Easy for Mountmellick as they thump O’Dempsey’s to reach IFC semi final

Mountmellick 6-23 O’Dempsey’s 2-8
Laois Intermediate Football Championship

Mountmellick have joined Park-Ratheniska in the IFC semi finals following a routine 27 point win over O’Dempsey’s in McCann Park this evening.

Gordon Lalor’s charges didn’t have to get out of second gear as they easily batted away the challenge of the second string of Killenard.

The result means that O’Dempsey’s now head for the quarter finals where they will play either Timahoe or Crettyard.

It was actually O’Dempsey’s who took the lead as straight from the throw in, Ciaran McManus got through for a goal.

Colm Coss, who ended the game with 1-11, steadied Mountmellick with three quick fire points before Niall Mullen put them ahead.

And they grabbed their first goal on the stroke of the water break as Mark Dowling delicately chipped David Nicolson to leave it 1-4 to 1-0.

The game was over on the restart as Finn Culleton and John Connolly combined for a goal each with Coss landing three more points and Darren Fitzpatrick also scoring.

O’Dempsey’s tried to get back into the game through Ciaran McManus, Eoin Finlay and Liam Finlay but they trailed 3-8 to 1-3 at half time.

Eoin Finlay punched in a goal on the restart and then landed a free but Mountmellick stepped on the gas again.

Eoin George became their fifth different scorer as they led 4-12 to 2-6 at the second water break.

The excellent Finn Culleton and Colm Coss got in on the goal-scoring in the time that remained as Mountmellick eased to victory.

SCORERS –  Mountmellick: Colm Coss 1-11 (one free, one mark), Niall Mullen 1-5 (one free), Eoin George 1-3, Finn Culleton 1-2, John Connolly 1-0, Mark Dowling 1-0, Shane Conlon 0-1, Darren Fitzpatrick 0-1 O’Dempsey’s: Eoin Finlay 1-3 (two frees), Ciaran McManus 1-1, Liam Finlay 0-2, Eugene Nolan 0-1 (free)

MOUNTMELLICK: Eoghan Keogh; Kai Byrne, Cian Thompson, Redmond McEvoy, Mark Dowling, Darren Fitzpatrick, Karl Donoher; Stephen Lynch, Ger Reddin; John Noonan, Eoin George, Niall Mullen; Finn Culleton, Colm Coss, John Connolly Subs: Ciaran Rochford for Byrne (35), Tadhg Culleton for Donoher (42), Jarlath Connolly for J Connolly (45), Shane Conlon for Noonan (48), Michael Dowling for M Dowling (50)

O’DEMPSEY’S: David Nicholson; Eoghan Fitzpatrick, Richie Whelehan, Aidan McLernon; Darragh Bannon, Paddy McCormack, Michael Gill; Dan McCormack, Ciaran McManus; Darren Fitzpatrick, Eugene Nolan, Pat Maher; Darren Finlay, Eoin Finlay, Sam Molloy Subs: Liam Finlay for Molloy (10), Brian Behan for D Fitzpatrick (17), Chris McCormack for Bannon (ht), Nicholas Doggett for McClernan and Odhran Gallagher for D Finlay (40)

Referee: Brendan McCann (Portarlington)

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