AIB Leinster Club SFC: Portarlington power through to the quarter-finals

​AIB Leinster club senior football championship, Round 1

PORTARLINGTON (LAOIS) 1-12 OLD LEIGHLIN (CARLOW) 0-6

By Paul Keane at Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow

It must have seemed like a very long way back to this stage for Portarlington after last year's Round 1 provincial defeat to Tinahely.

That was a surprise loss, for everyone outside of Tinahely at least, but Portarlington have made amends, making it back to the first hurdle in Leinster and surmounting it this time.

It wasn't always pretty from Pat Roe's side, who struck 1-1 in stoppage time to gloss the scoreline a little, but they will make no apologies for focusing merely on progression.

And, in truth, they always looked like winning this one, hitting the interval with a six-point lead which they stretched to eight before battening down the hatches late on as Old Leighlin launched an anticipated fightback.

Rioghan Murphy eventually killed off the hosts with his 64th minute goal for Port', bringing his tally to 1-2 for the evening, whilst talisman colleague Colm Murphy struck four points, all from frees.

On a cool and drizzly evening, away from home, the power of the collective was clear as Port' defended superbly and restricted Old Leighlin to just six points, and only four from play.

Their reward is a November 16 quarter-final clash with Louth's Naomh Mairtin, in Ardee.

It's 10 years since a Laois club reached the final of this competition and perhaps Portarlington, semi-finalists in both 2021 and 2022, can amend that stat.

No Carlow club has made it beyond the quarter-final stage since 2019 finalists Eire Og, so Old Leighlin were always up against it.

They had some inside information of sorts as boss Brian Lonergan previously managed Portarlington.

But after an evenly contested first quarter - the sides were locked on 0-2 apiece after 17 minutes - Port' then pulled away.

It wasn't classic stuff from the 17-times Laois champions but they picked off a series of scores to hit the interval with a commanding 0-9 to 0-3 lead.

Old Leighlin scored just a point from play in the first-half, from county man Mikey Bambrick in the 26th minute.

Their other two scores were both pointed frees from Seamus Kinsella, one of which Bambrick won.

Bambrick also had a terrific chance for a goal in the 19th minute when, after good work by captain Aaron Amond and Tadhg O'Neill, he got free for an opportunity that he dragged just wide.

That was a turning point because Portarlington won the resulting kick-out and worked a move that ended with Jordan Fitzpatrick pointing for a 0-4 to 0-2 lead.

Colm Murphy, Man of the Match in the county final replay win over Courtwood, was tracked by corner-back Jordan Kelly.

It was an entertaining duel and while Murphy was held scoreless from play, he did win a free off Kelly that he knocked over just before the interval.

Murphy had a half chance for a goal in the 25th minute too but his lobbed effort, after the 'keeper had come off his line, was deflected out.

Port' went short, and backwards, with the 45 and cleverly played in captain Ronan Coffey for another score.

Even without Sean Byrne and Jake Foster - they reportedly returned to Australia after the county win - the favourites were sitting pretty at the turnaround.

Colm Murphy increased his team's lead with another point from a free after the restart, 0-10 to 0-3.

Two passages of play in the third quarter summed up the ferocity of Portarlington's defending. Firstly, Darragh Slevin raced back into his own half to strip an Old Leighlin player of possession before launching a counter-attack that ended with a free in for Port'.

Soon after, Old Leighlin forward James Dowling won possession in an advanced position before suddenly being surrounded by four players and spilling the ball.

It wasn't always easy on the eye but on the first evening of winter, in cool and heavy conditions, it was mightily effective from Portarlington.

Old Leighlin had the numbers advantage for most of the last quarter when Portarlington skipper Coffey was black carded for hauling back Kinsella.

In the period when Coffey was off the pitch, Old Leighlin pressed up hard on Port' and outscored them 0-3 to 0-0.

But the goal they needed never arrived and it was Portarlington that raised the only green flag of the evening in the last play of the game, Rioghan Murphy netting after his initial attempt was blocked by the goalkeeper.

Portarlington scorers: Rioghan Murphy 1-2 (0-1f), Colm Murphy 0-4 (0-4f), Jordan Fitzpatrick 0-2, Patrick O'Sullivan 0-2, Sean Michael Corcoran 0-1, Ronan Coffey 0-1.

Old Leighlin scorers: Seamus Kinsella 0-2 (0-2f), Mikey Bambrick 0-2, Aaron Amond 0-1, Sean Taylor 0-1

Portarlington: Luke O'Reilly; Alex Mohan, Robbie Pigott, Curtis Lyons; Mikey Bennett, Jason Moore, Patrick O'Sullivan; Keith Bracken, Eoin McCann; Rioghan Murphy, Ronan Coffey, Darragh Slevin; Jordan Fitzpatrick, Darragh Galvin, Colm Murphy.

Subs: Tom Corcoran for Galvin 49, Sean Michael Corcoran for Fitzpatrick 59.

Old Leighlin: Steven Scallan; Jordan Kelly, Sean Bambrick, Tadhg O'Neill; Tadhg Roche, Niall Roche, Jamie Doyle; Ian Atkinson, David Bambrick; James Dowling, Aaron Amond, Mikey Bambrick; Cathal Coughlan, Seamus Kinsella, Darragh Fitzgerald.

Subs: Sean Taylor for David Bambrick 42, Mark Brennan for Coughlan 59.

Referee: Ian Howley (Dublin).