Portarlington topple The Town to avenge 2019 semi final defeat

Portlaoise 0-10 Partarlington 1-11
Laois Shopping Centre SFC Round 2

Portarlington have beaten Portlaoise for the first time in the championship since 2001 following a committed display in MW Hire O’Moore Park.

Martin Murphy’s men were full value for their win and they did it without Colm Murphy and Ronan Coffey who both picked up injuries after the Round 1 win over Stradbally.

Portlaoise were without Cahir Healy who has returned to the UK but they did welcome back Conor Boyle, Ronan McEvoy and Brian Glynn who all missed the win over Ballylinan.

This is only Portlaoise’s third championship defeat since 2007. They lost to Graiguecullen in 2013 and Stradbally in 2016 but that is it in the last 14 seasons.

The first six minutes of this one were very even with Stephen O’Neill and David Murphy seeing efforts for Portarlington cancelled out via Gareth Dillon and Ricky Maher for Portlaoise.

Portarlington were without Colm Murphy (hamstring) and Ronan Coffey (foot) through injury but they took over the game after that and kicked five unanswered points before the water break.

Jake Foster contributed three frees while teenager Rioghan Murphy and Sean Byrne made it 0-7 to 0-2 at the water break.

Portlaoise lost Benny Carroll to a black card on the resumption but the numerical disadvantage didn’t impede them one bit.

They had frees from Ricky Maher and Jason Maher, as well as a 45 from Graham Brody, to reduce the deficit to two.

Portarlington missed chances to increase their lead in that period too but they led 0-7 to 0-5 at half time.

Portarlington ended their 17 minute scoring drought through David Murphy and the sides traded points from there until the 43rd minute when Portarlington were reduced to 14 men following a black card for Robbie Pigott.

Conor Boyle’s influence on the game was growing and he kicked two in a row at that point to leave it 0-10 to 0-8 at the second water break.

Portlaoise continued to make use of their numerical advantage with John Kavanagh and then keeper Graham Brody levelling the game after 52 minutes.

But Robbie Piggott returned after that and Portarlington regained the lead through a David Murphy free.

Portlaoise went gung ho for an equaliser with Brody and Ciaran McEvoy both having efforts at goal go wide before Portarlington made it safe with the final kick.

With Graham Brody now in midfield, Portarlington won the kick out and charged forward where Jake Foster was left with an open goal to score and seal a priceless win.

SCORERS – Portlaoise: Ricky Maher 0-1 (one free), Gareth Dillon 0-1, Jason Maher 0-1 (one free), John Kavanagh 0-2 (one free), Graham Brody 0-2 (one free, one 45), Kieran Lillis 0-1 (one free), Conor Boyle 0-2 Portarlington: Stephen O’Neill 0-1, David Murphy 0-4 (two frees), Jake Foster 0-3 (three frees), Rioghan Murphy 0-1, Sean Byrne 0-2

PORTLAOISE: Graham Brody; Michael Dowling, David Seale, Paddy Downey; Gary Saunders, Chris Finn, Conor Boyle; Ciaran McEvoy, Kieran Lillis; Damon Larkin, Benny Carroll, Gareth Dillon; Ricky Maher, John Kavanagh, Jason Maher. Subs: Brian Glynn for R Maher (ht), David Holland for Finn (36, inj), Ronan McEvoy for J Maher (42), Frank Flanagan for Downey (48)

PORTARLINGTON: Scott Osborne; Cathal Bennett, Robbie Piggot, Alex Mohan; Stuart Mulpeter, Jason Moore, Adam Ryan; Eoin McCann, Kieth Bracken; Stephen O’Neill, David Murphy, Colin Slevin; Rioghan Murphy, Sean Byrne, Jake Foster. Subs: Darragh Galvin for O’Neill (50, inj)

Referee: Brendan Hickey (Graiguecullen)

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source https://www.laoistoday.ie/2020/09/05/portarlington-topple-the-town-to-avenge-2019-semi-final-defeat/