This past weekend was essentially the second last weekend of club action in Laois for the 2020 season.
And it was a weekend that ended the seasons for a number if teams.
For the beaten semi-finalists and those in the relegation finals (winners and losers) they won’t have another game of competitive hurling until 2021.
Here we pick our latest hurling team of the week where winning senior semi-finalists Clough-Ballacolla and Borris-Kilcotton provide three players each.
In total there are nine clubs represented with Rosenallis and Castletown providing two each and Rathdowney-Errill, Portlaoise, The Harps, Colt-Shanahoe, Trumera and Park-Ratheniska/Timahoe having one each.
1 – Stephen Kelly (Rosenallis)
Kelly was beaten twice by Clough-Ballacolla in Sunday’s semi-final loss but he also showed great bravery and pulled off a handful of great saves to keep Rosenallis in contention.
His lengthy puckouts were a feature of Rosenallis’s game throughout this season.
2 – Stephen Finan (Borris-Kilcotton)
One of the best man-markers in the county, he was in top form on Sunday in helping to keep Rathdowney-Errill at bay. Was superb on Ross King in the second half when Rathdowney-Errill were trying to bring their talisman into the game to get back into the tie.
3 – Conor Dunne (The Harps)
The veteran was at his best in this one, first nullifying the threat of Ciaran Conroy and then doing a superb job in limiting Ben Conroy’s influence when he was moved to the edge of the square.
When he did win possession, he used it wisely and was one of the best players on show.
4 – John O’Connor (Trumera)
A fine display by the combative full back, O’Connor was heavily involved in Trumera’s IHC semi-final win over Clough-Ballacolla.
He mopped up any loose ball that came his way and used his physicality to burst out on numerous occasions.
5 – Fiachra C Fennell (Rosenallis)
Fennell has been in excellent form for Rosenallis this year – as he was for Laois prior to the lockdown. And he was again very lively on Sunday, winning an amount of ball and going on some great runs down the right wing.
6 – Conor Phelan (Castletown)
Did a fine job in keeping Cha Dwyer on the periphery of the game, he never let the Ballinakill man out of his sight. With Dwyer’s influence limited it was left to his team mates to apply the scores, and they just about managed to do that.
7 – Diarmuid Conway (Clough-Ballacolla)
The Clough-Ballacolla defence gave very little away to Rosenallis over the course of their semi-final win and the very athletic Diarmuid Conway carried an amount of ball out of defence in a very fine performance.
8 – Ryan Mullaney (Castletown)
Hit four points over the course of a crucial game, including some monster frees when his team really needed them. Got through a lot of work around the middle of the field and used the ball well when in possession.
9 – Stephen Dunphy (Borris-Kilcotton)
Borris-Kilcotton caused a mild shock by beating champions Rathdowney-Errill and one man that was very central to it was Stephen Dunphy, who scored 1-3 from midfield with his late goal eventually putting the game beyond Rathdowney-Errill.
10 – James Keyes (Colt-Shanahoe)
Colt-Shanahoe haven’t enjoyed a good debut season but they’ll be happy to have signed off with a big win over Mountrath, one that ensures they stay in the Premier Intermediate grade in 2021.
Keyes is one of the most exciting young players in Laois and he scored three goals here.
11 – Jordan Walsh (Clough-Ballacolla)
Walsh is another young player to be enjoying a fine season and he was on form again here, finishing with four points from play.
Having been in and out of the team over the past couple of seasons he has now developed as a regular important starter.
12 – Aaron Bergin (Portlaoise)
Finished the game with 2-10, with 2-1 coming from play as he repeatedly punished the Camross defence. His goals either side of half-time were pivotal scores in swinging the game to Portlaoise’s favour, and he will be key to their hopes in the final against The Harps.
13 – PJ Scully (Borris-Kilcotton)
A ruthless finisher, his goal just after half-time typified that. As well as that, he repeatedly punished Rathdowney-Errill indiscretions from placed balls and chipped in with a point from a sideline and one from play too. He will be a marked man in the final.
14 – Stephen Maher (Clough-Ballacolla)
Hit 1-4 from play in a clinical performance, taking his goal well and then scoring some crucial points in the second half to put some daylight between the teams.
Some of his scoring from distance and from the wings was a sight to behold, and he’ll be hard to handle in this form.
15 – Robbie Foyle (Park-Ratheniska/Timahoe)
Relegation finals are normally a dog fight but this was a walk in the park for Park-Ratheniska/Timahoe against Ballypickas.
This was mainly down to Robbie Foyle who scored 1-9 – including a wonderful goal from the tightest of angles.
The post Clough-Ballacolla and Borris-Kilcotton lead the way on Team of the Week as final places decided appeared first on Laois Today.
source https://www.laoistoday.ie/2020/09/28/clough-ballacolla-and-borris-kilcotton-lead-the-way-on-team-of-the-week-as-final-places-decided/
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