History on hold as Courtwood’s fairytale paused after dramatic County Final draw with Portarlington

Courtwood and Portarlington must do it all again after the sides couldn't be separated in Laois Hire O'Moore Park on Sunday afternoon.

The replay has been scheduled for Sunday, October 26, at 2pm in the same venue. It can't be played next weekend due to Rob Tyrell's involvement with the Camross Senior Hurlers in the final next Sunday.

Courtwood, in their first-ever Laois SFC County Final, got off to a great start as they scored the first two points. Niall Donoher pointed their first with captain Sean O'Flynn splitting the posts from play. Jake Foster was the scorer of the reigning champions' first point before Courtwood were reduced to 14 players for 10 minutes as Jake Doyle was shown a black card for a rugby tackle on Paddy O'Sullivan.

Alan Kinsella was then fouled, which allowed Matthew Byron to come up the field to open his account from placed balls. Not more than a minute later and Courtwood had the ball in the back of the Portarlington net. Ryan Little's first effort rattled the crossbar and Paul O'Flynn was there to catch the rebound. He was being fouled while he attempted to shoot with his shot looping over the head of Luke O'Reilly and into the net. Referee Seamus Mulhare had originally blown for a foul on Paul O'Flynn, but after speaking to his umpires, the goal was given.

Courtwood were slaughtering Port on their kick-outs as they started to dominate the middle of the field. However, Mark Bates' side weren't able to add their advantage as they kicked multiple wides and O'Reilly collected several efforts that dropped short. Portarlington took over for the next few minutes as they scored 1-4 without reply. Paddy O'Sullivan kicked a point before Jake Foster was one-on-one with Byron and he tucked it under the Courtwood keeper. Colm Murphy then kicked out an outrageous two-pointer from the terrace to put them ahead for the first time. Darragh Galvin ran in on goal and fisted the ball between the posts as they led 1-5 to 1-3 after 21 minutes.

Ryan Little got a point back for Courtwood, but Foster and Ronan Coffey replied down the other end. Port's kick-out almost gifted Courtwood a second goal as O'Reilly kicked the ball straight to Little, who played it to Kinsella. It looked for all the world that Kinsella would hit the back of the net, but somehow Robbie Pigott got across to block Kinsella's goal-bound effort.

It was almost a case of deja vu as just before half-time, Sean Byrne did likewise this time denying Paul O'Flynn a second goal. Portarlington led 1-7 to 1-4 at the break, but Courtwood will probably feel like they should have been ahead, having only gotten five scores from 18 shots.

Mark O'Halloran was introduced at half-time and made an instant impact as he reduced the deficit within 30 seconds of the restart. Courtwood would then receive their second black card after Paul O'Flynn fouled Rioghan Murphy. Paddy O'Sullivan and Ronan Coffey both raised white flags as Port went four points ahead.

Courtwood would be level by the time that Portarlington would score again as Byron came forward to raise two orange flags from frees. Yet again, Portarlington would go ahead as Colm Murphy pointed a free before he launched over a two-point free. Ryan Little cut the gap back to two with Portarlington substitute Jordan Fitzpatrick reestablishing their three-point lead. 

Courtwood weren't going to lie down as they went ahead in the 57th minute. Alan Kinsella fisted the ball over after gathering the rebound from a Sean O'Flynn shot that was saved by O'Reilly. It was that man Kinsella who rattled the back of the Port net to send the massive Courtwood support into raptures. Paddy O'Sullivan levelled the game with his third point in the 60th minute before Rioghan Murphy put them in front with two minutes of injury time left. Up stepped Dylan Keane, their semi-final hero, to split the posts and level the sides. 

FINAL SCORE

Courtwood 1-15

Portarlington 2-12

SCORERS- Portarlington: Colm Murphy 0-5 (one two-point free, one two-pointer, 0-1 free), Jake Foster 1-2, Paddy O'Sullivan 0-3, Ronan Coffey 0-2, Rioghan Murphy, Darragh Galvin and Jordan Fitzpatrick 0-1 each. Courtwood: Matthew Byron 0-5 (two two-point frees, 0-1 free), Alan Kinsella 1-1, Paul O'Flynn 1-0, Ryan Little 0-2, Niall Donoher, Cian Doyle, Sean O'Flynn and Mark O'Halloran 0-1 each.

PORTARLINGTON: Luke O’Reilly; Mikey Bennett, Robbie Pigott, Curtis Lyons; Alex Mohan, Jason Moore, Patrick O’Sullivan; Keith Bracken, Sean Byrne; Darragh Slevin, Ronan Coffey, Rioghan Murphy; Colm Murphy, Darragh Galvin, Jake Foster. Subs: Eoin McCann for Bracken (Blood, 45 mins- 51 mins), Jordan Fitzpatrick for Slevin (47 mins)

COURTWOOD: Matthew Byron; Darragh McEvoy, Daniel Boland, Adam O’Halloran; Jake Doyle, Robbie Flynn, Eoghan Slattery; Sean O’Flynn, Robert Tyrell; Niall Dunne, Cian Doyle, Paul O’Flynn; Niall Donoher, Ryan Little, Alan Kinsella. Subs: Mark O'Halloran for McEvoy (HT), Dylan Keane for J Doyle (48 mins), Michael Doyle for P O'Flynn (55 mins)

Referee: Seamus Mulhare (The Heath)

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