Moran's magic the difference as Portlaoise rewrite the wrongs of 2024 to be crowned County Champions

Portlaoise have been crowned Laois LGFA Senior champions for the fourth time in six years after they defeated the reigning champions St Conleth's in Stradbally GAA on Saturday evening.

This was the fourth year in a row that the sides had met at this stage, with Portlaoise winning in 2022 and 2023 while St Conleth's had defeated The Town in last year's decider. 

The reigning champions got off to a flyer as they scored the opening two points. Aoibhe Byron and Naomi Luttrell split the posts before Ellen Healy got Portlaoise off the mark. From the kick-out, Alison Taylor won it and played the ball to Aisling Kehoe. She then gave it to Grainne Moran, who tucked the ball into the bottom corner of Claire O’Connell’s net.

Byron added a free to her earlier point while Shifra Havill opened her account to draw the sides level after seven minutes. Kehoe got her first of the contest to push Portlaoise ahead again, but St Conleth’s hit a purple patch to score 1-2 without reply within 90 seconds. Byron put two more scores between the posts before Luttrell and Havill combined to set up Claire Fox, who took her goal from close-range.

Portlaoise replied with a goal of their own as Moran’s free dropped into the square and Kehoe was quickest to react to slot the ball under the diving O’Connell. Moran added a free to her earlier goal as Portlaoise drew level once again.

A fifth point from Byron saw them nudge ahead again, but it was short-lived as Taylor and Kehoe raised white flags. The half ended with points for Luttrell and a sixth score for Byron, while Fiona Dooley got one back for Portlaoise. The sides went into the dressing rooms level, 2-6 to 1-9.

It didn’t take long for Portlaoise to get in front again as Healy split the posts within 25 seconds. Kehoe added another point to her account to push them two points ahead. Eva Galvin got St Conleth’s back within one before Ciaran Crowley, Dooley and Moran scored a point each to stretch Portlaoise’s advantage to four with 20 minutes to play.

Byron took her tally to seven points to get them back within three points, but that would prove to be their final score as Portlaoise dominated the final 15 minutes. Byron had a shot on that dropped short, but Keeva O'Reilly dealt with it superbly to punch it away from danger. Ola Hasstrup was then shown a yellow card for a high tackle on Susie Delaney. The extra player proved crucial as Portlaoise pointed the free courtesy of Moran before the full-forward smashed in her second goal and added another point to all but secure the victory for The Town. 

Portlaoise will face the winners of Kilmacud Crokes and Longford Slashers in a AIB Leinster Club Senior Championship quarter-final on Sunday, October 26 away from home.

FINAL SCORE 

Portlaoise 3-13

St Conleth's 1-11

SCORERS — Portlaoise: Grainne Moran 2-4 (0-2 frees), Aisling Kehoe 1-3, Fiona Dooley and Aisling Kehoe 0-2 each, Ciara Crowley and Alison Taylor 0-1 each. St Conleth’s: Aoibhe Byron 0-7 (0-3 frees), Claire Fox 1-0, Naomi Luttrell 0-2, Eva Galvin and Shifra Havill 0-1 each.

PORTLAOISE: Keeva O’Reilly; Ella McNulty, Deirdre Phelan, Sarah Fleming; Ciara Crowling, Aishling Saunders, Rebecca Reddin; Fiona Dooley, Ellen Healy; Alison Taylor, Aisling Kehoe, Grainne O’Reilly; Leah Loughman, Grainne Moran, Susie Delaney. Subs: Lara Culleton for G O’Reilly (HT), Shauna Dooley for Loughman (51 mins), Faye Brown for Crowley (58 mins).

ST CONLETH'S: Claire O’Connell; Ola Haastrup, Fiona Dempsey, Grainne Cotter; Aoife Cummins, Aine Haberline, Mary Cotter; Shifra Havill, Aoife Kirrane; Marie Byrne, Eva Galvin, Naomi Luttrell; Aoibhe Byron, Claire Fox, Emma Lawlor. Subs: Courtney Finlay for Lawlor (42 mins), Becky Fenlon for Luttrell (57 mins)

Referee: Mick Tarpey (Kilcavan)