Late drama as Portlaoise and Borris-Kilcotton ends all square in Laois GAA SHC

The first of Saturday’s triple header saw the first surprise result in the 2026 Laois Shopping Centre SHC at Portlaoise dug out a late leveller to secure a draw against Borris-Kilcotton.

There was very little between the sides throughout the game with neither of the teams ever going more than two points ahead in a very close contest. A dull first half saw Borris-Kilcotton hold a two-point lead at the break before the second half livened up with plenty of action.

The game only truly kicked into the gear right at the death with Borris-Kilcotton, Portlaoise winning and it being a draw all within the final four minutes of the game, with Portlaoise finding the all important leveller through Ryan Denny with the final puck of the game.

After a poor display of shooting early on at both ends, the first flag was raised from a Brochan O'Reilly free in the fifth minute deep inside his own territory for Portlaoise. PJ Scully eventually got Borris-Kilcottona away five minutes later from play as the sides went on to go tit for tat. Ryan Denny and Cian Taylor both struck well from play while Scully replied with a free and Jer Quinlan popped over his first to keep the sides level at the midway stage.

In what was a dull first half overall, there was a momentary explosion of life when Eoin Fitzpatrick took umbrage to a wayward tackle from Ryan Denny which sparked a coming together of multiple players on both sides, though referee Colin Bailey rightly adjudged it to be much ado about nothing and Fitzpatrick walked away with a yellow card for his troubles.

That ignited a spark in Borris-Kilcotton however who suddenly looked much more potent going forward as Stephen Dunphy flung over a point and that was followed by Jer Quinlan after Eoin Fleming excellently picked out his run and drove a low ball down the field into his path. Borris-Kilcotton took a three point lead thanks to a pair of frees from Scully, though Cormac Rigney replied with an excellent effort from play and Duggan fired over a free after Denny was fouled.

Liam Conroy netted twice in Portlaoise's opener and he was almost in again when he picked Matthew Whelan's pocket but his shot just flew wide of the post. A late free from PJ Scully brought an end to the half and Borris-Kilcotton led 0-8 to 0-6 at the break.

The opening minute of the second half was busy for Cormac Rigney as he slotted a free from midfield and then conceded a penalty with a foul on Joe Campion, though his blushes were saved by a good stop from O'Reilly on PJ Scully in the bottom left corner. Scully rescued a point from the ordeal with a successful 65 and he added another from play after great work on the wing to deceive two Town men and make the space to strike.

Young Liam Conroy was a constant threat for Portlaoise and he slotted a point before The Town made a huge breakthrough when DJ White brought the ball into the dangerzone and once Borris-Kilcotton failed to clear, Taylor was on hand to swipe it home for a goal. The Portlaoise lead was short lived however as Aaron Dunphy pointed a pair of frees in the absence of Scully who was replaced by Colm Stapleton, but Portlaoise were still threatening as Conroy forced a good stop from Eoin Fleming.

Portlaoise rallied well with three in a row through Duggan and Rigney while Borris-Kilcotton came back firing with three of their own via two Dunphy frees and an excellent score by Quinlan. A brace of frees from Ryan Denny put Portlaoise back into the lead as the clock ticked into two minutes of injury time signalled by Colin Bailey and Borris-Kilcotton were suddenly back under intense pressure to find a score.

They did find a score through sub Colm Stapleton to draw level and it appeared as though Portlaoise would have one last chance to draw it in the 63rd minute through a Denny free but he missed the chance. Borris-Kilcotton were allowed the chance at another score and they got what seemed to be the winner in the 64th minute through Aaron Dunphy, but there was one final twist in the tale as Denny hit the leveller with 64:23 on the clock and that was that.

FINAL SCORE

​Borris-Kilcotton 0-17

Portlaoise 1-14

​SCORERS - Borris-Kilcotton: PJ Scully 0-7 (four frees, one 65), Aaron Dunphy 0-5 (four frees) Jer Quinlan 0-2, Colm Stapleton, Philip Tynan and Stephen Dunphy 0-1. Portlaoise: Cathal Duggan 0-4 (frees), Ryan Denny 0-4 (two frees), Cian Taylor 1-1, Cormac Rigney 0-3 (one free), Liam Conroy and Brochan O'Reilly (free) 0-1 each.

​BORRIS-KILCOTTON: Eoin Fleming; Philip Tynan, Enda Parlon, Steven Finan; Evan Quinlan, Matthew Whelan, Niall Coss; Eoin Fitzpatrick, Connor Kilbane; Aaron Dunphy, Joe Campion, Jer Quinlan; PJ Scully, Neil Foyle, Stephen Dunphy. Subs: Colm Stapleton for Scully (41 mins), Dean Carey for S Dunphy and Eoghain Coss for Fitzpatrick (Both 55 mins).

​PORTLAOISE: Brochan O'Reilly; Conor Raggett, Frank Flanagan, Eoin O'Connor; Ross Brennan, Cormac Rigney, Cian Dowling Byrnee; Ciaran McEvoy, Sean Luke Taylor; Cathal Duggan, Ryan Denny, Cian Taylor; Davy Delaney, Liam Conroy, DJ White. Subs: Matthew Dempsey for Delaney (38 mins), Sean Culleton for Brennan (49 mins), Dean Lynch for SL Taylor.

​REFEREE: Colin Bailey (Mountrath)