14-man Ballyroan-Abbey defeat near neighbours Park-Ratheniska in Senior Championship opener

Ballyroan-Abbey have booked their place in the winner’s section of Round 2 in the Laois Senior Football Championship. Shane Wall’s side were pushed all the way by a strong Park-Ratheniska outfit, but came good in the end.

Brian Whelan was the difference between the sides, scoring 0-9 as he led the way for Ballyroan-Abbey.

Ballyroan-Abbey 1-16

Park-Ratheniska 1-12

The sides were in Stradbally on Friday evening with Park-Ratheniska playing with the wind in the first half.

James Connolly opened the scoring for Park-Ratheniska with a couple of points inside the first five minutes. Ballyroan-Abbey hit back, first through Shaun Fitzpatrick and then Brian Whelan.

A second free from Connolly and a nice score from Simon Fingleton had Park-Ratheniska two points ahead once again. Diarmuid Whelan pointed for Ballyroan-Abbey in the 12thminute, but Park-Ratheniska came back strong, kicking three unanswered points to take a commanding four-point lead. Connolly led the way followed by Noah Fingleton and Kieran Delaney.

But with ten minutes remaining in the half, Ballyroan-Abbey took control. Fitzpatrick pointed first, followed by a Whelan free to reduce the deficit to just two. They were level moments later through two quick-fire scores from Padraig McMahon and Brian Whelan once again.

Then, in the 28th minute, Whelan knocked over his fourth of the half to put Ballyroan-Abbey ahead. However, a late mark from full back, Mark Delaney brought Park-Ratheniska level at half time, 0-8 either side.

Ballyroan-Abbey had the wind in the second half and made it count early when Shaun Fitzpatrick raised the game’s first green flag with precise finish past Ben Delaney.

Padraig Dunne and another Connolly free brought Park-Ratheniska back to within a point, but a brace from Whelan restored Ballyroan-Abbey’s three-point lead.

The big talking point came with game heading into the final quarter when Conaire Gee fouled Simon Fingleton. Referee,Maurice Deegan awarded a penalty kick. Gee had been shown a yellow card earlier in the half and would play no further part in the game, with Deegan giving him his marching orders.

The 14 men then found themselves level when Fingletondusted himself off and converted the penalty into the top corner of Paidi McDonald’s net. The sides traded scores and were level with ten minutes of normal time remaining.

But despite the hiccup, Ballyroan-Abbey regrouped. Whelan landed back-to-back frees before Padraig McMahon fired overa mark to put his side three ahead. Kieran Delaney responded with a free for Park-Ratheniska, but Whelan re-established the three-point advantage.

Ballyroan-Abbey closed out the game by holding onto the ball, before Colm Walsh put the nail in the coffin deep inside stoppage time. They are one of the favourites for the title and the manner of this win indicates they will indeed be contenders.