Roscrea 12 Portlaoise 15
Leinster League Division 2B
You cannot underestimate the confidence winning a few games gives a team.
Portlaoise travelled to Streamstown on Sunday to take on Roscrea, already knowing they had secured a place in the second phase of the league for this season.
That knowledge did not deter them and they had to be at the most resolute as the home side it up to them right up to the final whistle.
This win can be put down a total team performance played on wet underfoot conditions given the recent weather.
Portlaoise’s growing self-belief was evident as they trailed at half time and then had to repulse a late Roscrea rally.
Portlaoise were on the back foot from early on after Roscrea had scored a converted try after just ten minutes.
The visitors were further unsettled when Ryan McEvoy had to be replaced after picking up and injury but thankfully the hooker was able to return soon after.
Portlaoise were growing more into the game as the half wore on and got their reward when Ross Cooper crossed for a try leaving it 7-5 at half time.
Portlaoise made a couple of changes early in the second half and got their noses in front when Jack Reddin converted a 55th minute penalty.
But a single point lead was never going to be enough.
Ten minutes later prop Paddy Coss crashed over for a try and with Reddin adding thew conversion Portlaoise now had an eight point cushion heading into the final 15 minutes.
The fact that Portlaoise were able to introduce a further three players at this stage of the game shows the growing strength of their panel.
And they needed all that strength and depth when Roscrea went over for a try with four minutes to play. With the gap down to three points Portlaoise needed to stay calm and they did, winning a turn over and kicking out to close the game.
Portlaoise finished phase one of Section A on top of the table, a single point ahead of Portarlington with Roscrea in third.
In Section B North Meath topped the table with Balbriggan and Garda Westmanstown behind them.
The opening phase two games take place next week with both Laois clubs having home advantage, Portlaoise hosting Balbriggan and Portarlington welcoming Garda Westmanstown to Lea Road.
PORTLAOISE: Tommy Martin; Iain Corrigan, Tadgh Mullin, Jack Duffin, PJ Larkin; Jack Reddin, Marc Bracken; Cathal Kenny, Ryan McEvoy, Paddy Coss; Sean Peters, Eoghan Brennan; Mark Sherlock, Cian Coffey, Ross Cooper. Replacements: Chris Cahill, John Keogh, Niall Keenan, Mark Kelly, Glen Connelly, Sean Hennessy, PJ Nerney, Fionn Phelan, Jack Foyle
Longford RFC 15 Portlaoise RFC 43
U1-6 Leinster League Round 2
Portlaoise got back to winning ways in the league with a good win away to Longford at the weekend.
After a keenly contested first half in which both teams were challenged by a cross-field breeze and driving rain, the away side turned in a fine second half performance to seal the win.
Portlaoise got off to a good start and put a number of phases together as both sides, who hadn’t met previously, sounded one another out.
The away team kept control of the ball and, following good work by Mark Ging, Ricky Lyons, and Conor Deegan, the ball came to Daniel Whelan who weaved his way through the defence to touch down out on right.
Matt Cunningham added the extras for a 7-0 lead – and Portlaoise doubled their lead a few minutes later.
Longford were on the attack deep in the opposition half before some fine counter-rucking by Donnchadh Carroll allowed Cullen Kirwan to break up along the right touchline.
He kicked towards the line and, with the defence under pressure to protect the ball, Dara Coffey was on hand to cross the line for a fine try in the corner.
Cunningham did well to convert and extend the led to 14-0.
Longford were well in the game and got on the scoreboard after some fine work by their forwards when they scored under the posts and the extras were added to make it 14-7.
It didn’t take Portlaoise long to respond, however, with Shane Foley making a great run down the blindside and there was no stopping him as he powered over out on the left.
Credit to Longford, they replied in kind and, again, it was their forwards that did the damage as they drove over to the right of the posts.
In a busy period for the scoreboard operator, Cunningham broke down the right and Kyle Moore and Aaron Fitzpatrick kept the attack going before Declan Iguma rounded off a fine move to touch down in the corner.
The extras were added to make it 24-12 to the visitors but the home side had the final say in the half with a penalty goal from the 22 to leave it 24-15 at the break.
The weather cleared for the second half and it had a positive impact on the Portlaoise performance. Captain Eanna Moynihan led the way driving through the defence to extend the lead and Donnchadh Carroll followed suit a few minutes later after quick ball through the back line saw him sprint through to touch down for a 36-15 lead.
The home side continued to work hard but great work in defence by Bill Rigney, Darragh Maher, and Stephen Conroy repelled the Longford attacks.
Portlaoise saved their best for last as they put 18 phases together as the clock ticked into the red. Paul Byrne was the orchestrator as the attack went left and then right with strong carries from Jamie Shiel, Joey McGuinness, and David Allely before play was switched left once more and Declan Iguma hugged the touchline as he crossed the white wash and sprinted towards the posts to touch down.
The extras were added for a final score of 43-15.
Portlaoise back to winning aways following an early defeat to Tullow (report below).
PORTLAOISE: Cullen Kirwan, Dara Coffey, Daniel Whelan, Aaron Fitzpatrick, Declan Iguma, Matt Cunningham, Kyle Moore, Ricky Lyons, Conor Deegan, Shane Foley, Darragh Maher, Mark Ging, Bill Rigney, Donnchadh Carroll, Eanna Moynihan (c). Replacements: David Allely, Jamie Shiel, Paul Byrne, Alastair Cleland, Stephen Conroy, Joey McGuinness
Tullow RFC 21 Portlaoise RFC 17
U-16 Leinster League Round 1
Portlaoise headed to Tullow for the first round of the Leinster league and, in an entertaining game where the lead exchanged hands a number of times.
It was the home side who withstood late Portlaoise pressure to deservedly take the spoils.
Portlaoise opened brightly and put together a number of phases with strong carries from Daniel Whelan, Eoghan Kennedy, Cullen Kirwan, Darragh Maher, and Fionn Mullen.
This created the platform for Eanna Moynihan to drive for the line in trademark fashion to touch down under the posts. Out-half Matt Cunningham added the extras for a 7-0 lead.
Tullow responded with some good attacking play of their own but the Portlaoise defence held firm and a fine break by Daniel Whelan resulted in a penalty to Portlaoise just outside the Tullow 22.
Cunningham made no mistake to extend the lead to 10-0.
Tullow, once again, got a foothold in the Portlaoise half and this time got their reward from a penalty to register their first score and reduce the deficit to 10-3.
Both sides had spells on the attack but, as the game approached halftime, Tullow got in for a try in the corner after some strong carries by the forwards to leave it 10-8 to the visitors at the break.
Tullow started the better in the second half and a sustained period of pressure resulted in another try for the home side.
Again, it was the pack that made the hard yards and created space down the right wing where they went over in the corner to take the lead for the first time at 13-10.
Tullow were firmly on the front foot now and extended their lead to 16-10 from a penalty on the 22 just to the left of the posts.
Credit to Portlaoise, they responded well to the challenge and regained the lead midway through the half.
Line breaks by Aaron Fitzpatrick and Donnchadh Carroll had them inside the Tullow 22 and, after some strong carries by Bill Rigney and Cormac Drea, Daniel Whelan crossed the line to the left of the posts.
The extras were added for a 17-16 lead.
In keeping with the see-saw nature of the game, Tullow got back in front as the game headed into the final minutes.
Some fine play just outside the Portlaoise 22 created an overlap on the left and the home side capitalised to great effect to touch down in the corner and take the lead once again at 21-17.
In the dying minutes, Portlaoise piled on the pressure with Declan Iguma going close out on the right but the Tullow defence stood firm to see them home at the final whistle.
PORTLAOISE: Eoghan Kennedy, Zack Maginness, Daniel Whelan, Aaron Fitzpatrick, Cullen Kirwan, Matt Cunningham, Kyle Moore, Ricky Lyons, Conor Deegan, Fionn Mullen, Darragh Maher, Bill Rigney, Cormac Drea, Donnchadh Carroll, Eanna Moynihan (c). Replacements: David Allely, Dara Coffey, Mark Ging, Dan Murrell, Shane Foley, Declan Iguma, Paul Byrne
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