Laois Today: Carroll and McCane point the way as Rathdowney-Errill claim Division 1A title

Rathdowney-Errill 2-27 Borris-Kilcotton 1-19
ACHL Division 1A Final

Former League of Ireland soccer manager Shane Keegan has his first silverware as Rathdowney-Errill boss.

His side got the better of Borris-Kilcotton in the Division 1A league final in O’Moore Park this afternoon.

After a disappointing 2020 championship, this win shows that Rathdowney-Errill are firmly in the hunt for 2021.

Dylan Carroll and Joe Campion exchanged points in the opening stages of the game before PJ Scully and Joe Campion put Borris-Kilcotton, who were playing with the breeze, two points clear of their opponents.

But Rathdowney-Errill replied in emphatic fashion when Paddy Purcell found Brandon McGinley in space and he smashed the ball into the corner of the net – 1-1 to 0-3.

Joe Campion replied with a point before Dylan Carroll (free) and James Ryan maintained Rathdowney-Errill’s from their efforts.

This was a proper game with big hits going in on both sides – and one resulted in Borris-Kilcotton’s Stephen Dunphy and Rathdowney-Errill’s Paddy Purcell being forced off following a massive collision between the pair.

Rathdowney-Errill finished the first quarter with two points in a rwo via Paddy McCane and Dylan Carroll to give them a four point lead – 1-5 to 0-4.

Brandon McGinley scored a brace while Jack Kelly pointed for Rathdowney-Erill to extend their lead after the water break.

Borris-Kilcotton scored three points in a row through PJ Scully, Neil Foyle and Colm Stapleton to cut the deficit to four.

But Rathdowney-Erill steadied again with points from Dylan Carroll and sub Darren King.

Paddy McCane and Aaron Dunphy swapped points before PJ Scully converted a free to leave six points separating the sides at the interval – 1-13 to 0-10.

Borris-Kilcotton got off to a dream start in the second half when PJ Scully picked up the ball along the end line and he drove the sliotar into the rough of the net to make it a three point game.

Dylan Carroll and Colm Stapleton pointed for their sides before PJ Scully cut the gap to two with a free.

Aaron Dunphy soon scored a brace to level the game for the first time since the opening minutes of the game.

But Rathdowney-Errill responded well and regained their lead with two in a row via James Ryan and Dylan Carroll.

Rathdowney-Errill pushed further clear when Ross King drove the ball low into the back of the net.

James Ryan and Dylan Carroll then pointed before the water break to give their side a seven point lead – 2-19 to 1-15.

Aaron Dunphy and PJ Scully (two frees) tried to get their side back in the game but Rathdowney-Errill replied with every time with a score of their own.

Substitutes Shane Dollard and Ray Bowe wrapped up the game with a point each to secure an eleven point win for Rathdowney-Errill.

SCORERS – Rathdowney-Erill: Dylan Carroll 0-8 (six free), Paddy McCane 0-6, Brandon McGinley 1-2, James Ryan 0-4, Ross King 1-0, Jack Kelly 0-3, Darren King, Padraig Rafter, Shane Dollard and Ray Bowe 0-1 each. Borris-Kilcotton: Joe Campion 0-2, PJ Scully 1-8 (seven frees), Aaron Dunphy 0-4, Neil Foyle, Paddy Whelan and Colm Stapleton 0-2 each.

RATHDOWNEY-ERRILL: Damien Madden; Jimmy Corrigan, Kevin O’Dea, John Purcell; Thep Fitzpatrick, Liam O’Connell, John Keane; Daithi Poynton, Jack Kelly; Paddy Purcell, Dylan Carroll, James Ryan; Brandon McGinley, Ross King, Paddy McCane. Subs: Darren King for Purcell (16, inj), Shane Dollard for Darren King (44), Shane Madden for Thep Fitzpatrick (44), Ray Bowe for McGinley (57), Padraig Rafter for Carroll (57)

BORRIS-KILCOTTON: Eoin Fleming; Conor Kilbane, Matthew Whelan, Enda Parlon; Stephen Phelan, Niall Coss, Paddy Whelan; Stephen Dunphy, Dean Carey; Joseph Campion, Neil Foyle, Colm Stapleton; PJ Scully, Aaron Dunphy, Emmet Jones. Subs: Noah Quinlan for S Dunphy (16, inj), Sean Fitzpatrick for Emmet Jones (HT), Noel Delaney for Carey (58)

Referee: John Lalor (Shanahoe)