Impressive Ballyroan Abbey put Killeshin to the sword to march into Round 2

Ballyroan-Abbey 1-18 Killeshin 1-12
Senior Football Championship Round 1

Rated by many people as the outside bet for the 2021 Laois SFC, Ballyroan-Abbey showed just why with a commanding performance in O’Moore Park this evening.

Padraig Clancy’s charges controlled this game from start to finish and were comprehensive over a disappointing Killeshin.

Debutantes Davin McEvoy, Conor McWey and Shaun Fitzpatrick all impressed for Ballyroan-Abbey while the returns of Padraig McMahon, Marty Scully and MJ Tierney from injury are most welcome for their team.

This game almost burst into life in the opening minutes as David Aston got through on goal but Paudie McDonald in the Ballyroan-Abbey goal denied him.

A free from Brian Whelan and a mark from Padraig McMahon got Ballyroan-Abbey underway although Ross Bolger and Evan Lowry soon levelled matters.

A delightful score from Shaun Fitzpatrick and a second Whelan free left Ballyroan-Abbey 0-4 to 0-2 ahead at the water break.

Keeper Killian Roche landed a free for Killeshin on the resumption but points from Whelan and McMahon made it a three point game.

David Aston responded but two brilliant pieces of fielding from Cathal Doyle led to scores before half time that dramatically swung the game Ballyroan-Abbey’s way.

His first midfield catch started a move that ended with Diarmuid Whelan hitting the crossbar and Charlie Whelan sweeping in to despatch the rebound to the net.

The next resulted in a score from Brian Whelan and then Charlie Whelan followed that with a point to put seven between them.

Evan Lowry narrowed the gap but Killeshin trailed 1-8 to 0-5 at half time.

Killian Roche and Cathal Doyle exchanged points on the resumption before Killeshin were temporarily reduced to 14 men when sub Owen Scully was shown a black card.

Ballyroan instantly made their numerical advantage count as Brian Whelan, Charlie Whelan and Padraig McMahon all pointed.

Keeper Killian Roche slotted over his third free but Diarmuid Whelan’s first of the evening left nine in it after 40 minutes.

Whelan kicked another shortly after as Ballyroan-Abbey took a 1-14 to 0-7 lead into the second water break.

In fairness to Killeshin, they rallied somewhat after that as points from Conor Heffernan and keeper Roche came before a turnover led to a goal from Eoin Lowry.

But Ballyroan-Abbey never panicked and steadied themselves with points from Davin McEvoy, Shaun Fitzpatrick and Diarmuid Whelan.

Eoin Lowry, Evan Lowry and Ross Bolger responded for Killeshin but they finished the game with 14 men after Mark McDermott was shown a black card which turned into a red as he had already received a yellow.

That had no impact on the outcome as Ballyroan-Abbey finished six point winners.

 

SCORERS – Ballyroan-Abbey: Brian Whelan 0-5 (three frees), Charlie Whelan 1-2 (one free), Padraig McMahon 0-3 (one mark), Diarmuid Whelan 0-3, Shaun Fitzpatrick 0-2, Cathal Doyle 0-1, Sean Murphy 0-1, Davin McEvoy 0-1 Killeshin: Killian Roche 0-4 (all frees), Eoin Lowry 1-1, Evan Lowry 0-3, Ross Bolger 0-2, David Aston 0-1 (one free), Conor Heffernan 0-1

BALLYROAN-ABBEY: Paudie McDonald; Mark Cahill, Aaron Carroll, Aaron McEvoy; Conor McWey, Marty Scully, Ciaran Byrne; Diarmuid Whelan, Sean Murphy; Cathal Doyle, Davin McEvoy, Shaun Fitzpatrick; Padraig McMahon, Charlie Whelan, Brian Whelan. subs: Enda McWey for B Whelan (45), MJ Tierney for McMahon (47), Danny Brennan for Scully (53), Colm Walsh for C Whelan (55), Gavin Tynan for Murphy (61)

KILLESHIN: Killian Roche; Brendan McDonald, Jeremy Mahon, Kevin Ryan; Simon Attride, Mark McDermott, James Davis; Michael Doran, Cathal Byrne; Luke Attride, David Aston, Paddy Doyle; Evan Lowry, Eoin Lowry, Ross Bolger. Subs: Owen Scully for Ryan (17, inj), Conor Heffernan for L Attride (20), Gavin Deering for Doyle (41), Arnie Mahon for McDonald (45)

Referee: Michael Tarpey (Kilcavan)

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