On what was supposed to be a hurling weekend, there was a fair bit of football action too.
The two minor finals, A and B, were played on Thursday night with Ballyroan-Abbey getting the better of Portlaoise and Rosenallis doing likewise to Ballylinan respectively.
While on Sunday, Crettyard and Clonaslee had huge wins in the intermediate football championship semi finals.
The emphatic nature of their wins over Mountmellick and The Rock respectively is recognised in our selections this week as both sides have four.
Minor ‘A’ champions Ballyroan-Abbey and ‘B’ champions Rosenallis also feature while so too do ‘A’ runners up Portlaoise.
A total of five clubs make the cut and you can check out our picks below:
1 – Eoin O’Shea (Crettyard)
Eoin O’Shea has got the nod over Matt Kelly in the goals for Crettyard this year and he showed just why against Mountmellick.
He pulled off six fine saves and made three in a remarkable sequence right at the end of the game to preserve his clean sheet.
2 – Sam Quinn (Ballyroan-Abbey)
If there was a man of the match award from the minor final on Thursday night, Sam Quinn had to be right up there in the running.
He got on so much ball it was hard to figure out where he was actually playing. Because although he the number 4 on his back, Quinn was simply everywhere.
3 – Will Young (Clonaslee)
Tasked with shackling the dangerous Aaron Dowling, Will Young was excellent and is the most likely candidate to tackle Evan O’Carroll next week.
Held Dowling scoreless from play and drove out with the ball when he could.
4 – Jamie Preston (Portlaoise)
The Portlaoise minor footballers were trying to win their first title at the grade since 2013 but fell short against Ballyroan-Abbey on Thursday night.
But it wasn’t for the want of trying from this young man. Preston put in a number of solid challenges and got on a lot of ball.
5 – Sean O’Shea (Crettyard)
Crettyard were dealt a blow last week when centre back James Brennan picked up a nasty injury in a challenge match against Graiguecullen.
But in his absence, Sean O’Shea stepped into the role and excelled. He held Colm Coss very quiet and blocked up the middle third of the field when required.
6 – David Dooley (Rosenallis)
A dominant display from Dooley saw him act as the catalyst for many of Rosenallis’ attacks while also being destructive in defence when called upon.
Ballylinan played with a sweeper in the minor B final and that allowed Rosenallis to make Dooley their spare man where he made hay.
7 – Ben Reddin (Portlaoise)
A really good performance from this Portlaoise teenager who should feature prominently for the Laois minor footballers later this year.
Rock solid on the half back line, Reddin is quick, powerful and an option on kick-outs too.
8 – Ciaran Burke (Crettyard)
Ciaran Burke, who received a nasty injury in the first half of the Premier Intermediate semi final for The Harps, played for 45 minutes in midfield for Crettyard on Sunday with a heavily strapped quad and was sublime.
He won countless kick-outs and played a crucial role in two of the goals before being given a rest with the result in the bag.
9 – Davin McEvoy (Ballyroan-Abbey)
Alongside Lawson Obular, Davin McEvoy was engaged in a ferocious midfield battle against Sam Birrane and Liam Óg Brennan for 45 minutes in the Laois minor football final.
But he got on top eventually and kicked some wonderful points as Ballyroan secured minor glory once again.
10 – Padraig Rafter (Ballyroan Abbey)
Padraig Rafter played for Rathdonwey-Erril at U-13 and U-15 level but they didn’t a team at minor so, as an isolated player, he was permitted to join Ballyroan-Abbey.
And what a signing he proved to be as he set up the first goal for Aaron Brennan and following it with a great point himself in the second half.
11 – Niall Corbet (Clonaslee)
Has to be well in the running for intermediate Player of the Year as he has been selected on our team of the week after each game he has played.
Scored five points in the win over The Rock and played a role in some of the goals too. A complete display.
12 – Bob Downey (Clonaslee)
Clonaslee have a glut of exciting young forwards and one of them is Bob Downey who put in a great display against The Rock.
Was fouled for and converted a penalty – along with two more points – and was a constant threat in front of goal.
13 – Charlie Friel (Rosenallis)
Friel was clinical in front of goal throughout the game as Rosenallis won the Minor B title.
Ballylinan placed their sweeper in front of him to try limit his scoring but that didn’t work as the excellent Friel notched 2-10.
14 – Evan O’Carroll (Crettyard)
Evan O’Carroll finished the intermediate semi final with 2-10, 2-4 from play, and gave the Mountmellick defenders a torrid time throughout – especially in the first half where all the damage was done.
He has proved too good for all defences at this level and Clonaslee will have their work cut out to curtail him in the final.
15 – James McRedmond (Clonaslee)
Any player who scores a hat-trick has to be on team of the week and James McRedmond fits that bill perfectly.
All three of his finishes were neat and composed – and his all round play was exceptional as well.
SUBS OF THE WEEK
Ben McDonald (Ballyroan-Abbey)
When Ben McDonald entered the fray against Portlaoise in the minor final midway through the second half, the game was on a knife edge.
However, he won two frees which resulted in scores and then made the game safe with a brilliant goal after collecting a pass from Odhran Delaney. The definition of an impact sub.
SEE ALSO – Find all the LaoisToday football coverage here
The post Latest football Team of the Week as intermediate and minor action dominates appeared first on Laois Today.
source https://www.laoistoday.ie/2020/09/29/latest-football-team-of-the-week-as-intermediate-and-minor-action-dominates/
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