Portarlington power through to lift Division 1
trophy after ferocious battle with St Joseph’s

Portarlington are Laois Shopping Centre Division 1 champions after a titanic tussle with reigning champions St Joseph’s in the LOETB Centre of Excellence this evening.

Colm Murphy was Portarlington’s shining star in attack as his six-point performance pushed his side towards victory. St Joseph’s battled well and at one stage were behind by seven points but that didn’t stop them in making it a close contest right till the end.

Portarlington 0-17

St Joseph’s 1-12

Eoghan O’Flaherty opened proceedings with a well-taken mark for St Joseph’s. Portarlington were gifted with a big goal chance as Darragh Slevin slipped the ball into Eoin McCann but his effort went to the left and wide with the goal at his mercy.

Colm Murphy and Darragh Galvin got Portarlington’s first two points of the contest as both sides began to find their feet in the contest. Michael Keogh and a free from O’Flaherty pushed Mike Dempsey’s side into a one-point lead.

Another two points followed but this time for Portarlington with Ronan Coffey and Colm Murphy slotting over a free. The sides would be level at four points apiece as Josh O’Brien curled over a right-footed effort.

Full-back Diarmuid Bennett ventured forward for the next Portarlington score as Anthony Cunningham’s side were showing efficiency when going forward, Bennett getting on the end of a well-worked move. Colm Murphy got his second score of the game with a mark.

Brian Daly made it a one-point game with a score from play, a point which would be their last of the half. Portarlington finished the half the better of two sides as they fired over four points unanswered.

Darragh Galvin, Colm Murphy (free) and two superb points from Rioghan Murphy gave Cunningham’s side a five-point cushion at the break, 0-10 to 0-5. St Joseph’s could have had a goal only for a stunning save from Luke O’Reilly as the Portarlington goal hurried back to his goal after his side lost possession in midfield. Michael Keogh was unable to beat the Portarlington number one however.

The second period began with another score to increase their advantage as Colm Murphy split the posts. Oisin Hooney got St Joseph’s first score of the half with a fine score from play. Darragh Slevin and O’Flaherty (free) traded points as Portarlington maintained their five-point advantage.

Rioghan Murphy and a 45’ from Luke O’Reilly looked to have put the game beyond St Joseph’s midway through the half. That wouldn’t be the case however as from the next attack, St Joseph’s got in for a goal with one of the best goals ever scored on the Centre of Excellence pitch. Oisin Hooney unleashed a rasping effort that flew into the top corner, the kind that even two keepers wouldn’t have saved.

Portarlington’s lead was then cut to three points as O’Flaherty pointed another free. Colm Murphy pointed a free in reply before St Joseph’s would make the game level with less than 10 minutes to play.

Michael Keogh kicked over two points with O’Flaherty and Daly also dissecting the posts, all four points coming from play to leave the sides level at 0-15 to 1-12.

Portarlington showed why they’re county champions though as when the game was in the melting pot, they stood up when it mattered. Ronan Coffey and a free from Rioghan Murphy was enough to seal the victory and secure their first piece of silverware under new manger Anthony Cunningham.