Late Graiguecullen rally salvages senior survival
Jamie Sheehan (Graiguecullen) turning in possession as Brian Ging (The Heath) moves to challenge Photo: Denis Byrne
Graiguecullen secured their senior status for 2027 with a strong finish to overcome The Heath in the Laois SFC relegation playoff at the LOETB Centre of Excellence on Saturday afternoon condemning their opponents to a return to intermediate football.
The Heath looked to have done enough to preserve their senior status when they moved in front during the second half, but Graiguecullen finished the contest with four unanswered points to turn the game around and ensure they will remain in the top tier next season.
With three teams facing relegation this year, The Heath join Park-Ratheniska and Clonaslee-St Manman's in dropping down to the intermediate grade.
Graiguecullen made an ideal start, with Aaron Dorgan opening their account from play before Mark Timmons found the net in the eighth minute. Timmons broke through the defence and finished emphatically into the bottom corner to give his side an early advantage.
Denis Browne opened The Heath's account with a fine point, while they passed up two opportunities for goals as Danny Maher saved well from Conor Booth and James Phelan subsequently pulled another effort wide.
A Jack Byrne free restored Graiguecullen's advantage, but Browne responded with an excellent score that The Heath felt should have been awarded as a two-pointer. Conor Booth added a point from play before Paddy Fitzpatrick converted a free to keep the pressure on Graiguecullen.
Danny O'Reilly responded for Graiguecullen in the 23rd minute, but The Heath finished the half strongly. Two frees from Booth, including one after he had been fouled himself, brought the sides level at the interval, with Graiguecullen leading by a goal to The Heath's six points in the scoring tally, 1-3 to 0-6.
Brian Byrne edged Graiguecullen back in front shortly after the restart before getting their second goal. A good delivery across the square from Danny McGrath gave Byrne the opportunity to palm the ball to the net, putting Graiguecullen four points clear.
However, The Heath refused to let their opponents pull away. Graiguecullen struggled to build on their advantage and went 14 minutes without a score, although The Heath could only manage a two-point free from Fitzpatrick during that spell.
The game came alive again when Mark Phelan found the net in the 48th minute, reducing the deficit to a single point and giving The Heath renewed belief.
Fitzpatrick then landed a free before Booth added another to put The Heath ahead for the first time in the contest. Having worked hard to turn the game around, they now had senior survival within their grasp.
Graiguecullen responded when it mattered most, with Dorgan kicking a fine point to bring the teams level before O'Reilly produced an excellent effort from play to put them back in front.
The Heath had an opportunity to equalise, but Browne saw his punched effort strike the post and go wide, leaving Graiguecullen with a narrow advantage as the closing stages approached.
Graiguecullen then made sure of the result in injury time when Dylan Murphy split the posts for a superb two-pointer from play. It capped a late scoring burst that saw them register the final four points of the afternoon and secure their place in the 14-team senior championship for 2027.
For The Heath, the defeat brings an end to their senior campaign and confirms their place in the new 10-team intermediate championship next season.
D Murphy 0-4 (1tpf, 1tp), B Byrne 1-1, M Timmons 1-0, A Dorgan and D O'Reilly 0-2 each, J Byrne 0-1 (f).
C Booth 0-4 (3f), P Fitzpatrick 0-4 (1tpf, 2f), M Phelan 1-0, D Browne 0-2.
Danny Maher; Eoin Alsybury, Sean McGrath, Warith Oyeniyi; Danny McGrath, Mark Timmons, Aaron Dorgan; Jamie Sheehan, Trevor Collins; Danny O'Brien, Josh O'Brien, Danny O'Reilly; Brian Byrne, Jack Byrne, Dylan Murphy.
Aidan Bradley for J Byrne (41), Danny Alsybury for D O'Brien (54), Kian Lawler for E Alsybury (57), James Horohan for J O'Brien (61).
Joe Walshe; James Doyle, PJ Larkin, Alan Whelan; David O'Brien, Neil Keane, Mark Phelan; Jimmy Nerney, Aaron Thornton; Denis Browne, Paddy Fitzpatrick, John McNamara; Brian Ging, James Phelan, Conor Booth.
Sean Kirby for O'Brien (ht), Paddy O'Callaghan for McNamara (47), Ciaran Booth for M Phelan (57).
Clifford Ward (Portarlington).
