Portarlington defeat Ballyroan-Abbey to seal Laois SFC semi-final place

Portarlington have become the first team through to the semi-finals of this year's Laois Shopping Centre Senior Football Championship as they had two points to spare over Ballyroan-Abbey in Saturday's game in Laois Hire O'Moore Park.

The 2020,2021 and 2022 champions were boosted with the return of Paddy O'Sullivan and he made a massive difference with his pace and directness providing his team with an outlet whenever needed.

Portarlington 1-10

Ballyroan-Abbey 1-8

Ballyroan-Abbey faced the difficult task of kicking into the Abbeyleix end and with the wind in their faces. They ended up kicking the opening score of the contest as Diarmuid Whelan's effort went high and landed between the posts with 50 seconds played. Ballyroan-Abbey's next score wouldn't come until the 23rd minute and in that time, Portarlington took full advanatage.

Ronan Coffey played the ball to Darragh Galvin and he stuck his hand up to call a mark which he put over the black spot. Galvin caught a second mark a few minutes later but was fouled in the process which Jake Foster converted. Graham Weldon popped up a well-taken score from a tight angle to give Portarlington a three points to one lead.

Ballyroan-Abbey were really struggling kicking into the wind as Adam Jones' kick-outs kept getting held up in the wind and landing in Portarlington's possession. Martin Murphy's side were also guilty of coughing up the ball easily which meant that Portarlington dominated possession early on.

Galvin kicked a third point of the contest, this time off his left after Coffey had assisted him for a second score. Mikey Bennett was fouled for Portarlington's next point with Foster pointing the free from outside the 45' with the wind behind it. Alex Mohan got his name on the score sheet shortly after as his left-footed effort just about snuck inside the right-hand post. 

Portarlington just kept attacking and got their just rewards as they raised a green flag. Rioghan Murphy's shot was saved by Jones but the rebound ended up going into the net off the hand of a Ballyroan-Abbey defender. The goal seemed to spark a bit of life into Ballyroan-Abbey as they ended the half with 1-2 unanswered.

Conaire Gee made a great run from out to in and ended up being one-on-one with Luke O'Reilly and Gee fired the ball past the Portarlington goalkeeper. Portarlington almost replied in the best way possible but Murphy's effort was saved and Foster's follow-up rattled the post. Colm Walsh and a Brian Whelan (free) pointed for Ballyroan-Abbey before the break to leave the score at 1-5 to 1-3 in favour of Portarlington.

The first two points of the second period were traded as Murphy reacted quickest after a Foster free dropped short. Ballyroan-Abbey's Conaire Gee added a point from play to his earlier goal. Paddy O'Sullivan on his return from Australia was fouled for Foster to point a free to push their lead to three points. Diarmuid Whelan reduced the deficit to two yet again with his second point, Murphy done likewise in reply for Portarlington.

A period of eight minutes went by without a score and it was Ballyroan-Abbey's Whelan who broke the barren spell with two wonderful points within 40 seconds of each other. Jake Foster stepped up to push Portalington's lead out to two again with his third free. Davin McEvoy opened his account from a free in reply to Foster's placed ball as one point separated the sides with five minutes of normal time to play.

Ronan Coffey pointed a free after Jason Moore was fouled to leave Ballyroan-Abbey needing a goal to snatch victory. That goal never came and Portarlington ended up being awarded a penalty in the 63rd minute for a foul on Foster. He stepped up but saw his penalty saved by Jones and go out for a 45'. Referee Hugh Coghlan then blew the full-time whistle to the delight of the Portarlington players and their supporters.