Clough-Ballacolla remain on top in Laois

Clough-Ballacolla 2-22 Rathdowney-Errill 0-22

Clough-Ballacolla have claimed the Bob O'Keeffe Cup for the fourth time in the last five seasons following victory in O'Moore Park.

Willie Hyland's charges were six point winners over Rathdowney-Errill to claim their 12th title in all and their seventh since 2009.

Goals in either half ultimately proved the difference with Stephen Bergin kicking in one in the first half and Stephen Maher scoring one in the second.

Maher, as he has been for the best part of the last decade, was Clough-Ballacolla's main man.

He finished the match with a tally of 1-14, 1-11 of that coming in the second half.

This was Rathdowney-Errill's first final since they won it in 2019 and they played with the wind in the first half.

Tadhg Dowling and Paddy McCane landed seven points between them in that phase while Ross King was steady on frees.

It meant that even despite Bergin's goal, Rathdowney-Errill held a 0-15 to 1-08 lead at half time.

The tide began to turn early in the second half after Maher and Liam O'Connell traded scores to start proceedings.

Three frees in a row from Maher would see Clough-Ballacolla reduce the gap to a point on 37 minutes and he drove his side in front moments later after excellent work by Cillian Dunne created a chance for Maher to bury the ball low into the net for a goal to make it 1-03 in succession for the Clough-Ballacolla sharpshooter.

Ross King stemmed the flow with a pointed free in response, but Rathdowney-Errill’s fouling continued to cost them as Maher landed two frees in reply.

Brandon McGinley and Maher traded excellent scorers from play, but Clough-Ballacolla had all the momentum and their scores were coming that bit easier.

Frees from O’Connell and King kept