Rathdowney/ Errill 1-12 Clonkill 0-12: Laois champions Rathdowney-Errill won their first ever game in the Leinster senior hurling club championship at the fourth attempt, and the first victory by any Laois team in the competition since 2005, when they staged a remarkable finish to see off Westmeath champions Clonkill at a damp and wet Portlaoise yesterday.
Playing with a strong breeze in the opening half they were in trouble going to the break leading by just three points and four of their seven coming from Ross King, all but one from a placed ball. Eoin Price and Brendan Murtagh did the damage for the visitors.
When Clonkill shot the opening four points, three from Murtagh and another from Andrew Mitchell, it looked like an away victory but then a long range free by Brian Campion dropped in the square and John Purcell reacted quickest to shoot the game’s only goal.
Although Clonkill did draw level again they never led and three magnificent points by King, all from placed balls, sent the Laois champions into a semi-final meeting with Offaly’s Kilcormack/Killoughey in two weeks’ time.
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