Champs dethroned as Portlaoise hammer St Joseph's in Laois SFC quarter-final

St Joseph's reign as county champions has ended as last year's defeated finalists Portlaoise reversed the result to ruthlessly dispatch of Mick Dempsey's side on Saturday evening in Laois Hire O'Moore Park.

Five goals were scored by Aidan Fennelly's men in what was a complete performance from first minute until last.

Portlaoise 5-15

St Joseph's 0-15 

In what was a repeat of the 2023 county final, it was Portlaoise who got the game's first two points as Kevin Swayne assisted Paul Cahillane to score off his right while Benny Carroll also scored from play to make it 0-2 to no score after four minutes. Michael Keogh got the county champions on the score sheet a minute later with a well-worked point for Mick Dempsey's side. Carroll was fouled for the third Portlaoise white flag with Josh Hogan stepping up to slot the free between the posts. Eoghan O'Flaherty opened his account from a free shortly after.

Carroll was getting on a lot of ball for Aidan Fennelly's side and he assisted another score with Kieran Lillis' boot on the end of a point for The Town. The game would be level come the 13th minute as Brian Daly's free ended up in the hands of Matty Campion, who turned and pointed. O'Flaherty's second free after a foul on Daly inside left the score at four points apiece.

The next four scores were traded as Carroll got a second point under his belt while Damon Larkin's ball inside found Lillis and he also raised a white flag. St Joseph's points were scored by Daly and an O'Flaherty free. Then came a goal which was simple in its making as Larkin was fouled and took the resulting free, the ball ended up landing in the square where Lillis rose highest to fist the ball past Enda Butler. Paul Cahillane kicked a free a minute later to push Portlaoise into a four point lead.

O'Flaherty kicked a fourth free of the half before Portlaoise added another two points to their name through a right-footed effort from DJ White and Conor Raggett from play. Dan Hickey and Cahillane traded points as did Larkin and O'Flaherty (free) before the break to give Portlaoise a well-deserved five point lead at half-time, 1-11 to 0-9.

There wasn't 30 seconds of the second period played when Portlaoise added to their tally as Larkin curled over a splendid point. St Joseph's replied with scores from O'Flaherty (free) and Oisin Hooney's first of the contest.  A seventh free followed from O'Flaherty to cut the gap to just a goal but Cahillane almost had a goal down the other end with his effort saved over the bar. Portlaoise did get that second goal but six minutes later as Cahillane's superb pass found Josh Hogan baring down on goals and he made no mistake with his finish.

Michael Keogh replied with a point from play before DJ White pointed to give Portlaoise a seven point advantage with 10 minutes to play. Five minutes went by before the game's next score as O'Flaherty pointed an eighth free but it was goals that St Joseph's needed at this stage. The game was over four minutes later as Portlaoise raised a third green flag after Lillis teed up Benny Carroll to rattle the back of the net. Dylan Doyle got a point back in reply before a fourth Portlaoise goal went in. Damon Larkin was the scorer to make it four goals and four different scorers. Cahillane tapped over a free but that wasn't the end of the green flags as Kieran Lillis got a fifth goal late on.