Laois Shopping Centre SFC Relegation Semi Final Arles-Kilcruise v Stradbally
In MW Hire O’Moore Park at 3.30pm
It is the semi final that nobody wants to be in – but yet this is where both Arles-Kilcruise and Stradbally find themselves.
The loser of this game will play Courtwood after they were beaten by Rosenallis last night.
Arles-Kilcruise have suffered two huge defeats to both The Heath and neighbours Arles-Killeen.
David Conway was sent off in their last loss but he is available as relegation is deemed a new competition.
Stradbally were very competitive against Portarlington and St Joseph’s but ultimately could not get the job done on either night – losing by three points and one point respectively.
They will be hoping the injuries that kept Eoin Buggie and Jody Dillon out of the Joseph’s game will have healed – but even without them, they should have too much.
Verdict – Stradbally
Laois Shopping Centre SFC R3 Arles-Killeen v The Heath
In MW Hire O’Moore Park at 5.30pm
The similarities in the draw this year have been incredible and here we have two teams that lost and defeated the same opponents.
Arles-Killeen lost heavily to Graiguecullen in Round 1 but responded brilliantly to brush Arles-Kilcruise aside in Round 2.
The Heath defeated Kilcruise in Round 1 and were narrowly beaten by Graiguecullen then – despite playing with an extra man for much of the second half.
Those form lines would probably make The Heath slim favourites and they have plenty of quality in Daithi Carroll, James Phelan, Neil Keane and Denis Booth. They are set to be without Dylan Kavanagh through injury.
Arles-Killeen will be sweating on the fitness of Dermot Julian but in Donie and Paul Kingston – they have two kingpins. And they may prove too hot to handle for The Heath.
Verdict – Arles-Killeen
Laois Shopping Centre IFC Relegation Final Annanough v Timahoe
In Crettyard at 5pm
Parish neighbours will go head to head with survival on the line in Crettyard tonight.
For Timahoe, it is an exact repeat of last year when they had to travel to the south of the county to see off St Joseph’s second team and preserve their status.
This is Annanough’s second relegation final in four years after they went down against Barrowhouse in 2017.
Annanough are here after being well beaten by The Rock in Round 1 before putting in a spirited performance in defeat to Mountmellick in Round 2.
Damien McCaul, Killian Horgan, John Scully and Donal Miller are among their main players.
Timahoe though have been heavily defeated by both Crettyard and O’Dempsey’s in their games and will need big performances from the likes of Brendan Quigley, Ruairi O’Connor, Damien O’Connor and Mark O’Connell – and if they all click, they could just prevail.
Verdict – Timahoe
Laois Ladies SFC Semi Final Portlaoise v St Brigid’s
In Portlaoise at 6pm
The Ladies senior football championship reaches the semi final stage tonight with the teams who finished first and second in the group getting home advantage.
Portlaoise have been the form team so far and won all of their group games in style to finish first.
St Brigid’s finished level with Timahoe in the group and as St Paul’s withdrew and St Brigid’s also gave a walkover, points difference could not be used to split them.
But St Brigid’s came through that playoff to reach this stage. However, it would be a massive shock if they were to win this.
Verdict – Portlaoise
Laois Ladies SFC Semi Final Sarsfields v St Conleth’s
In Mountmellick at 6pm
The second semi final of the day should be a far more keenly contested affair.
Both of these teams lost to Portlaoise but won the games against Timahoe and St Brigid’s comfortably.
When they met, they produced a classic that saw St Conleth’s come from nine points down to draw level in the second half thanks to a Laura Dunne hat-trick.
Sarsfields kicked on again after that to win and they will be favourites to keep their charge for eight in a row alive.
Verdict – Sarsfields
Laois Shopping Centre JFC R3 Groups A, B and D
By tonight, six of the eight quarter finalists in the Junior football championship will be confirmed.
In Group A, Portlaoise are already through after receiving a walkover from Ballylinan. Second place is a straight shoot-out between Killeshin and Ballyroan-Abbey.
In Group B, Errill’s decision to give Camross a walkover could result in the need for a playoff pending the result of tonight’s match.
Barrowhouse face neighbours St Joseph’s where a Barrowhouse win would send them and Camross through to the last eight. But a St Joseph’s win would require a playoff as all three teams would be level on four points.
While in Group D, Park-Ratheniska play The Harps where a win for the former will guarantee them top spot and also bring Castletown through in the process.
A win of any description for The Harps would see them join Park-Ratheniska in the quarter final but to knock them out – they would have to beat them by 33 points.
SEE ALSO – Check out all our club football action here
The post Previewing all of Saturday’s Laois GAA action appeared first on Laois Today.
source https://www.laoistoday.ie/2020/09/19/previewing-all-of-saturdays-laois-gaa-action-4/
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