Laois SHC Final/Rathdowney/Errill 1-9 Tinnahinch 1-7: Two years after they joined forces, Rathdowney/Errill claimed their first county hurling title at Portlaoise.
The game, played on a perfect day, never reached the standard of games all season, with Tinnahinch a point up at the interval, 0-5 to 0-4.
Five minutes into the new half James Young drove a free all the way to the net. However, the turning point, and the score of the game, came when Rathdowney/Errill sub Alan Delaney - son of former All-Ireland referee Pat - pulled first time on the ground to send a screaming shot to the bottom corner of the Tinnahinch net.
Meanwhile, in the county senior football semi-final replay, Ballyroan qualified for their first final since 1992 by defeating 2003 champions Arles/Kilcruise 1-11 to 0-10 at Portlaoise on Saturday.
RATHDOWNEY/ERRILL: JP Ryan; B Campion, L Mahon, E Fitzpatrick; G Phelan, P Mahon, J Fitzpatrick; E Meagher (0-1), S Dollard (0-1); P Mahon (0-1), E Holohan (0-1), J O'Shea; J Purcell (0-4), L Tynan (0-1), L Wynne (capt). Subs: J Phelan (0-2) for O'Shea, A Delaney (1-0) for Holohan.
TINNAHINCH: M Fallon; J Carroll, S Dooley, E Fitzgerald; G McEvoy, D Rooney, R Conroy; D Conroy (0-1), J Young (1-4); J Conroy (0-1), J Rowney, J Dooley; T Tynan (0-1), M Rooney, R McEvoy. Subs: D Hogan for J Rowney, C Gorman for J Dooley.
