Rathdowney-Errill ramp it up a gear in second-half to defeat Rosenallis in round two

The two winners in round one of Group A in the Laois Shopping Centre SHC, Rathdowney-Errill and Rosenallis, met on Saturday evening in Laois Hire O’Moore Park. Rathdowney-Errill had downed reigning county champions Clough-Ballacolla in the first round, while Rosenallis got the better of The Harps.

It wasn’t always pretty, but Rathdowney-Errill made it two wins from two here. Eoin Bourke’s goal late in the first half managed to turn the tide back in their favour and they proved too strong for Rosenallis in the second-half.

Rathdowney-Errill 2-26

Rosenallis 1-12

Rathdowney-Errill opened the scoring in Portlaoise through Ross King. He was playing in the full-forward line, as King crashed over from a tight angle.

Rosenallis levelled through David Dooley placing over a 65’. Rathdowney-Errill grabbed the next two scores though, as James Ryan and Ross King raised white flags for Martin Power’s men.

While Rosenallis responded with a Fiachra C Fennell point from play, Rathdowney-Errill hit the next two once more. Jack Kelly was immense in the first half for them, as he curled over the first of his three points, while Eoin Bourke also got another.

Again, David Dooley replied for Rosenallis but it was again met by two more Rathdowney-Errill points. Dylan Carroll and Jack Kelly raised white flags on this occasion, with Carroll’s coming from inside his own half and against the wind.

Rosenallis began to come more into the match after that. They matched Rathdowney-Errill’s physicality and intensity, which led to the 2019 Laois SHC winners letting a lot of chances drift wide.

David Dooley (free) and Brandon McGinley exchanged points before Rosenallis scored the next 1-3 without reply. Rathdowney-Errill’s shooting radar was way off, while Rosenallis were far more clinical when the chances arose.

Donnachadh Hartnett, Paddy Keating and David Dooley all placed shots over the bar for Rosenallis. Rathdowney-Errill messed up a goal chance curing this period as well, as Paddy Purcell mis-timed his strike and the sliotar was cleared.

It was Rosenallis who scored the opening goal of the contest to put themselves ahead for the first time. Fiachra C Fennell found a gap through the middle and picked out Jimmy Hyland who struck home.

Ross King replied for Rathdowney-Errill with a free to end their barren period. Rosenallis did hit back thanks to Paddy Keating curling over his second point, but Rathdowney-Errill finished the first half on top.

An Eoin Bourke goal minutes before the half-time break broke the Rosenallis momentum. Bourke managed to get a flick to a long ball inside and it caught Pearse Kelly out in the Rosenallis net.

Jack Kelly cracked over the final score of the first half. Kelly dropped over his third point to help Rathdowney-Errill to a 1-10 to 1-8 lead at half-time. They would also have the wind advantage in the second-half.

Dylan Carroll registered Rathdowney-Errill’s first score of the second-half to push them into a three-point lead. However, their shooting stats remained poor despite the wind being behind them, as they hit three more wides.

Despite that, Rosenallis could not take advantage of their opponents wayward shooting. It was Rathdowney-Errill who stretched further clear, with first-half substitute Mark Kavanagh firing over their next score.

Once Rathdowney-Errill calmed down in front of goals, they looked the better team in Portlaaoise. Ross King placed over a free, and while Charlie Friel opened Rosenallis’ account down the other end, Rathdowney-Errill grabbed the next two.

Eric Kileen placed over his first point of the day, Then Eoin Bourke rattled over another, although it could very easily have been a goal if Bourke had shot a bit lower.

King (frees), Kileen and Kelly all raised further white flags for Rathdowney-Errill, as they now led by ten points heading into the final quarter in Laois Hire O’Moore Park.

Rosenallis had played with a sweeper up to this point and had been somewhat effective. However, they needed to go into attack mode now if they were to come away with anything from this one.

Unfortunately for Rosenallis, that comeback never materialised. Points from David Dooley, Jimmy Hyland and Paddy Keating weren’t enough, as Rathdowney-Errill outscored them in the final quarter.

Rathdowney-Errill’s points came from Jack Kelly (two), Ross King (four) and Liam O’Connell. They also put the icing on the cake with late goals from Padraig Rafter and Ross King.