O'Neill and Foyle to the fore for Sarsfields as they claim Laois LGFA Minor 'A' glory over Portlaoise

Sarsfields and Portlaoise’s Minor teams collided in the final fixture of the Laois LGFA season. With the Minor ‘A’ cup at stake, there was a decent attendance in Annanough for this clash.

In the end, though, Sarsfields proved far too slick and powerful for the Portlaoise outfit. Ciara O’Neill and Aoibhe Foyle were an awesome duo up top while the rest of the Sarsfields team won their individual battles as well.

Sarsfields 3-11

Portlaoise 0-4

Evanna Ryle would raise the first white flag of this year’s Laois LGFA Minor ‘A’ final in favour of Sarsfields. Ryle’s point proved to be the only score in the first fifteen minutes though.

Portlaoise defended admirably during the first quarter to keep Sarsfields at bay. The latter enjoyed all the possession during this period, but Portlaoise put their shots under immense pressure.

Sarsfields would find their stride in the second quarter though. Ciara O’Neill kicked their second score from a free that she won in the sixteenth. Then Sarsfields struck for their first goal of the game.

Aoibhe Foyle’s effort from distance floated into the back of the Portlaoise net and Sarsfields now led 1-2 to 0-0.

 Portlaoise did grab their opening score in the twenty-first minute of the match. Midfielder Faye Brown blasted over to cheer up the Portlaoise sideline, as they looked to get going in this game.

However, it was Sarsfields who finished the half the better team. Ciara O’Neill’s pace and power resulted in her earning two frees which she converted on both occasions.

Sarsfields led 1-4 to 0-1 at the half-time break in Annanough. If Portlaoise were going to get back into this final, they were going to need to hit the ground running at the start of the second-half.

Ciara O’Neill continued where she left off upon the restart though. Aoibhe Foyle was brought down just outside the square and O’Neill calmly kicked another free between the posts.

Sarsfields could have had a goal nearly directly after that. Lucy Conroy charged up the pitch from midfield to get inside but her shot deflected off the post and out.

The second goal that Sarsfields were searching for arrived soon after that though. Emma Delaney was brought down by Portlaoise’s AbbeyLouise Byrne inside the square, with Byrne receiving a yellow card and sin-bin for the challenge.

Ciara O’Neill crashed the penalty home and Sarsfields were now in complete control of this final in Vicarstown. Evanna Ryle added her second point of the affair to see Sarsfields lead 2-6 to 0-1 after fourty minutes of action.

Portlaoise, to their credit, continued to battle away despite the uphill battle they faced. They did have somewhat of a purple patch after that, as points from corner-back Ellen Bergin and substitute Hayley McCormack helped them a little.

However, any sniff of a potential comeback was snuffed out sharply by Sarsfields. Full-forward Ciara O’Neill added a further 1-1 to her tally for the night and they now led 3-7 to 0-3 with ten minutes to play.

Anna Mulligan did raise another white flag for Portlaoise thanks to a point from a free. Sarsfields refused to let up though, as they finished the half strongly again to cruise home.

Emma Delaney’s hard-work was finally rewarded as she grabbed her first point of the night. Then Foyle and O’Neill went to town once more, as the duo combined to kick the final three points off this final.

Sarsfields ended up 3-11 to 0-4 victors over Portlaoise in this Minor ‘A final and they were every bit deserving champions.

The club will no doubt be looking for these young footballers to step up and help their Senior team to glory once more For now though, these young Sarsfields players can enjoy their success after a long season of hard-work is behind them.