Laois SFC Final: Portarlington power past Courtwood

Laois Shoppping Centre SFC Final

Portarlington 1-19 Courtwood 0-8

By Alan Hartnett at Laois Hire O'Moore Park

Portarlington have been crowned the Laois Shopping Centre SFC champions for the sixth time in the last seven years following a 14 point win over Courtwood in O'Moore Park.

Ronan Sweeney's men won every game bar their quarter final against O'Dempsey's by double digits or more and they were so impressive here once again.

The win takes them into second place in the overall standings for Laois championship wins behind Portlaoise and ahead of Stradbally.

Courtwood were a point ahead in the 40th minute of the game but failed to score in the time that remained as once Portarlington got in front, they never looked back.

Colm Murphy was man of the match as he kicked 1-5 with all of Portarlington's scores, bar one, coming from play in what was an incredible display.

Courtwood played with the aid of the breeze in the first half and although they led for most of the half, the sides went into the dressing room level at 0-5 apiece.

Colm Murphy and Jordan Fitzpatrick put Portarlington ahead for the first time at the start of the second half but Courtwood came back with a free and a two point free from keeper Matthew Byron.

But Portarlington had been constantly threatening for goals and the dam eventually burst in the 43rd minute just after Jordan Fitzpatrick had kicked a two pointer.

Sean Byrne won the resulting kickout and found Colm Murphy who went on to score the only goal of the game from close range.

After that, there was no stopping Portarlington as Rioghan Murphy and Ronan Coffey both kicked two pointers before the end in a convincing win.

Scorers for Portarlington: Colm Murphy 1-5 (one two-pointer), Rioghan Murphy 0-4 (one two-pointer, one free), Jordan Fitzpatrick 0-3 (one two-pointer), Jason Moore 0-1, Curtis Lyons 0-1, Darragh Galvin 0-1, Ronan Coffey 0-3 (one two-pointer), Sean Michael Corcoran 0-1

Scorers for Courtwood: Alan Kinsella 0-3 (one two-pointer, one free), Matthew Byron 0-3 (one two-point free, one free), Ryan Little 0-1, Cian Doyle 0-1.

PORTARLINGTON: Evan Grattan; Cathal Bennett, Tom Corcoran, Alex Mohan; Curtis Lyons, Robbie Pigott, Jason Moore; Keith Bracken, Sean Byrne; Rioghan Murphy, Ronan Coffey, Paddy O’Sullivan; Hugh Connolly, Colm Murphy, Jordan Fitzpatrick. Subs: Daragh Slevin for Connolly (HT), Darragh Galvin for Moore (injured – 49), Eoin McCann for Bracken (53), Sean Michael Corcoran for Fitzpatrick (55), Hugo Emerson for Lyons (57)

COURTWOOD: Matthew Byron; Collins Ugochuckwu, Dan Boland, Adam O’Halloran; Jake Doyle, Sean O’Flynn, Eoghan Slattery; Rob Tyrell, Mark O’Halloran; Daragh McEvoy, Alan Kinsella, Tadhg Slattery; Niall Donoher, Cian Doyle, Ryan Little. Subs: Eddie Boland for Slattery (43), Dylan Keane for T Slattery (47), Paul O’Flynn for Ugochuckwu (51), Danny Luttrell for C Doyle (injured – 55)

REFEREE: Des Cooney (St Joseph’s)