Portlaoise withstand Emo comeback to secure spot in Laois SFC quarter-finals

Portlaoise booked their place in the Laois Shopping Centre Senior Football Championship quarter-finals with a mesmerising win over Emo on Sunday afternoon. There were eight goals in all, with the game still on a knife-edge going into stoppage time. 

Portlaoise looked to have the game won on a couple of occasions, but Emo gallantly fought back, playing their part an extraordinary spectacle in O’Moore Park, Emo now head into Round 3 to face Killeshin.

Portlaoise 5-13

Emo 3-14

They got off to a flying start, with Paddy Hosey kicking two points in the opening two minutes. But Portlaoise opened their account in emphatic fashion, with a goal in the 7th minute. Great work in the buildup from DJ White led to Emmet Maloney playing in Benny Carroll who palmed the ball to the net.

Emo hit back with a third from Hosey, who then landed his fourth to put Emo back in front after ten minutes. But again, Portlaoise replied to Hosey’s double with a goal. Damon Larkin's initial shot dropped short and Paul Cahillane reacted fastest, turning the ball into the corner of Eoin Butler’s net.

Kieran Lillis landed Portlaoise’s first point of the afternoon midway through the first half, and Cahillane followed with another moments later. Ross Meredith almost raised a green flag for Emo, but his shot was well blocked, sending Portlaoise on the counter-attack where Josh Hogan added a third point for The Town. 

DJ White pointed soon after to put six points between the teams, but Emo did finally force the ball into the net with star man, Paddy Hosey raising the green flag. Hogan replied with a point for Portlaoise before Colm Poole opened his account for Emo. 

Poole then added a free to bring Emo to within two points, but Cahillane pointed a free of his own in stoppage time to restore the three-point lead for Portlaoise, who led at half time on a scoreline of 2-6 to 1-6. 

The second half got off to a frantic start, with the sides swapping early scores, followed by two good scores from Darren Strong, the first a 45 followed by a neat score from play. Emo had three great goal opportunities but Paddy Hosey was twice denied by the excellent Conor Brown in the Portlaoise goal, who also blocked a strong shot from Nigel Murphy.

Hosey did level the game ten minutes into the second half, only to see Portlaoise reply, first with a free from Cahillane and then a goal - a third green flag raised when Benny Carroll played in Kieran Lilis who went around Butler before tucking away the shot. 

Ciaran McEvoy extended the Portlaoise lead before Ross Meredith pulled one back for Emo. But Portlaoise piled on the pressure with a fourth goal as Lilis claimed a long ball in and set up Damon Larkin who made no mistake. 

That put Portlaoise seven points up with ten minutes remaining, but Emo responded with a second goal of their own to close the gap once more when Meredith sent in Hosey who found the net. 

The sides added two scores each, with Hosey and Cian Langford on the mark for Emo while Larkin and Carroll added to the Portlaoise tally. With five minutes remaining, Emo had the ball in the net for a third time, Paul Lawlor on hand this time, finishing off a lovely team move. 

Lilis pointed in reply but that was cancelled out by a free from Darren Strong, leaving a point between the teams heading into stoppage time. But a fifth goal from Portlaoise put the game to bed.

Ciaran McEvoy set up DJ White who smashed an emphatic shot in off the crossbar. McEvoy added a score that left Portlaoise five points to the good, bringing an end to an enthralling game of football.