Stradbally Town get the better of Portlaoise and all the latest CCFL fixtures and results

A local derby on Charter Road on Sunday morning saw Stradbally Town move to the top of Division 3 after a hard-fought victory against their near neighbours Portlaoise AFC.

Stradbally started slowly, allowing a young Portlaoise side to dominate the early exchanges, and the away side took the lead in the 24th minute. They then suffered a setback on 34 minutes when a Portlaoise player received two quick yellow cards, resulting in a red.

Stradbally drew level on 39 minutes when a fine ball from the right found Conor Buggie in space inside the area, and he calmly finished past the advancing Conor Brown in the Portlaoise goal. The momentum shifted further in Stradbally’s favour in the 43rd minute when Justin Lalor broke into the box, and his looping shot deceived the goalkeeper to put the home side ahead. Stradbally led 2-1 at the break.

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The second half was dominated by strong winds and showers, but both sides continued to play attractive football. Stradbally had an opportunity to extend their lead in the 61st minute after Benny Lawlor was fouled in the area, yet Conor Brown produced a superb penalty save to keep the score at 2-1.

Portlaoise then levelled the match in the 70th minute, capitalising on a set-piece delivery from the left to head the ball home. With the game finely poised, Stradbally responded in the 77th minute when Jody Dillon sent Conor Buggie through. Buggie dribbled nearly 30 yards at pace before delicately finishing past Brown, producing a superb goal for the home side.

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The victory was sealed in the 85th minute when Benny Lawlor was set up and struck a low, precise shot from 15 yards to put an end to Portlaoise’s challenge.

The three points were a crucial result for Stradbally as they prepare for another important fixture this Sunday at Charter Road against fellow title challengers St. Michaels.

On the day, Conor Buggie, Colin Beale, and Man of the Match Jack Deegan stood out in a strong team display, grinding out a hard-earned result.

CCFL Division 3 Result:

Stradbally Town 4

Portlaoise AFC 2

TEAM: Anto Skelly, Colin Beale, Jack Deegan, James Devoy, Podge Fitzpatrick, Conor Buggie, John Clancy, Cillian Maher, Justin Lalor, Benny Lawlor and Jody Dillon. SUBS: Noah Delaney for J Lalor, Ben Dillon for Maher, Sean Devoy for Beale, Liam Clancy, Tadgh Mullen, John Hayden, Cailium Kelly and Gavin Langton.

CCFL Results Week 25

Under 19 Cup 1st Round

Kinnegad Juniors 4, Temple Villa 3

Under 17 Premier Division

Tullamore Town 1, Kinnegad Juniors 1

Edenderry Town 7, Portlaoise 3

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Under 17 Sunday

Keenagh Utd 6, Ballyboro 4 Ballyboro Champions

Under 19 Premier Division

Mullingar Ath 0, Tullamore Town 8

Under 19 Div 1 North

Ballyboro 2, Inny FC A 3

Paddy Cotter Cup 2nd Round

Ballymahon 3, Clonaslee Utd 2

Division 3 Cup 1st Round

St Michael’s 4, Walsh Island Shamrocks 1

Longford Shamrocks 1, Killeigh FC 0

Division 4 Cup 1st Round

Clara Town 5, Ballymackormack Harps 3

Division 1

Kinnegad Juniors 3, Gallen Utd 3

Highfield Utd 6, Rosenallis 0

Division 2

Moate Celtic 3, Grange Utd 8

Mullingar Ath 1, Inny FC 2

St Peter’s 2, Tullamore Town 6

Division 3

Stradbally Town 4, Portlaoise 2

Division 4A

Portlaoise Ramblers 5, Spink Celtic 0

Division 4B

Temple Villa 1, Frankford FC 1

Women’s Premier Division

Bealnamulla 2, Ballymackey 1

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CCFL Fixtures Week 26

Saturday, March 21
All games at 2.30 unless stated

Under 17 Cup 1st Round
Mullingar Ath v Brefnie Fermanay; Gainstown Mullingar; Midlands

Under 19 Cup 1st Round
Killoe Celtic v Ballyboro; Cullyfad; Midlands
Walsh Island Shamrocks v Killeigh FC; Carty Park Walsh Island; Offaly
Inny FC B v Mullingar Ath; Parish Park Streete; Midlands

Under 17 Premier Division
Edenderry Town v Mountmellick Utd; Paddy Maloney Park Edenderry; Offaly
Kinnegad Juniors v Portlaoise; Breedon Park Kinnegad; Midlands
Tullamore Town v Monksland Utd; Leah Victoria Park Tullamore; Offaly

Under 17 Division 1
Clonaslee Utd v Killavilla Utd; Community Centre Clonaslee; Offaly
Killeigh FC v Frankford FC; Frank McEvoy Park Killeigh; Offaly
St Francis v Clara Town; Iona Park Athlone; Game Off

Under 19 Premier Division
St Peter’s v Edenderry Town; McCarthy Park Athlone; Midlands

Under 19 Div 1 South
Killavilla Utd v Birr Town; Villa Park Roscrea; Offaly

Under 18 Women’s Division
Mountmellick Utd v Killeigh FC; Conor Davis Park Mountmellick; Offaly
Ballyboro v Bealnamulla; VEC Grounds Lanesborough; Midlands

John Farrell Combined Counties Cup 3rd Round
Mullingar Athletic A v Portlaoise; 7.30; Gainstown, Mullingar; Midlands

Division 4B
Clara Town B v Ballymacormack Harps; 7.30; Stanley O’Hara Park, Clara; Game OFF

Sunday March 22
All games at 11.00 unless stated

Under 17 Sunday
Keenagh Utd v Killoe Celtic; Keenagh Longford; Midlands

John Farrell Combined Counties Cup 3rd Round
Portlaoise Ramblers v Gracefield Utd; Community Centre, Ballyroan; Offaly
Rosenallis v Walsh Island Shamrocks; The Grove, Rosenallis; Offaly
Coolraine v Clara Town A; Durrow, Tullamore; Midlands
Tullamore Town A v Cloneygowan Celtic; Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore; Midlands
Mountmellick Utd A v Gallen Utd; Conor Davis Patk, Bay Road, Mountmellick; Offaly
Frankford Utd v St.Peters A; Frankford, Meadowlands, Kilcormac; Midlands
Longford Rovers v Clonaslee Utd; 2.00; Gainstown, Mullingar; Midlands

Division 2 Cup 1st Round
Grange Utd v Monksland Utd B; Community Pitch, Raithin; Midlands

Senior Division
Monksland Utd A v Temple Villa A; 2.00; Cushla Park, Athlone; Midlands x 3
Idle Willow Park

Division 1
Abbeyleix Athletic v Mullingar Celtic; Fr. Breen Park, Abbeyleix; Offaly
Ballymahon v Killavilla Utd A; Tara Park, Ballymahon; Midlands
Highfield Utd v Kinnegad Juniors; Burkes Hill, Birr; Offaly

Division 2
Inny FC v Moate Celtic;Dalton Park, Mullingar; Midlands
St. Peters B v Melville Utd; McCarthy Park, Athlone; Midlands
Idle Mullingar Athletic

Division 3
Killeigh FC A v Ballybrittas Utd; Frank McEvoy Park, Killeigh; Offaly
Stradbally Town v St. Michaels Athletic; Charter Road, Stradbally; Offaly
Tullamore Town B v Killavilla Utd; 2.00; Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore; Offaly
Idle Longford Shamrocks

Division 4A
Hollywood v Spink Celtic; 2.00; Frankford , Meadowlands, Kilcormac; Midlands
St. Aengus v Maryborough FC; CJ Sheeran Park, Derrycanton, Mountrath; Offaly
Killeigh FC B v Mountmellick Utd B; The Pond, Killeigh; Offaly
idle Capakeel

Division 4B
Temple Villa B v Banagher Utd; TP Hickey Park, Mount Temple; Midlands
Idle CRFC, Cloncollig Celtic

Womens Premier Division
Ballymackey FC v Mountmellick Utd; Ballinree, Norwood, Nenagh; Offaly
Idle Bealnamulla , Mullingar Athletic Swans

Womens Division 1
Killeigh v Inny FC; 2.00; Frank McEvoy Park, Derrybeg, Killeigh; Offaly
Idle Birr Town, Ballymahon