County champions Portarlington show class to ease past Courtwood in Laois SFC quarter-final

The three-in-a-row reigning Laois Shopping Centre Senior football champions, Portarlington, took on Courtwood in the first of this year’s quarter-final match-ups. After a narrow escape against Stradbally in the last round, Anthony Cunningham’s men were hoping for a cleaner win over Courtwood here.

Portarlington produced exactly that as well. They were completely ruthless from start to finish here to see off Courtwood in classy fashion. Goals from Jordan Fitzpatrick, Eoin McCann, Daragh Galvin and Colm Murphy saw the county champions run out seventeen-point winners.

Portarlington 4-16

Courtwood 0-10

The county champions showed their class right from the off here. In the first minute of the contest, they worked a stunning team goal move that involved Stuart Mulpeter, Colin Slevin and Jason Moore that ended with Jordan Fitzpatrick driving to the net.

Portarlington pushed on from that goal over the next few minutes. Jake Foster fired over their opening point and then Daragh Galvin dropped over another after superb play from Paddy O’Sullivan.

Courtwood, to their credit, responded decently after that early Portarlington blitz. Paul O’Flynn registered their first score after his older brother, Sean, set him up. Then Niall Dunne dropped over a close-range free to reduce deficit back to a goal.

Jake Foster replied for Portarlington from a free but Courtwood continued to hang in there, with Alan Kinsella kicking their third point. Portarlington regained control from that point on though, as they left Courtwood behind them once more.

Courtwood did have a clear goal chance though that would have helped their cause in a big way. Niall Dunne was slipped through but Portarlington keeper, Luke O’Reilly, spread himself excellently to save from close-range.

Portarlington punished Courtwood’s missed chance with the next two scores. Colin Slevin and Colm Murphy both raised white flags each to push them five clear after the first quarter.

Alan Kinsella again got one back for Courtwood but Portarlington finished the first-half on top. Daragh Galvin landed his second score from the exact same place as his first before Portarlington struck for goal number two.

It was another delightful team move from Anthony Cunningham’s charges. Colin Slevin and Colm Murphy combined for midfielder Eoin McCann to fist to the net from close-range.

Colm Murphy cracked over the final score of the first half to give Portarlington a 2-7 to 0-4 lead at half-time. Unfortunately for the underdogs Courtwood, it looked like this contest was done and dusted even at this stage.

The start of the second-half was even enough. Foster floated over a few frees for Portarlington, while Kinsella and Robert Tyrell raised white flags for Courtwood down the opposite end.

Portarlington got on top again though soon after. Colm Murphy was to the fore once more with two points, one from a free and one from play. Then the county champions scored their third goal of the game.

Murphy managed to move past a couple of Courtwood defenders before setting up Daragh Galvin for the finish. While Courtwood continued to plow away with points from Kinsella and Paul O’Flynn but Portarlington soon got in for another goal.

Courtwood failed to clear their lines and Portarlington typically punished them in ruthless fashion. This time, Foster found Murphy who finished low and hard past Matthew Byron in the Courtwood net.

Portarlington didn’t stop punishing Courtwood there either. They finished the match dominantly, with Murphy, Foster and Coffey all floating over scores that saw them run out seventeen points to the good.