History made as late Keane two-pointer sees Courtwood into first-ever Laois GAA SFC County Final

Sunday afternoon, September 28, will go down in the history books of Courtwood GAA after they defeated St Joseph's to reach a Laois SFC County Final for the first time in the club's history.

It was a great game of football played between two well-matched teams, but it's Mark Bate's side who will take on Portarlington in two weeks' time.

St Joseph's wasted little time in stamping their authority on this semi-final as they went three points up inside three minutes. Mick Keogh, who was taking over from the free-taking duties for the injured Eoghan O'Flaherty, pointed a free. Brian Daly and a superb dummy solo from Danny Hickey got their other two points. A free from Alan Kinsella in the eighth minute got Courtwood off the mark.

Mikie Dempsey became the fourth St Joseph's player to score, with Kinsella pointing his first from play in reply. Courtwood then got in for the game's first goal as Niall Dunne did well to lay the ball off to Ryan Little, who tucked the ball into the bottom corner. Scores were traded again as Seamus Farrelly and a splendid 45' from Matthew Byron on the terrace side of the field still saw Courtwood hold a slender one-point lead.

That advantage was wiped out with the next score as Gearoid Lynch rifled the ball into the top-corner of Byron's net. Eoin Johnson and a two-point free from Byron closed out the first-half with St Joseph's leading 1-6 to 1-5. Remarkably, St Joseph's had seven different scorers in the first 30 minutes.

Courtwood went ahead with the first score of the second-half as Matthew Byron came up to slot a two-point free between the posts. Cian Doyle pointed a mark to push them two points ahead. Daly replied with a free with Doyle getting his second point in as many minutes for Courtwood. St Joseph's would draw level soon after as Keogh and Josh Lacey split the posts. Byron came forward again to point a free, but St Joseph's would get in for a second goal in the 51st minute. 

Josh Lacey played the ball inside to James Kelly, who found Daly and he slotted the ball under the onrushing Byron. Daly added another free to his name as St Joseph's now led by three points with six minutes to play. Byron cut that to one when he came forward for his third two-point free of the contest. Substitute Dylan Doyle popped up a point for St Joseph's, but that proved to be their final score as Courtwood finished with four points.

Cian Doyle got his third of the contest before substitute Dylan Keane sliced over a two-pointer off the outside of his boot to send the Courtwood crowd into raptures. Daly had a chance to win the game for the 2023 champions from a two-point free after a foul on Keogh by Niall Dunne, but his effort went to the left of Byron's goal. Courtwood would finish the game with 14 men as Cian Doyle was shown a black card late on.

Courtwood and Portarlington will contest the final in Laois Hire O'Moore Park on Sunday, October 12.

FINAL SCORE

COURTWOOD 1-15

ST JOSEPH’S 2-11

SCORERS-- Courtwood: Matthew Byron 0-8 (three two-point frees, 0-1 free, 0-1 45’), Ryan Little 1-0, Cian Doyle 0-3 (0-1 mark), Alan Kinsella (0-1 free) and Dylan Keane (two-pointer) 0-2 each. St Joseph’s: Brian Daly 1-3 (0-2 frees), Gearoid Lynch 1-0, Michael Keogh 0-2 (0-1 free), Danny Hickey, Mikie Dempsey, Eoin Johnson, Josh Lacey, Dylan Doyle, and Seamus Farrelly 0-1 each.

COURTWOOD: Matthew Byron; Darragh McEvoy, Daniel Boland, Adam O’Halloran; Jake Doyle, Robbie Flynn, Eoghan Slattery; Sean O’Flynn, Robert Tyrell; Niall Dunne, Cian Doyle, Paul O’Flynn; Niall Donoher, Ryan Little, Alan Kinsella. Subs: Nathan Little for P O'Flynn (HT), Michael Doyle for J Doyle (41 mins), Dylan Keane for Donoher (53 mins)

ST JOSEPH’S: Aaron Cooney; James Kelly, Adam Campion, Jack Lacey; Tom Dunne, Danny Hickey, Ian Shanahan; Mikie Dempsey, Gearoid Lynch; Eoin Johnson, Seamus Farrelly, Josh Lacey; Michael Keogh, Brian Daly, Oisin Hooney. Subs: Dylan Doyle for Hooney and Robbie Murphy for Farrelly (46 mins), Sean Brennan for Josh Lacey (60 mins)

Referee: Hugh Coghlan (Park-Ratheniska)

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