Rosenallis v Ballylinan
Laois SFC Relegation Semi Final in Annanough at 7.15pm
The football championship action recommences this evening with two games of big significance throwing in at 7.15pm.
A chance at survival is the prize in Annanough for this game as Rosenallis and Ballylinan meet.
For the victor, they will play in the Laois SFC again in 2025 but the loser will drop to the relegation final.
Ballylinan are only back here after IFC glory in 2023 and are trying to avoid two relegations in three seasons.
They had tough draws in Round 1 and 2 where they lost to Portlaoise and St Joseph’s.
It didn’t get any easier either in the SFC ‘B’ quarter final where they were beaten by Emo.
Rosenallis on the other hand made a dream start when they ran out comprehensive winners over Stradbally.
They went down to Ballyroan-Abbey in Round 2 and then lost a high scoring game to O’Dempsey’s in Round 3.
A Denis Booth goal proved their undoing against The Heath in the SFC ‘B’ quarter final which leaves them here.
Last year, they defeated Clonaslee-St Manman’s at this stage with a late Eoin Dunne goal.
This is the third SFC meeting between these teams with Ballylinan winning the first in 2020 and Rosenallis the second in 2021.
Rosenallis’ form is better but Ballylinan have got Gary Walsh back and will have every chance.
Courtwood v St Joseph’s
Laois JFC ‘C’ Final in COE at 7.15pm
A chance to gain silverware will be up for grabs this evening as Courtwood and St Joseph’s meet in the first adult final of 2024.
This will be the second time that these teams have met in a final this year.
Back in June, they met in the league final where St Joseph’s won 3-14 to 0-15.
Courtwood began this competition in Group C where they beat Kilcavan, Arles-Kilcruise and Portlaoise to finish top.
St Joseph’s were in Group F and topped it ahead of The Heath and O’Dempsey’s.
In the knock out phase, Courtwood defeated Kilcotton in the quarter final by 0-10 to 0-7 and then proved too strong for Park-Ratheniska in the semi final.
With forwards like Luke and Rory Doyle, they have plenty of firepower.
As for St Joseph’s, they saw off O’Dempsey’s in the quarter final and then hammered Ballyroan-Abbey in the semi final.
Tadhg Dineen, Reese O’Halloran, Callum Hogg and Darragh Farrell all played in the last two minor finals.
They also have plenty of experience and will be favourites for this.
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