Portarlington hammer Ballyfin with both sides relegated to Division Two

Friday evening’s game was played despite the fact Portarlington and Ballyfin came into the game knowing their faith was already decided due to Graiguecullen conceding the game against Stradbally meaning Stradbally would remain in division one for 2025.

It was a dead rubber on paper and in reality as neither team flourished to the best of their abilities on the night which was proven when Ballyfin only mustered up two points during the contest with both points coming in the final minute of both halves.

Portarlington 4-11

Ballyfin 0-2

Portarlington raced into an early lead with four white flags being raised in the opening 10 minutes. Darragh Slevin pointed the first where Portarlington won the resulting kickout allowing Andrew Evans to get his first point of them contest.

A free from the boot of Ronan Coffey was soon followed by Darragh Galvin squeezing one in between the posts. Eoin Connolly was pulled up for kicking the ball too short from the restart, Jordan Fitzpatrick picked up the loose ball from the throw-in and turned his man to split the posts for their 5th consecutive score.

Ballyfin were given every opportunity to register a score when they were awarded a scoreable free followed by a 45 but failed to convert either.

Portarlington took control yet again kicking 1-2 unanswered within three minutes. Eoin McCann and Galvin mark raised the two white flags while a shot from Evans deflected off Ciaran Culleton and over Eoin Connolly’s head in the Ballyfin net.
Ballyfin finally got their name on the scoreboard with the final score of half from a converted James Finn free in the 29th minute.

Portarlington started the second-half with 1-3 without reply as Ronan Coffey scored from play and from a free while a well-worked team goal saw Jordan Fitzpatrick left with the easy task of smashing the ball into an empty net after Darragh Galvin had squared him the ball. Sean Michael Corcoran’s superb long-range effort for the home side kept the scoreboard ticking over but in truth Ballyfin weren’t offering much up the other end.

There was a 10-minute spell without a score but when it did come it was Portarlington’s third goal of the night. Jordan Fitzpatrick having scored the second goal turned provider as he passed the ball across the square to substitute Sean Higgins. Darragh Slevin slotted over a second score of the evening.

Ballyfin finally got a point in the second-half as Ciaran Quinn fired the ball over the black spot after 59 minutes. A fourth green flag was raised for Pat Roe’s side as Alex Mohan chipped the ball over the onrushing Eoin Connolly to seal a comprehensive victory.

With both teams relegated, they’ll now turn their attention to the upcoming Senior Football Championship. Portarlington will face nearest rivals O’Dempsey’s with Ballyfin playing Arles-Killeen in the opening round.