Titanic battle as St Joseph’s cling on to defeat Stradbally

Stradbally 0-14 St Joseph’s 1-12
Laois Shopping Centre SFC Round 2

St Joseph’s are through to Round 3 of the Laois SFC after a titanic tussle with neighbours Stradbally in MW Hire O’Moore Park this afternoon.

Joe Higgins’ side led by five points at half time but Stradbally battled back and got level as we entered the final ten minutes.

But Joseph’s kicked again with Brian Daly and man of the match James Kelly pointing to ensure that even with the late dismissal of Lir McDonald and nine minutes of injury time, they could hang on.

Both sides were without two of their main forwards Jody Dillon and Michael Keogh through injury while Stradbally also lost Eoin Buggie to injury midweek but it was they who started the better of the two teams as Garry Comerford kicked them into an early lead.

Josh O’Brien responded for St Joseph’s but Tom Shiel regained Stradbally’s lead a minute later before the Kellyville men took over.

O’Brien, Jason Campion and Josh Lacey nudged St Joseph’s ahead before Garry Comerford responded with a free.

Stradbally were denied what looked a clear penalty then when Tom Shiel appeared to be fouled while going for goal but referee Mick Tarpey waved away his appeals and Joseph’s led 0-5 to 0-3 at the water break.

Two more Comerford frees cut the gap to one but Joseph’s finished the half the stronger and that was ultimately where the game was won.

O’Brien and Doyle pointed before right before half time, Stradbally lost a kick-out and the ball eventually came to Brian Daly who shrugged off his man and scored the game’s only goal to leave it 1-7 to 0-5 at the break.

The second half saw both teams exchange points before Stradbally went on a run with Comerford, Podge Fitzpatrick and Darragh Carolan seeing them reduce the gap to 0-11 to 1-10 at the second water break.

Garry Comerford and then full back Liam Knowles levelled the game after 50 minutes but St Joseph’s grabbed the next two scores – and they once again proved crucial.

Stradbally had a late Colm Kelly free but the equalising score they needed didn’t come and they head for the relegation semi final in two weeks time.

SCORERS – Stradbally: Garry Comerford 0-7 (six frees), Ciaran O’Neill 0-1, Podge Fitzpatrick 0-2, Tom Shiel 0-1, Darragh Carolan 0-1, Liam Knowles 0-1, Colm Kelly 0-1 (one free) St Joseph’s: Josh O’Brien 0-4 (three frees), Brian Daly 1-1, Jason Campion 0-2, Dylan Doyle 0-2 (mark), Josh Lacey 0-1, James Kelly 0-1 (45), Seamus Farrelly 0-1

STRADBALLY: Wayne Comerford; Paul Begley, Liam Knowles, Eamonn Delaney; Darragh Carolan, Damien Murphy, Conor Goode; Kilian Mcgannon, Colm Begley; Jamie Kavanagh, Garry Comerford, Podge Fitzpatrick; Benny Lawlor, Tom Shiel, Ciaran O’Neill. Subs Darren Maher for Kavanagh (41), Colm Kelly for O’Neill (57)

ST JOSEPH’S: Aaron Cooney; Tom Dunne, James Kelly, Lir McDonald; Aidan Brennan, Adam Campion, Jack Lacey; Dean Brophy, Mikie Dempsey; Seamus Farrelly, Dylan Doyle, Brian Daly; Josh Lacey, Jason , Josh O’Brien. Subs: James Smith for Brophy (ht), Colin Campion for Jack Lacey and Matty Campion for Doyle (both 40), Peter Kealy for Josh Lacey (45)

Referee: Mick Tarpey (Kilcavan)

SEE ALSO – Check out all our Laois SFC coverage here

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