Ballylinan prove no match for powerful Portlaoise in the Laois SFC

Aidan Fennelly's tenure as Portlaoise manager has gotten off to the perfect start in the Laois Shopping Centre Senior Football Championship as his side powered past Ballylinan in Stradbally this evening.

Portlaoise were on top of their game all over the field with Ballylinan not able to contain their impressive style of football under Fennelly. Portlaoise's six forwards and their two midfielders also all added at least one score each in an superb team-scoring display.

Portlaoise 3-23

Ballylinan 1-6

Ballylinan came into the game as the 2023 Intermediate champions and they'll be hoping for easier games in this year's Laois SFC. Both teams got on the scoresheet inside the opening two minutes as DJ White got Portlaoise’s first score off his weaker right boot. Andy McEvoy got Ballylinan off the mark before Portlaoise kicked into gear and started to play some lovely fluid football.

Kieran Lillis teed up White for a second score in as many minutes. Portlaoise turned Ballylinan over on their own 45’ as Ciaran McEvoy slotted a score. Paul Cahillane then swung over a superb point over his shoulder as Ballylinan just couldn’t get up the pitch and even create scoring chances. Ballylinan’s second point that came courtesy of Cathail Dunne could have easily been a goal but his effort went over the crossbar rather than under it.

Portlaoise kicked another three scores without reply as Cahillane (free), Benny Carroll and Ciaran McEvoy made it seven points to two after 14 minutes. Ballylinan’s next score was their final one of the half with Ciaran Farrell pointing a free. Portlaoise scored a further 1-7 before the end of the half. Damon Larkin fired over two scores on the bounce with Cahillane pointing another free. Kieran Lillis then somehow missed an open goal as Emmet Maloney squared the ball to Lillis but he palmed the ball wide with the goal gaping. Cahillane kicked a fourth score of the half while Benny Carroll got his second.

Then came the game's first goal as a slack pass in the Ballylinan defence ended up in the hands of DJ White, who in turn passed the ball to Cahillane and he made no mistake with his finish into the back of the bet. Gareth Dillon and Lillis got a point each before the break as Portlaoise led 1-14 to 0-3.

Ballylinan would have been hoping to try stop the Portlaoise enslaught but that wasn't to be as Portlaoise's first two scores of the second period ended up in the back of the net. Paul Cahillane and Kieran Lillis combined to set up Josh Hogan for the second Portlaoise goal before Lillis made sure that he got his goal as Maloney set him up again. Carroll (free) and Josh Hogan added more scores for Portlaoise as they now led by 22 points.

Andy McEvoy finally got a score up the other end to end a 25-minute spell without a score for his side. Lillis added to his tally soon after but his inter-county team mate Seamus Lacey replied almost instantly. DJ White and Damon Larkin pushed Portlaoise further ahead before the Ballylinan fans finally had reason to cheer as they raised a green flag. Micheal Downey struck the ball straight into the top corner to give Conor Brown no chance in the Portlaoise goal.

The Town responded well to the Downey goal with four scores on the trot. Conor Raggett and Ricky Maher pointed having been introduced off the bench while Lillis took his tally to 1-4 with a well-taken mark and a monster score that sailed over the bar. Cathal Casey got the final score of the contest as Portlaoise ran out 23-point winners in the end.