Scoring error snatches shock win from Portlaoise in Laois GAA hurling championship

Portlaoise produced the shock of the weekend in the final game of round one in the Laois SHC as they came roaring back from a four-point injury-time deficit to beat Camross in Laois Hire O’Moore Park.

But the taste of success didn't last long for the townies as a missing score was added to the Camross total after the final whistle to make it a draw match. 

PORTLAOISE 2-22
CAMROSS 5-12 (addition of one point after full time made it 5-13)

Camross led from the 11th minute right up to the 63rd minute without ever looking too impressive but the four goals they scored in the first half kept them just in front of The Town for the majority of the second half.

There was controversy as referee Brian Farrell requested that Camross have a point deducted on the scoreboard just after the second half water break and had it not been altered the result would have been a draw, but as it was in his notebook Porlaoise claimed the win.

The official score by the referee is 5-12 to 2-22, but there was a further inquest as many had Camross finishing with 5-13. This was made public hours later on social media by Laois but without explanation.

Camross managed just a measly 1-3 in the second and Portlaoise continued to battle right down to the wire, while Camross looked sluggish the more the game wore on and Portlaoise looked lively.

Eoin Gaughan, Camross and Matthew Dempsey challenge for this breaking sliotar. Photo: Denis Byrne

The introduction of John Mark Foley at half time proved to be a catalyst for the comeback as he hit the net twice for Portlaoise in the final seven minutes, his second goal coming in the 63rd minute to win them the game.

Camross were heavily favoured coming into this game, and despite Liam Delaney giving them an early lead, the underdogs tested them in the early stages and wrestled the lead from them with points from Cathal Duggan and Sean Culleton.

The sides traded points in the early stages with Zane Keenan on target with two placed balls and James Cuddy picking up a nifty point from play while Culleton and Conor Raggett kept the sides level with a point each.

The first big breakthrough for Camross came just before the water break when Zane Keenan’s shot was saved by Brochan O’Reilly but unluckily for Portlaoise it landed in the path of Delaney who hammered it into the net.

Things didn’t get much better for The Town after the water break as Ashton Keenan was wiped out by an O’Reilly slide and awarded a penalty that Zane Keenan lashed past the Portlaoise stopper.

Just three minutes later Camross were in again and Ciaran Collier found himself in acres of space in front of the goals and nestled the sliotar into the top corner.

Portlaoise reacted well with a trio of scores from Duggan and Culleton but they were matched by Camross as James Cuddy added two more to his tally and Kennan slotted a free.

Zane Keenan was again denied an open play goal by O’Reilly but once again the rebound fell to a Camross man, this time Zane’s nephew Ashton Keenan raised the green flag.

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Camross saw out the half with points from James Cuddy and Zane in reply to Culleton and they led 4-10 to 0-9.

A deceptively strong wind was blowing in O’Moore Park and Portlaoise had at their backs in the second half hurling into the town end and they made full use of it in the early stages as they went about whittling down the 13 point gap.

Culleton got the opener with a 65 and Ben Brennan struck from play before a second 65 from Culleton as Camross were struggling to mount any serious attacks, a big change from the first half.

Portlaoise’s charge continued with Brennan, Cormac Rigney and Conor Raggett on target but a pair of scores from Keenan and Delaney settled things for Camross before the water break.

A Croke Parkesque score controversy arose in the second half as referee Brian Farrell requested a score be deducted from Camross’ tally, which was the last thing Camross needed as Portlaoise were dominating.

Culleton added two more from play either side of an effort from John Mark Foley before Portlaoise were dealt a hammer blow as James Cuddy found himself in space in front of O’Reilly and he roofed the ball in the net for their fifth goal.

The Town responded brilliantly with a free from Culleton followed by Duggan from play before John Mark Foley rocketed a shot into the net to put four between them according to the referee’s scorebook after he requested the board to be altered.

Dan Delaney pointed a free in the absence of Zane Keenan before a row broke out and Eoin Dowling was red carded for being third man in after Cian Dowling Byrne flattened Tom Cuddy.

Portlaoise trailed by four going into injury time points from Raggett and Culleton reduced the gap to two.

Portlaoise were given one final chance in the 63rd minute and they worked the ball inside to Foley who again rifled it home from close range to send the Portlaoise crowd into raptures.

READ ALSO: Laois GAA amends final score

SCORERS – Portlaoise: Sean Culliton 0-11 (five frees, two 65s), John Mark Foley 2-1, Conor Raggett and Cathal Duggan 0-3 each, Ben Brennan 0-2, Cormac Rigney (free) and Jamie Keenan 0-1 each
Camross: Zane Keenan 1-5 (1-0 pen, 0-2 frees, one 65), James Cuddy 1-3, Liam Delaney and Ciaran Collier 1-2 each, Ashton Keenan 1-0, Daniel Delaney 0-1 (free)

MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Zane Keenan, Camross on the attack chased by Cormac Rigney, Portlaoise. Pic: Denis Byrne

CAMROSS: Tadhg Doran; Darragh Duggan, Cathal Cuddy, Dwane Palmer; Eoin Dowling, Eoin Gaughan, Tom Cuddy; Odhran Phelan, Rob Tyrell; Zane Keenan, Liam Delaney, Ben Deegan; James Cuddy, Ashton Keenan, Ciaran Collier. Subs: Dan Delaney for Deegan (41), Darren Drennan for Z Keenan (44), Robert Lalor for Palmer (51), Zane Keenan for Tyrell (58)

PORTLAOISE: Brochan O’Reilly; Bryan Naughton, Eoin O’Connor, Mark Stritch; Cormac Rigney, Colin McEvoy, Cian Dowling-Byrne; Dean Lynch, Jamie Keenan; Conor Raggett, Ben Brennan, Matthew Dempsey; Sean Culliton, Cathal Duggan, Eddie Critchley. Subs: John Mark Foley for Stricth (ht)

REFEREE: Brian Farrell (The Harps)