Killeshin knock out Portlaoise to end seven-year wait for SFC semi-final

Killeshin are through to the semi-finals of the Laois Shopping Centre SFC for the first time since 2019 after they took down Portlaoise in Saturday evening’s quarter-final.

Portlaoise led 1-4 to no score with just six minutes gone, but somehow only managed four more points for the remainder of the contest. Credit to Killeshin; they took their chances when they came and were fully deserving of their two-point win. Killian Roche kicked two two-point frees in the last 10 minutes to put Ryan Van Haeften’s side into the last four.

Portlaoise wasted little time in stamping their authority on the game as Josh Hogan opened the scoring inside 15 seconds. Darren Brennan raised a green flag to make it 1-1 to nil after Jack Brennan was caught in possession close to the Killeshin goal and it ended with DJ White squaring the ball to Brennan.

Portlaoise led by seven points after six minutes, with Hogan and Kieran Lillis (two-pointer) contributing to Portlaoise’s quick start. However, they would fail to score for the next 14 minutes as Killeshin finally started to get their hands on the ball.

Killeshin scored four points unanswered to leave just Brennan’s goal between them with 15 minutes played. Conor Heffernan scored two quick-fire points, and then Evan Lowry kicked a score from outside the arc. DJ White converted a free to end Portlaoise’s scoreless period beforeKilleshin replied with white flags from Cathal Byrne and Michael Doran to cut Portlaoise’s lead to two.

White kicked the final score of the half and it meant that Brennan’s goal was the difference as the sides headed for the dressing rooms, Portlaoise 1-6 to 0-6.

Portlaoise had two big goal chances after the restart as Kevin Swayne’s effort hit the crossbar and then shortly after Damon Larkin’s dropped shot fell to Ben O’Connor. His snapshot was saved by Roche. Killeshin rattled off five scores in a row and kept Portlaoise scoreless for 25 minutes of the second half. Eoin Lowry, Jack Milton, Evan English and the first of Roche’s two-point frees.

Hogan and Ben Dempsey finally got scores for The Town to draw them level, but Killeshin had the last laugh as Portlaoise were penalised for tackling a Killeshin player after being fouled. Roche struck the ball straight over the black spot to send the Killeshin crowd into delirium. Portlaoise tried to manufacture two-point chances, but kicked two of them wide before the final whistle was blown.

FINAL SCORE

Killeshin 0-13

Portlaoise 1-8

SCORERS- Killeshin: Killian Roche 0-4 (two two-point frees), Conor Hefferan and Evan Lowry (two-pointer) 0-2 each, Cathal Byrne, Evan English, Jack Milton, Eoin Lowry and Michael Doran 0-1 each. Portlaoise: Darren Brennan 1-0, Josh Hogan 0-3, DJ White (0-1 free) and Kieran Lillis (two-pointer) 0-2 each, Ben Dempsey 0-1.

PORTLAOISE: Conor Brown; Gary Whelan, David Seale, Ben Dempsey; Ben O’Connor, Ben Reddin, Emmet Maloney; Kieran Lillis, Kevin Swayne; Josh Hogan, Ciaran McEvoy, Darren Brennan; DJ White, Damon Larkin, Ricky Maher. Subs: Benny Carroll for Maher (39 mins), Kieran O’Donnell for White (45 mins), Gary Saunders for Larkin (54 mins)

KILLESHIN: Killian Roche; Jack Brennan, Dave McDermott, Brendan McDonald; Michael Gaffney, Leeson Hughes, James Davis; Cathal Byrne, Conor Heffernan; Eoin Cawley, Evan English, Jack Milton; Evan Lowry, Eoin Lowry, Michael Doran. Subs: Adam Farrell for Hughes (46 mins), James Doogue for Byrne (51 mins)

Referee: Clifford Ward (Portarlington)