Three weeks later and the outcome is the same
Jacque Dowling was again to the fore when Rathdowney/Errill beat Colt-Shanahoe in the replayed PIHC quarter-final Photo Denis Byrne
RATHDOWNEY/Errill and Colt-Shanahoe met on Sunday afternoon in Rathdowney for their hotly debated quarter-final replay in the Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship and it was the hosts who came out on top to secure their spot in the semi-final.
As has been well publicised, the pair met in Trumera three weeks ago and the game was ended two minutes shy of full time with Rathdowney/Errill leading by ten points and after much deliberation it was agreed that they would face off again today and the victors bettered the last result by a point.
One of the conditions of Rathdowney/Errill accepting the replay without any further deliberations or objections was that it be played in Rathdowney and Colt-Shanahoe duly accepted, much to the relief of many involved, none the least Mountmellick who were consigned to a seven week break between their final group game and their semi-final as a result of the hold up.
Rathdowney/Errill named the very same 15 as three weeks ago while Colt-Shanahoe made three changes to their lineup with Dan Butler, Franky McEvoy and Colm Kavanagh in to replace Tim Drennan, Paudie McDonald and Joshua Hickey.
It was a tight battle in the early stages with the teams level on four points apiece after 25 minutes before a goal from Micheal Cleary gave Rathdowney/Errill the edge going into the second half.
Colt-Shanahoe dug in during the second half led by their talisman James Keyes, but they couldn't hold off the advances of the hosts who ran away with it in the latter stages and will now go on to face Mountmellick in the semi-final.
The evergreen Joe Fitzpatrick was outstanding at centre back for the victors, while Jimmy Corrigan and James Keegan were also brilliant in midfield.
Colt-Shanahoe mainly relied on the brilliance of James Keyes to create chances at goal and he stepped up to the plate, slotting five points from play.
Shane Dollard, Jacques Dowling and Paddy Hassett traded scores with Keyes, Nathan Dunne and Franky McEvoy in the tough opening 25 minutes, though Colt-Shanahoe were lucky that Niall Brennan was quick to react and deny a shot at goal by Hassett in that period.
Rathdowney/Errill did make the breakthrough eventually when Micheal Cleary barrelled through the centre of the field and rifled his shot into the top right corner.
Keyes replied with an excellent brace from play, though Hassett and Aaron Costigan hit back and the hosts led 1-6 to 0-6 at half time.
The wind was with Rathdowney/Errill for the second half and they took advantage early on with four quick scores from Costigan, Cleary and a brace of Hassett frees.
Scores were coming much more frequently than the opening of the first half as Dunne fired over two frees of his own either side of a brilliant score by Keyes, all within the first 10 minutes of the restart.
The Colt-Shanahoe charge was halted with scores by Ben Galvin and Jimmy Corrigan as the hosts began to wrangle back the momentum with further points from Hassett and Dowling.
A free from Hassett and a fifth from play by Keyes brought an end to the scoring for Colt-Shanahoe with seven minutes remaining on the clock with six points between the teams and Rathdowney/Errill saw out the game on the up.
A trio of frees from Hassett followed with a quick double from Costigan in the three minutes of injury time brought an end to the game and finally gave Mountmellick an answer of who they will be facing this coming weekend, seven weeks since their last outing.
Paddy Hassett 0-8 (0-7fs, 0-1 65), Aaron Costigan 0-4, Micheal Cleary 1-1, Shane Dollard and Jacques Dowling 0-2 each, Jimmy Corrigan and Ben Galvin 0-1 each.
Nathan Dunne (0-3fs, 0-2 65s) and James Keyes 0-5 each, Franky McEvoy 0-1.
Ben Campion; Killian Carroll, Dan Bowe, Brian Campion; Oisin Moore, Joe Fitzpatrick, Mark Tracey; James Keegan, Jimmy Corrigan; Micheal Cleary, Shane Dollard, Ben Galvin; Jacques Dowling, Paddy Hassett, Aaron Costigan.
Peter Meagher for Carroll (46m), Jordan Kavanagh for Tracey (59m), Vinny Cleere for Dowling (60m).
Paul Kerwin; Dayle Bergin, Brian Guilfoyle, Niall Brennan; Cian Moffitt, Robert Delaney, Darren Brennan; Dylan Cuddy, Enda Mulhall; Dan Butler, Colm Kavanagh, Nathan Dunne; James Keyes, Owen Joyce, Franky McEvoy.
Joshua Hickey for Kavanagh (29m), Mark Hearns for D Brennan (43m).
Brochan O'Reilly (Portlaoise)
