Portlaoise ease past Arles-Killeen and into Laois SFC quarter-finals

Portlaoise are straight through to the quarter-finals of the Laois Shopping Centre SFC after they eased past Arles-Killeen in Laois Hire O’Moore Park on Saturday evening.

The game was nip and tuck up until just before half-time as Portlaoise went from being two points down to three points and they never looked back from there.

This was a novel enough fixture in the championship, with three years since their last meeting. Portlaoise ran straight at Arles-Killeen from the off and it paid off as they led five points to nil after 12 minutes. Damon Larkin fisted the ball over with 90 seconds on the clock before Kevin Swayne made it two points for The Town. Emmet Maloney, Josh Hogan and a second point from Swayne gave Portlaoise the perfect start.

Arles-Killeen’s first score came with 13 minutes played as Paul Kingston pointed a two-point free from about 50 metres before a second orange flag followed when Colin Dunne curled over a great score from outside the arc. Donie Kingston then opened his account with a superb dummy solo that sold Kieran Lillis and allowed him to tap the ball over.

Darren Brennan put Portlaoise back in front, but then Arles-Killeen scored a fortuitous goal. A shot from Ennae Byrne dropped harmlessly short; however, with the hard ground, the bounce deceived Conor Brown and ended up in the net. The next four scores were traded as Larkin and DJ White scored for Portlaoise, while Donie and Paul Kingston scored for Arles-Killeen.

Portlaoise trailed by two points with 27 minutes played, but would lead by three points at the break as they kicked another period with five scores in a row. Ben Dempsey, DJ White off his right boot, Josh Hogan, Darren Brennan and Damon Larkin all raised white flags as The Town went into the dressing rooms ahead, 0-13 to 1-7.

The second half began in the same way the first had ended as Ciaran McEvoy and Kieran Lillis pointed a score each. The latter also had a goal chance saved by Jason Enright after Josh Hogan had squared the ball to the Portlaoise number 8. Paul Kingston cut the gap to four points before Damon Larkin with a two-pointer and Josh Hogan, with a free, saw Portlaoise into a 0-18 to 1-8 lead after 37 minutes.

Paul Kingston tapped over another score with Josh Hogan replying down the other end. Arles-Killeen were then reduced to 14 men as Donie Kingston was shown a straight red for striking David Seale on the ground as he was attempting to gather possession. Seale had actually gotten done for touching the ball on the ground before the red card was shown.

Ben O’Connor and Josh Hogan increased Portlaoise’s advantage with a score each. Colin Dunne replied with a point, but it was all Portlaoise as they scored four points in a row. Damon Larkin scored twice with a Benny Carroll two-pointer sandwiched in between.

Oisin Byrne (free) and a Colin Dunne shot that was superbly saved over were Arles-Killeen’s last scores of the game. Ricky Maher finished off the scoring for Portlaoise with a point as they won by 11 points.

FINAL SCORE

Portlaoise 0-26

Arles-Killeen 1-12

SCORERS- Portlaoise: Damon Larkin 0-7 (one two-pointer), Josh Hogan 0-5 (0-1 free), Darren Brennan, Kevin Swayne, DJ White, Benny Carroll (two-pointer) 0-2 each, Emmet Maloney, Ben Dempsey, Ricky Maher, Ciaran McEvoy, Kieran Lillis and Ben O’Connor 0-1 each. Arles-Killeen: Paul Kingston 0-5 (one two-pointer, 0-1 free), Colin Dunne 0-4 (one two-pointer), Ennae Byrne 1-0 , Donie Kingston 0-2, Oisin Byrne 0-1 free

PORTLAOISE: Conor Browne; Gary Whelan, David Seale, Ben Dempsey; Ben O’Connor, Ben Reddin, Emmet Maloney; Ciaran McEvoy, Kieran Lillis; Kevin Swayne, Colin McEvoy, Darren Brennan; DJ White, Damon Larkin, Josh Hogan. Subs: Gary Saunders for Maloney (Blood 16-19 mins), Benny Carroll for Brennan and Ricky Maher for Colin McEvoy (Both 49 mins), Conor Raggett for Seale (53 mins), Conor O’Callaghan for White (55 mins)

ARLES-KILLEEN: Jason Enright; Eoin Kelly, Joe Mulhare, Enda O’Rourke; Mick Wall, John Mahon, Ben Griffin; Oisin Byrne, Ennae Byrne; Conor Keightley, Paul Kingston, Sean O’Shea; Niall O’Rourke, Donie Kingston, Colin Dunne. Subs: Dermot Julian for Keightley (42 mins), Andrew Wall for E O’Rourke (49 mins), Gerry McWey for Mahon (51 mins), Shane Byrne for P Kingston (57 mins)

Referee: Ciaran McManus (O’Dempsey’s)