O'Flaherty to the fore as St Joseph's make it two from two in Division 1

St Joseph's have made it two wins from two in this year's Division 1 after a comfortable victory over reigning county champions Portarlington in McCann Park this evening.

St Joseph's 2-14

Portarlington 0-12

Both sides came into game with wins in the first round of fixtures and it was Portarlington who got the game’s first as Colm Murphy pointed from play. 

St Joseph’s got their first score courtesy of Josh Lacey before Eoghan O’Flaherty got another for the away side. Portarlington replied with two scores of their own as Murphy got his second of the contest with Jake Foster pointing from a placed ball.

The game was played in patches as Joseph’s got two further scores with Michael Dempsey and Michael Keogh raising white flags. Foster got his second of the game as the sides were locked level midway through the first-half.

The away side hit the front soon after as they fired in 1-2 without reply. Brian Daly and Keogh getting the points while Brendan Hickey rattled a shot off the underside of the Portarlington crossbar which came down and landed over the line.

The half ended with a point apiece for either side as Murphy took his tally to three scores from open play while Eoghan O’Flaherty pointed for the second time before the interval. St Joseph’s holding a healthy five-point lead as Padraig Dunne blew the half-time whistle. 

The second period began with a score for St Joseph’s as O’Flaherty raised his third white flag. Jordan Fitzpatrick replied with a score for the county-champions before they hit another two scores without reply.

Foster pointed another free with Murphy also dissecting the posts from play. Their opponents had led by three points but they would soon make it eight as they raised five white flags unanswered. O’Flaherty kicked a further four points, two from play with Keogh getting his third of the contest. 

Substitute Rioghan Murphy got a score for the home side before St Joseph’s got in for their second goal courtesy of Brian Daly as the game looked to be beyond Portarlington. O’Flaherty kicked another score before Portarlington ended the game with three scores courtesy of two substitutes Corey Lyons pointing twice as well as Cathal Ryan.  St Joseph’s well worthy of their eight-point victory in the end.