Portlaoise prove no match as Dublin champions Kilmacud Crokes ease into Leinster semi-final

Kevin O’Grady’s Portlaoise team have been knocked out of the Leinster Senior Club Championship at the quarter-final stage after Kilmacud Crokes defeated them on Sunday.

The Portlaoise Ladies made the journey to Dublin on a windy afternoon to face reigning Leinster champions Kilmacud Crokes.

The Dublin side had come through a preliminary-round clash against Longford Slashers the previous weekend to earn their spot in this AIB Leinster Senior Club Championship quarter-final.

The opening half saw The Town play with the breeze, but they couldn’t make it count, as Kilmacud Crokes took a six-point advantage into the break.

After just 12 minutes, Crokes were 0-3 to no score ahead against the wind thanks to efforts from Laura Kane, Michelle Davoren, and a free from Niamh Cotter.

Portlaoise captain Aishling Kehoe finally got her team on the board, but Crokes skipper Éabha Rutledge responded immediately. Portlaoise then found their rhythm, hitting three unanswered points to draw level.

Grainne Moran notched two of those, while Alison Taylor added a fine effort from the right wing.

Crokes soon regained control, with Ailbhe Davoren, Amy Conroy, and Cotter all adding points before Rutledge raised the game’s first green flag.

The sides exchanged scores before the interval, Leah Loughman converted a long-range free, and Conroy replied for the home side, leaving Crokes 1-8 to 0-5 in front at halftime.

The second half was one-sided, as Portlaoise failed to score into the stiff breeze. Ailbhe Davoren opened the half’s scoring, followed by a Conroy 45’ that found its way into the Portlaoise net. Rutledge added another point before Kate Murray received a yellow card for a high tackle, leaving Crokes with 14 players for ten minutes.

Despite the numerical advantage, Portlaoise couldn’t make inroads. The Dublin champions continued to rack up scores, Michelle Davoren struck twice, with further points from Kane, Rutledge (free), and Doireann Egan.

The game ended decisively when Ailbhe Davoren rounded substitute keeper Doireann Brennan and slotted home Crokes’ third goal.

Final Score

Kilmacud Crokes 3-15

Portlaoise 0-5

SCORERS— Kilmacud Crokes: Eabha Rutledge 1-3 (0-1 free), Amy Conroy and Ailbhe Davoren 1-2 each, Michelle Davoren 0-3, Niamh Cotter (0-1 free) and Laura Kane 0-2 each, Doireann Egan 0-1. Portlaoise: Grainne Moran 0-2 (0-1 free), Aishling Kehoe, Leah Loughman (free) and Alison Taylor 0-1 each.

KILMACUD CROKES: Dearbhla Gower; Philippa Greene, Emer Sweeney, Alex Bedford; Sinead O’Donoghue, Kate McDaid, Alanah Jones; Doireann Egan, Kate Murray; Laura Kane, Ailbhe Davoren, Niamh Cotter; Amy Conroy, Michelle Davoren, Éabha Rutledge. Subs: Muireann O’Gorman for Jones and Anna O’Grady for McDaid (Both 42 mins), Emma Cane for Cotter (43 mins), Aisling Moran for Bedford (52 mins), Clare Byrne for Conroy (53 mins)

PORTLAOISE: Keeva O’Reilly; Ella McNulty, Deirdre Phelan, Sarah Fleming; Ciara Crowley, Aishling Saunders, Rebecca Reddin; Fiona Dooley, Faye Browne; Alison Taylor, Aishling Kehoe, Grainne O’Reilly; Leah Loughman, Grainne Moran, Suzie Delaney. Subs: Lara Culleton for Reddin (4 mins, inj), Rebecca Reddin for Culleton (39 mins), Shauna Dooley for Loughman (40 mins), Abbey Louise Byrne for Crowley (52 mins), Sarah McDonald for Fleming (53 mins), Tory Byrne for Browne (55 mins), Doireann Brennan for K O’Reilly (58 mins)

Referee: Emma Dunne (Louth)