Dempsey’s responded positively though and got the next two. Liam Whelehan landed his second point following strong running from Johnny Kelly to set him up, while Dan Punch also grabbed another after he lashed one over off the upright.

Graiguecullen kept the gap at four points thanks to an Aaron Forbes score. Jack Byrne fired in a quick ball to the big full forward after O’Dempsey’s were caught on the break and Forbes punished.

Barry Kelly and Forbes swapped points as we entered the last ten minutes of this one, Despite the scoreline still being close though, O’Dempsey’s never looked like being beaten here.

Liam Whelehan put over his third point from play after he showed both pace and composure to cut inside and fist over from close range. While Conor Kelly (free) and Forbes reduced the difference to three points after that, O’Dempsey’s dug it out towards the end.

Matthew Finlay slotted over a free in the first minute of added time to insure O’Dempsey’s would pick up their first win of the league. They will face top-of-the-table St Joseph’s next week away, while Graiguecullen will be hoping to bounce back against Stradbally at home.