Laois SFC Final

Portarlington 4-9 Portlaoise 0-6

** By Rory Delaney at MW Hire O'Moore Park**

Portarlington made it back-to-back Laois SFC titles as they romped to an impressive win over Portlaoise in O’Moore Park.

Without an SFC title since 2001 before this year, they have now won two in four months as they dismantled perennial champions Portlaoise with a superb display. The county town side had won 12 of the previous 13 titles but were no match for Martin Murphy’s well-drilled side on this occasion.

Portarlington put themselves on the front foot early, running hard at the Portlaoise defence and opening their account in the third minute through David Murphy.

They doubled their lead soon after when Keith Bracken won possession in midfield and they broke forward, Ronan Coffey’s left foot applying the finish seconds later. Portlaoise were struggling to get a foothold in the game and soon found themselves even further behind.

Another slick, direct passing move from Portarlington ended with Colm Murphy sending Adam Ryan through on goal, and he blasted to the net for a wonderful goal. Colm Murphy added a free soon after and the lead was already six points with just eight minutes on the clock.

Portlaoise really needed to settle things down and they eventually did, as consecutive points from Paul Cahillane and Ronan McEvoy got them back within four, but Portarlington remained in the ascendancy. Jake Foster pointed two frees either side of the water break, while Portlaoise lost star forward Paul Cahillane to injury during that spell too.

Portarlington just kept plugging away and picking off scores as they needed them, Foster hitting a point and Colm Murphy tapping over a mark before they all but put one hand on the cup before half time.

Another quick move left Portlaoise chasing shadows and resulted in Colm Murphy rounding Graham Brody and tapping to the net, leaving his side 2-7 to 0-2 up at half time.

After some of the thrilling football of the first half, the second half began in much more mundane fashion, as Jake Foster and sub Ricky Maher traded frees in the opening minutes.

The only moment of note came in the 35th minute when Portarlington wing-back Patrick O’Sullivan made a swashbuckling run through the heart of the Portlaoise defence to earn a penalty. Ronan Coffey took the spot-kick, but it was saved by Graham Brody.

The pedestrian pace of play kept up to the water break, as Gareth Dillon and Ricky Maher pointed for Portlaoise either side of Foster’s first score from play for Portarlington, leaving it 2-9 to 0-5 heading into the final quarter.

It was going to take something almighty from Portlaoise to rescue this and it never came, with Portarlington pouncing for their third goal through veteran David Murphy to wrap up the win.

It got even better for them before it was over as Colm Murphy added a fourth goal, as Portarlington cruised home in the end.

Scorers for Portarlington: Colm Murphy 2-2 (0-1f, 0-1m), Jake Foster 0-5 (0-4f), David Murphy 1-1, Adam Ryan 1-0, Ronan Coffey 0-1.

Scorers for Portlaoise: Ricky Maher 0-2 (0-1f), Ronan McEvoy, Paul Cahillane, Gareth Dillon, Brendan Carroll 0-1 each.

Portarlington: Scott Osborne; Cathal Bennett, Diarmuid Bennett, Alex Mohan; Stuart Mulpeter, Robert Pigott, Patrick O’Sullivan; Keith Bracken, Sean Byrne; Adam Ryan, Ronan Coffey, Rioghan Murphy; Jake Foster, David Murphy, Colm Murphy.

Subs: Stephen O’Neill for D Murphy 51, Colin Slevin for Coffey 52, Jordan Fitzpatrick for R Murphy 55, D Foster for A Ryan 56, Jonny Fullam for J Foster 58

Portlaoise: Graham Brody; Gary Saunders, Frank Flanagan, Ben Dempsey; Kevin Swayne, Chris Finn, Paddy Downey; Kieran Lillis, Ciaran McEvoy; Ronan McEvoy, Gareth Dillon, Conor Boyle; Damon Larkin, Paul Cahillane, Benny Carroll.

Subs: John Kavanagh for Cahillane 16, Ricky Maher for R McEvoy HT, David Holland for Downey HT, Josh Hogan for Finn 43, Ben Brennan for Swayne 51

Referee: Brendan Hickey (Graiguecullen)