Laois SFC Final

St Joseph's 0-7 Portlaoise 0-6

By Alan Hartnett at Laois Hire O'Moore Park

St Joseph's are county champions for the first time in 23 years.

For Portlaoise, their wait for a title goes on as they are now winless since 2019.

As expected, this one was cagey from the start with scores and space at a premium.

Portlaoise got the first two with Gareth Dillon and Paul Cahillane on target.

Eoghan O'Flaherty and Brian Daly levelled it up for Joseph's and by now, 18 minutes had been played.

There was some goalmouth action too in fairness - and most of it came down the Portlaoise end.

Dylan Doyle went close and his run ended with a brilliant block by Chris Finn. From the resulting 45, Eoghan O'Flaherty landed in the ball and Doyle shot again but it was blocked.

David Seale regained the lead for Portlaoise, but they didn't score again for the remainder of the half.

Two Eoghan O'Flaherty frees ensured that St Joseph's headed for half time with a 0-4 to 0-3 lead.

Five minutes of the second half passed before we had the next score - and it was a very good one.

After a long spell of passing, Paul Cahillane received the ball inside the 45 and curled one over off the outside of his boot.

Five more minutes passed before St Joseph's retook the lead and it came from James Kelly after another long passage of possession.

There was an eight minute gap before Portlaoise levelled it and that came after Mick Dowling did really well to win a St Joseph's kick out.

Benny Carroll made a burst and the ball came back to Kevin Swayne, who levelled from distance.

Ben Reddin robbed a kick out directly after the Swayne score and set up Kieran Lillis to put Portlaoise ahead.

Then, in the 52nd minute, St Joseph's went straight down the other end where Brian Daly landed a massive score.

Josh O'Brien came on then and with his first act, he made a run that ended with James Kelly pointing from distance for a second time.

That was in the 54th minute and neither team would score again. Portlaoise had a late chance when Jason Maher shot, but the effort dropped short, and St Joseph's held on.

Scorers for St Joseph's: Eoghan O'Flaherty 0-3 (all frees), Brian Daly and James Kelly 0-2 each. 

Scorers for Portlaoise: Paul Cahillane 0-2 (one free), David Seale, Gareth Dillon, Kieran Lillis and Kevin Swayne 0-1 each.

St Joseph's: Aaron Cooney; Jack Lacey, Adam Campion, Aidan Brennan; Danny Hickey, James Kelly, Tom Dunne; Michael Dempsey, Gearoid Lynch; Oisin Hooney, Eoghan O'Flaherty, Cormac Murphy; Dylan Doyle, Brian Daly, Mick Keogh. 

Subs: Matty Campion for Dempsey (44, blood, reversed 48), Matty Campion for Murphy (48), Josh O'Brien for Hooney (51).

Portlaoise: Conor Brown; Aidan McGovern, Ben Dempsey, Conor Raggett; Chris Finn, David Seale, Michael Dowling; Kevin Swayne, Ciaran McEvoy; Gareth Dillon, Paul Cahillane, Damon Larkin; Ricky Maher, Benny Carroll, Kieran Lillis. 

Subs: Colin McEvoy for Ciaran McEvoy (HT), Ben Reddin for Dillon (45), Gary Saunders for McGovern and Josh Hogan for Cahillane (both 53), Jason Maher for R Maher (58).

Referee: Maurice Deegan (Stradbally).