After recording a big win over Arles-Kilcruise and now scored eight goals in two championship games, Crettyard are the in form team in the Laois intermediate football championship.
And they lead the way on our Team of the Week after the Round 2 action.
They have five players on our selection while Park-Ratheniska, Timahoe, Ballyroan and Mountmellick have two apiece. Annanough and Portlaoise have one player each.
You can check out our selection in full below.
1 – Eoin Culliton (Timahoe)
Culliton is Timahoe’s longest-serving player and he was in top form on Sunday evening as his side got the better of Ballyroan-Abbey to book a quarter-final place.
He pulled off saves at vital stages as Timahoe eventually came through after an extra-time battle.
2 – Sam Quinn (Ballyroan-Abbey)
Quinn was lively as usual as Ballyroan-Abbey opened up a big early lead against Timahoe only to be reeled in.
He got on a lot of ball, carried at pace and was hugely involved from start to finish.
3 – James Kelly (Crettyard)
Kelly is a tough operator for Crettyard and he manned the full-back position on Friday in their impressive win over Arles-Kilcruise.
Playing on the front foot, he’s aggressive and strong and helped lay the foundation for their success and semi-final place.
4 – Benny Greene (Park-Ratheniska)
Greene has played in all three of the top grades for Park-Ratheniska and along with Brian Fingleton he was tasked with keeping tabs on Annanough’s marksman Damien McCaul.
McCaul had a couple of really impressive moments but Greene managed to snuff out danger on occasion as well as bring ball out of defence.
5 – John Brennan (Crettyard)
A Laois U-20 regular this year, Crettyard have moved Brennan around to a variety of roles and positions in recent season.
Against Arles-Kilcruise, he was wing-back and didn’t put a foot wrong, defensively or going forward.
6 – Pierce Nash (Crettyard)
Nash has been consistently impressive anchoring the Crettyard defence and he was again rock solid against Arles-Kilcruise. Tough as nails and uses possession well when he gets his hands on the ball.
7 – Colin McEvoy (Mountmellick)
One of Mountmellick’s younger players, McEvoy played a crucial role as they got their season back on track with a high-scoring win over Portlaoise.
He scored 1-2 from wing-back and was constantly involved at both ends of the pitch.
8 – Sean Ramsbottom (Timahoe)
Another long-serving Timahoe stalwart, he was key to Timahoe dragging themselves back into contention against Ballyroan-Abbey. Ended up with four points to his name from play, three of them into a stiff wind while the other was a lead score late in normal time when he had moved into full-forward.
9 – Ciaran Burke (Crettyard)
Though he has been playing with a heavily strapped knee, Burke has caused massive problems for Portlaoise and Arles-Kilcruise in the first two rounds of this championship.
Moved between midfield and full-forward, scored one goal and had a hand in a couple more. A right handful no matter where he plays.
10 – Cian Nolan (Park-Ratheniska)
Nolan got plenty of time with the Laois U-20s this season and he was very effective for Park-Ratheniska in their hard-earned win over Annanough.
He scored two second-half goals, the first of which firmly settled the game in his side’s favour.
11 – Evan O’Carroll (Crettyard)
O’Carroll missed the first round against Portlaoise and after they got over a tricky hurdle there he was some addition for Round 2.
He rotated regulary with Ciaran Burke but he put on an exhibition to eventually finish with 2-8 to his name, all of it from play.
12 – Damien McCaul (Annanough)
Didn’t get the same level of joy against Park-Ratheniska as he did in the opening against Mountmellick but he got all of Annanough’s tally of 1-3. His goal was a real moment of magic while he kicked a couple of really classy frees, off the ground, into the wind in the first half.
13 – Odhran Delaney (Ballyroan-Abbey)
In a lot of clubs, Delaney would be on the first team but such is the depth in Ballyroan-Abbey that he has to make do with being on the second string.
His pace and movement, along with that of Ben McDonald, caused Timahoe plenty of problems and he finished with 0-3 from play, including the score that sent the game to extra time.
14 – Jack Brown (Portlaoise)
Brown has been Portlaoise’s top performer across their two games, with 2-10 in his two outings.
He got two goals against Mountmellick and was central as they came from well down midway through the second half to make a real contest of it late on.
15 – Niall Mullen (Mountmellick)
Mountmellick’s leading marksman who was in form from frees and play in their crucial Round 2 win over Portlaoise. He finished with 0-7, five of the points from open play.
SEE ALSO – Check out all our coverage of the 2024 Laois IFC here
