Last-gasp Carroll point sees Portlaoise past St Joseph's and into quarter-finals of Laois GAA SFC

Portlaoise are through to the quarter-finals of the Laois Shopping Centre Senior Football Championship after a last-gasp point from Benny Carroll saw them past St Joseph's on Saturday evening.

In what was a repeat of the 2023 County Final, this game was played in a similar fashion with scores at a premium, but Portlaoise won't mind too much as they now have a five-week break before their last eight clash.

Portlaoise 0-13

St Joseph's 0-12

This game was a slow burner with six minutes passing before the game's first score. Darren Brennan, who came into the starting 15 for the injured Damon Larkin, split the posts for The Town. St Joseph's opened their own tally a minute later as Michael Keogh curled over a two-pointer.

St Joseph's went three points to one ahead when Brian Daly pointed a free in the ninth minute. Josh Hogan and Ricky Maher got Portlaoise back level before there was a period of 11 minutes without a score for either side. Adam Campion came forward from full-back to push them a point ahead. The sides would be level at the break at 0-4 each as Ricky Maher scored his second point of the half.

Daly's second free got the second-half underway to push them a point ahead. Portlaoise then went ahead for the first time when they scored two points in the same minute through Benny Carroll and Hogan. St Joseph's replied with three scores of their own in a six-minute period. Eoghan O'Flaherty, Gearoid Lynch and Conor Kealy with the points for Mick Dempsey's side. Portlaoise were then handed the chance to level the game after St Joseph's prevented them from taking a solo and go from a free. Darren Brennan brought the free outside the arc to raise an orange flag. O'Flaherty and Hogan (free) traded points as the sides were still locked level with 10 minutes to play.

Just like St Joseph's had done, Portlaoise stopped them from taking a free which allowed Brian Daly to point a two-pointer from a placed ball outside the arc. Their two-point lead didn't last long as with the next attack, Kieran Lillis raised an orange flag of his own.

Portlaoise had a great chance for goal, but Ben O'Connor's shot went wide of Aaron Cooney's goal. Matty Campion scored the point of the game as he curled over a great score off his left under the stand. Colin McEvoy levelled the game again after 60 minutes with three minutes added on. Portlaoise worked the ball around and created one more scoring opportunity as Benny Carroll fisted the ball between the posts to seal their spot in the quarter-finals.

SCORERS– Portlaoise: Darren Brennan (one two-point free) and Josh Hogan (0-1 free) 0-3 each, Ricky Maher, Kieran Lillis (two-pointer) and  Benny Carroll 0-2 each, Colin McEvoy 0-1. St Joseph’s: Brian Daly 0-4 (0-2 frees, one two-point free), Michael Keogh (two-pointer) and Eoghan O’Flaherty 0-2 each, Matty Campion, Adam Campion, Conor Kealy and Gearoid Lynch 0-1 each.

PORTLAOISE: Conor Brown; Gary Whelan, Conor Raggett, Ben Dempsey; Ben O’Connor, Colin McEvoy, David Seale; Kieran Lillis, Darren Brennan; Ben Reddin, Kevin Swayne, Josh Hogan; Ricky Maher, Benny Carroll, Emmett Maloney. Subs: Trevor Swayne for Whelan (27 mins, inj), Kieran O’Donnell for Maher (39 mins, inj), Ciaran McEvoy for Reddin (46 mins)

ST JOSEPH’S: Aaron Cooney; Conor Kealy, Adam Campion, Ian Shanahan; Tom Dunne, Danny Hickey, Jack Lacey; Mikie Dempsey, Gearoid Lynch; Oisin Hooney, Eoghan O’Flaherty, Josh Lacey; Michael Keogh, Brian Daly, Seamus Farrelly. Subs: Dylan Doyle for Farrelly (HT), Matty Campion for Hooney (48 mins), Eoin Johnson for Josh Lacey (56 mins), Sean Brennan for Dunne (59 mins)