Portarlington prevail in extra-time over St Joseph's to be crowned Minor League champions

The reigning Laois Minor ‘A’ county champions, St Joseph’s, are looking to secure back-to-back championships at this level this year. They have started the season strongly by reaching the Division 1 league final, but they were ultimately defeated by Portarlington after extra-time in a terrific match.

Portarlington looked like they were well on their way to winning this in normal time, as they led by five points with twenty minutes left and had a man advantage. St Joseph’s battled back superbly to force extra time, but Portarlington still found a way to come out on top after a titanic tussle.

Portarlington 5-12

St Joseph's 2-15 (AET)

Portarlington’s Sean Moran and St Joseph’s Darragh Farrell exchanged points from placed balls early in the Laois LOETB Centre of Excellence. Portarlington were pressing well though in the opening stages and edged back ahead thanks to another Sean Moran pointed free.

 St Joseph’s grew into the game after that though. Midfielder Eoin Johnson finished a move that he started by placing over the equaliser. Then Sam Lynch and Sean Rowan (free) landed further efforts to give St Joseph’s a two-point cushion.

Portarlington’s forwards found it hard to turn their possession into points in the opening quarter. Their excellent centre-back, Jack Murphy, took it upon himself to get them back on the scoreboard though with a sublime score from play.

Then full-forward Sean Michael Ward came alive for the boys wearing maroon and green. Ward scored two goals in the space of three minutes, with both his shots rifled into the bottom right corner of the net.

St Joseph’s grabbed one back through a Sean Rowan free but Portarlington landed the last score of the half. Patrick Murray placed over a free of his own to put Portarlington 2-4 to 0-5 ahead at the interval.

While St Joseph’s started the second half strongly through scores from Darragh Farrell and Charlie Crehan, they were dealt a crucial blow soon after.

Midfielder Callum Hogg was red-carded by referee JJ Kirby and St Joseph’s would be forced to play the last twenty-three minutes of normal time with fourteen players.

Portarlington, boosted by now having a man advantage, registered the next two points to restore their five-point lead. Sean Moran (free) and Jack Murphy raised white flags for them.

St Joseph’s refused to throw in the towel though despite the odds being against them and fought back. Big full-forward Conor Murphy’s influence on proceedings began to come through, as he assisted 1-1 for his team.

Conor Murphy set up Ben Murphy for a point before he turned over the ball near the Portarlington goal and set up Darragh Farrell for the finish. Suddenly, St Joseph’s only trailed by a single point.

Portarlington hit back in stylish fashion though. Sean Michael Ward spotted the run inside of Eoin McEvoy and slotted it through to him. Odhran O'Reilly quickly laid it off to Sean Moran off his shoulder and Moran coolly slotted home Portarlington’s third goal.

St Joseph’s brushed that off swiftly though, as the fourteen players came right back at Portarlington. Two points from placed balls from Sean Rowan were sandwiched in between a Sam Lynch score from play.

Then St Joseph’s were awarded a penalty. After much deliberation, referee JJ Kirby deemed that Eoin Johnson was brought down inside the square. Darragh Farrell stepped up to fire the spot-kick home and St Joseph’s now led by two points.

The way this contest went though, it was no surprise how Portarlington responded. Odhran O'Reilly won possession and found Sean Michael Ward inside. The Portarlington full-forward rounded St Joseph’s keeper Roan Brennan and Ward bagged his hat-trick goal.

St Joseph’s levelled straight away with a point from the impressive Sam Lynch down the other end. Portarlington thought they had done enough to win it when Patrick Murray placed over a point to push them one in front, but St Joseph’s had other ideas.

Midfielder Eoin Johnson’s impact on the second half for St Joseph’s was pivotal in sparking their comeback and fittingly, Johnson converted a free to force extra-time in Portlaoise.

While St Joseph’s were back to fifteen players for extra-time, Portarlington proved that they had the legs to win this one. They outscored St Joseph’s two points to one in the first half of extra-time, with Ward and Moran raising white flags.

Then a Patrick Murray goal in the second half of extra-time ensured that Portarlington would claim the Division 1 Minor league trophy for 2023.