Medlycott shines as East Glendalough overpower Portlaoise College

Portlaoise College’s journey in this year’s South Leinster Senior Football ‘D’ Championship is over after East Glendalough School had too much for the Portlaoise side in Rathleague on Tuesday afternoon.

The Wicklow side raced into an early lead, scoring 1-4 without reply. Their goal came from midfielder Dani Salazar while the four points were kicked from Brian Medlycott (two) and Ben Keegan Cullinane. 

East Glendalough School 5-15

Portlaoise College 2-6

East Glendalough were very efficient in their chance-taking with Medlycott raising a second green flag before Portlaoise College finally got their first score of the game. Midfielder Elijah Colbert’s attempt at a point dropped into the Wicklow side’s net and over the head of Jack Collins.

Ryan Williams got the goal back almost instantly as he rattled the Portlaoise College net for the third time. Medlycott and Salazar then kicked over a point each for the away side. Portlaoise College ended the half on a high as Colbert scored three points on the trot with one of those coming from a placed ball. However, East Glendalough held a 3-6 to 1-4 lead at the break.

Portlaoise College’s Colbert added another point at the beginning of the second period but East Glendalough were still in full control as Keegan Cullinane raised his second white flag. Then came one of the scores of the contest as Medlycott curled over a sublime effort. Colbert pointed a free in reply but it was starting to turn into the Medlycott show as he swung over three more fabulous points.

The Portlaoise school were then given a chance to get their second goal after Callum Donnelly was fouled in the square. Up stepped, Daithi Quirke to send Jack Collins the wrong way but the home side knew that they needed a few more goals to have any chance of winning.

Just like they had done after the first Portlaoise College goal, East Glendalough replied almost immediately with a goal of their own. Ryan Williams was on hand this time around to kick the ball into an empty net after the Portlaoise College goalkeeper Artiom Tiavakin had been caught out the field. A fifth goal was rifled in soon after as Salazar scored his second of the contest.

With the result all but confirmed, both sides made changes to their teams which interrupted the flow of the game. East Glendalough ended the game with two more points from Joe Cooney and Medleycott to secure their place in the final.

SCORERS– East Glendalough: Brian Medlycott 1-9, Dani Salazar 2-1, Ryan Williams 2-0, Ben Keegan Cullinane 0-3, Joe Cooney and Adam Keene 0-1 each. Portlaoise College: Elijah Colbert 1-6 (0-3 frees), Daithi Quirke 1-0 pen.

EAST GLENDALOUGH: Jack Collins; Edward Valentine, William Valentine, Jim Devereux; Colin Ashley, James Curry, Cillian Dunne; Dani Salazar, Ben Keegan Cullinane; Louis Ladouari, Brian Medlycott, Chris Smit; Jason Ashley, Adam Keene, Ryan Williams. Subs: Joe Cooney, Aaron Meredith, Felix Rothschild, Louis White.

PORTLAOISE COLLEGE: Artiom Travalin; Aaron Lambe, Damien Moore, Conor McCausland; Michael Oglesby, Dylan Daly Doherty, Eoin Cosgrove; Elijah Colbert, Conor Prendergast; Corey McGuirk, Callum Donnelly, Daithi Quirke; Jesse Murphy, Thabiso Mbambo, Eoin Langford. Subs: Conor Byrne, Conor Keogh, James Miller.

Referee: Frank Shanahan (Ballylinan)