Ballylinan crowned Laois Intermediate Football champions following impressive victory over Crettyard

Padraig Clancy's Ballylinan side were crowned Laois Shopping Centre Intermediate Football champions this evening after a splendid all-round performance saw them get the better of Crettyard.

The game was scheduled to have taken place in Laois Hire O'Moore Park but due to the heavy rainfall, it was moved next door to the Centre of Excellence. This upped the atmosphere as the crowd surrounded the pitch compared to the single stand of O'Moore Park.

Ballylinan were excellent all over the pitch none more so than Gary Walsh, Alan Farrell and Ryan Brady. Seamus Lacey was also outstanding in defence for Clancy's men.

BALLYLINAN 1-20

CRETTYARD 2-10

Ballylinan kicked with the strong breeze as they opened the scoring early on. Cathail Dunne caught a mark before slotting the ball between the posts. Crettyard came to life then as Evan O'Carroll played a one-two with Brian Brennan before his shot trickled through the legs of Tom Wright. Ballylinan cancelled out the goal with three scores without reply. 

Gary Walsh kicked two frees while Alan Farrell scored a superb point off his right from a tight angle. Crettyard finally got their first point on the board as O'Carroll was fouled with Brennan pointing the resulting free. The next five scores came courtesy of Ballylinan as they took full advantage of the wind. Walsh pointed from play and from a placed ball as did Ryan Brady. Ciaran Farrell pushed Ballylinan into a five-point lead.

Crettyard to their credit kept fighting as they reeled off the next three scores unanswered. O'Carroll kicked two frees with Cormac Murphy dissecting the posts. Jamie Farrell and O'Carroll (free) traded scores with Padraig McEvoy getting the half's final score to leave Ballylinan ahead by three points, 0-11 to 1-5.

The second-half began the same way the first had ended as Cathail Dunne found Walsh, who fisted the ball over the bar. Walsh was to the fore again as he turned his man before drilling the ball over the black spot. Brennan kept the scoreboard ticking for Crettyard but it looked as if they'd need goals to get back into the game. Walsh kicked another two outstanding points with him getting the first five points of the second-half for Ballylinan.

Ballylinan substitute Cathal Casey was shown a black card which saw him off the pitch for 10 minutes but Ballylinan actually outscored Crettyard four points to two in that period. Jonah Kelly split the posts for Crettyard before Walsh and Brady (free) pushed Ballylinan into a seven-point lead with ten minutes to play. Kelly and Brady traded scores as did O'Carroll and Ballylinan's Brady. Walsh kicked a monster 45' into the wind as it looked like they'd done enough to hold on. 

O'Carroll raised a late green flag for Crettyard, his second of the game but they needed two more at that stage. The result was sewn up late on as Casey got on the end of Jamie Farrell's ball to send the Ballylinan crowd into raptures. O'Carroll pointed the game's final score but it would Ballylinan who would be crowned Intermediate champions for 2023.

They'll now go forward into the Leinster Championship where they face Mullinavat of Kilkenny on Saturday, October 21.