Killeshin defeat The Heath to bring a curtain down on Round 1 action in Laois SFC

Killeshin came out on top ina  very tight encounter against The Heath in the final game of the triple header in O’Moore Park on Saturday evening. 

The Heath led for the large portion of the game after a couple of goals in the first half, but a late resurgence from Killeshin saw them run out two-point victors. 

KILLESHIN 1-16 

THE HEATH 2-11 

The Heath’s build up play was impressive throughout the game but Killeshin were impressive at the back and snuffed out any potential attacks. 

Killeshin outscored The Heath by 0-6 to 0-3 in the final quarter which was enough to give them the all important victory. 

Evan Lowry kicked the opening score from a close range free on two minutes for Killeshin in a slow start to the contest. Jimmy Nerney replied with a good score from the right wing two minutes later. 

David Aston kicked Killeshin’s first from play after a strong run down the left side and he followed it up shortly after with another. 

The Heath took some time to find their rhythm but they soon found themselves in the lead after scoring 1-2 to no reply. Evin Keane kicked the first from a free before seeing another attempt drop short but Conor Booth was on hand to palm it into the net. Keane completed the rout with a point from play. 

Evan Lowry kicked a brace of frees for Killeshin, but sandwiched in between them was The Heath’s second goal. James Phelan pinged an inch perfect pass from the sideline into Robbie Dowling in front of the goals and he hammered it home off the cross bar on 19 minutes. 

Keane added another free to his tally and The Heath held a five point lead after the first third. 

Killeshin rallied late in the half as Adam Deering kicked a score from the 45 and Evan Lowry followed with a free. Goalkeeper Killian Roche made the journey up the field to the 45 to land a free over the bar for their third score on the trot. 

After a 10 minute lapse in scoring Evin Keane got The Heath back on track with a free from outside the 45, however Killeshin had the final say with a Lowry free to make it 2-5 to 0-9 in favour of The Heath at half time. 

The Heath goalkeeper JP Nerney matched his opposite number’s first half score with a pointed free to open the second half from the 45. Roche replied to Nerney with a pointed 45 from the next play for Killeshin. 

A poor attempt to clear their lines from The Heath handed Ciaran Fitzgerald a golden opportunity and he hammered the ball across the goals into the top left corner on 37 minutes to put Killeshin ahead for the first time since the 12th minute. 

The Heath found themselves back in front when Evin Keane was hauled down close in and kicked the resulting free over and Jimmy Nerney pointed his second score of the game from the same position as the first.  

Ill-discipline started to affect The Heath as they conceded two frees in quick succession and Lowry pointed the first before Aston struck the second. 

Momentum swung back towards The Heath as they kicked two good points from play into the Abbeyleix end through Keane and James Phelan as the sides battled for every ball. 

Frees began to cost them once again as Lowry struck his fifth and Roche pointed his third from the goals and Killeshin were back in the lead. Brendan McDonald increased the lead to two on 57 minutes with a tidy effort from play. 

Evan Lowry kicked his first point from play to give Killeshin the all important three point lead in injury time. 

The Heath pressed for a goal but were forced to settle for a late point from Dylan Kavanagh just before the final whistle blew.