Abbeyleix put Portlaoise to the sword to secure Laois SHC semi-final spot

Abbeyleix have sealed their place in the semi-finals of the Laois Shopping Centre Senior Hurling Championship after a facile victory over Portlaoise in Laois Hire O'Moore Park.

The win sees Abbeyleix into the semi-finals for the second year running and they done so in some style with the majority of their scoring with the wind in the first-half.

Abbeyleix 2-18

Portlaoise 2-9

It was The Town who opened the scoring pucking into The Town end and facing a strong breeze. Cormac Rigney assisted DJ White, who slipped but regained his composure to raise a white flag. Portlaoise's second point wouldn't come until the 13th minute and in that time, Abbeyleix had 1-5 to their name. Enda Rowland got the first of those points with a long-range free. Fionan Mahony was quickest to react after a ruck to stride towards goal and blast the ball past Brochan O'Reilly. Eoghan Fennelly opened his account with two frees.

Enda Rowland's puck-out with the wind was causing Portlaoise all sort of problems as he found the hurl of Liam Delaney, who slipped the ball to Cormac Byrne and he split the posts. Fennelly scored a third free after 12 minutes as Abbeyleix looked to be cruising. Aaron Bergin finally broke Portlaoise's scoring drought from a free but Abbeyleix were able to pick off scores a lot easier then The Town, Ciaran Byrne and Colin Walsh pointed a score each.

Portlaoise's first goal followed as James Conroy somehow squeezed the ball past Enda Rowland from a tight angle. Abbeyleix continued to raise white flags as they got three scores in a row. Colin Byrne, Enda Rowland (65') and Sam Quinn pointed to give them an eight-point advantage. DJ White and Cormac Byrne (free) traded scores before the Portlaoise number 13 added another point to his tally. Cian Taylor also opened his account soon after. Eoghan Fennelly (free) and Taylor scored to leave six between the sides approaching half-time.

However, Abbeyleix's lead would increase to nine in injury time as Cormac Byrne's shot deflected past Brochan O'Reilly in the Portlaoise goal. Aaron Bergin (free) and Eoghan Fennelly got a point each before the break as Abbeyleix led 2-13 to 1-7.

The second-half was a bit of a damp squid with the game essentially over at half-time. Abbeyleix got the first three scores of the half with Eoghan Fennelly, Colm Walsh and Aaron Carroll raising a white flag each. Portlaoise's first point of the second period didn't come until the 46th minute when Cormac Rigney slotted the ball over. Portlaoise were then awarded a penalty after James Conroy was brought down in the square. Aaron Bergin scored on the second attempt after he missed his first time around but referee John Lalor called for a re-take.

Colin Byrne got his second point after a superb run. Portlaoise were then reduced to 14 men as Ciaran McEvoy was sent off for striking Sam Quinn in the face. DJ White and Eoghan Fennelly (free) got the game's final scores as Abbeyleix cruised into the semi-finals for the second successive year.