Portarlington tee up Laois SFC County Final date with Portlaoise after facile win over Graiguecullen

Portarlington have teed up a County Final with Portlaoise after they hammered Graiguecullen in Sunday's second semi-final in Laois Hire O'Moore Park. Portarlington's second-half scoring was superb as they scored 2-7 to put Graiguecullen to the sword.

Portarlington 3-10

Graiguecullen 0-11

It took several minutes for either side to gain a foothold in the game as Ronan Coffey kicked a free from the 21-yard line straight into Patrick Scully's hands. Six minutes passed before the opening score as Jack Byrne was fouled which allowed Conor Kelly point a free. Kelly made it two points for him and Graiguecullen as he curled over a great score. Portarlington's Jake Foster kicked their first score from a free after nine minutes.

Kelly was proving a tricky customer as he fisted over a third point. Portarlington's goal then came as an attempted point from Graham Weldon got hung up in the wind and landed onto the fist of Keith Bracken.

Graiguecullen got the three points back without reply as Byrne fisted over while Kelly took his tally to five with a free and a mark. Foster replied with a free of his own for Pat Roe's side. Kelly and Foster traded frees as Graiguecullen went into the dressing rooms ahead, 0-7 to 1-3.

Portarlington now kicking with the wind came out and doubled their score within 12 minutes of the restart. Foster kicked two points with his first being a superb point from the right off his left foot. The second Portarlington goal followed and what a goal it was. Foster, Darragh Galvin and Colm Murphy were all involved with Rioghan Murphy the scorer as he unleashed a shot into the top corner. Coffey kicked a point from play and Portarlington now led by five points.

Jamie Sheehan pointed to end a 17-minute wait for a Graiguecullen score but Portarlington just kept attacking down the other end. Colm Murphy and Rioghan Murphy pointed a score each before the third goal came the way of Pat Roe's side. A short kick-out from Graiguecullen went to Rioghan Murphy and he squared it to Galvin and he palmed home. Foster kicked another free to push Portarlington 10 points ahead.

Kelly kicked a free for Graiguecullen to end another double-digit spell without scoring. Colm Murphy and Kelly traded frees as the game petered out and Portarlington sealed their place in the 2024 County Final.