Back in July, Portarlington claimed ACFL Division 1 honours following a fine win over a gallant St Joseph’s side.
Portarlington 0-18 St Joseph’s 1-12
ACFL Division 1 Final
Portarlington continued their dominance of the local club football scene in the Laois GAA Centre of Excellence this evening by getting the better of St Joseph’s in the ACFL Division 1 final.
It’s their fifth trophy to win in less than two years, following on from their three-in-row of Laois SFC titles – as well as the 2021 league success.
It also gets the Anthony Cunningham era off to a winning start as he looks to build on what was achieved by his predecessor Martin Murphy.
Though deserving winners, they were pushed all the way by St Joseph’s in what was a decent contest.
It looked a done deal midway through the second half when Port were eight points clear, 0-15 to 0-7, but a screamer of a goal from the very lively Oisin Hooney really brought the game to life.
St Joseph’s had the considerable breeze at their backs and now also had the momentum. They kicked six of the next seven points in an impressive ten-minute spell but Port settled and Ronan Coffey and the outstanding Rioghan Murphy got late points to make sure of the win.
By our reckoning (and that of other reporters and club officials keeping score) there was three in it at the final whistle. Referee Hugh Coghlan and the scoreboard had Port at a point less, as they did at half time. For a brief spell it looked as though that missing point may have become an issue. But Port’s late burst for the finish line ensured the result was beyond doubt.
St Joseph’s battled well from the start with the ever-impressive Eoghan O’Flaherty shooting them into an early lead with a mark.
O’Flaherty, Michael Keogh and Josh O’Brien all got first-half scores for Joseph’s and it was level after 20 minutes, 0-4 apiece. Port’s early points came from Colm Murphy (two), Darragh Galvin and Ronan Coffey.
But from there to half time, Port turned the screw and took over with Joseph’s struggling to win any type of primary possession.
Starting with a punched point from full-back Diarmuid Bennett, the outscored St Joseph’s by 0-7 to 0-1 in the final ten minutes of the half.
Brian Daly got St Joseph’s only score in that period as Colm Murphy and Rioghan Murphy kicked two apiece and Darragh Galvin and Darragh Slevin were also on target.
Port led 0-11 to 0-5 at the break, though were thankful to Luke O’Reilly for a fine save on Mick Keogh late in the half.
Port looked to be able to keep Joseph’s at arm’s length early in the second half as Colm Murphy, Rioghan Murphy and Darragh Slevin all pointed, with Oisin Hooney and O’Flaherty responding for Joseph’s.
And when O’Reilly came up from the goals to slot over a ’45 as we headed for the final quarter, it looked game over.
To their credit, Joseph’s kept on plugging away and Oisin Hooney, one of their hardest-working players, threw them a lifeline when he crashed home a spectacular goal.
Eoghan O’Flaherty then added a free and while Colm Murphy responded with a mark, Joseph’s got the next four points – all of them spectacular scores, one off either foot from Mick Keogh plus one each from O’Flaherty and Daly.
That was to be as good as it got though. Port had another burst in them and Coffey and Murphy made sure of the win.
Portarlington will open the defence of their championship against Ballyfin at the end of July while St Joseph’s will meet old rivals Portlaoise.
SCORERS – Portarlington: Colm Murphy 0-6 (two frees, two marks), Rioghan Murphy 0-4 (one free), Darragh Galvin Darragh Slevin and Ronan Coffey 0-2 each, Luke O’Reilly (’45) and Diarmuid Bennett 0-1 each. St Joseph’s: Eoghan O’Flaherty 0-5 (three frees, one mark), Oisin Hooney 1-1, Michael Keogh 0-3, Brian Daly 0-2, Josh O’Brien 0-1
PORTARLINGTON: Luke O’Reilly; Cathal Bennett, Diarmuid Bennett, Colin Slevin; Paddy O’Sullivan, Robbie Pigott, Jason Moore; Eoin McCann, Keith Bracken; Sean Michael Corcoran, Ronan Coffey, Rioghan Murphy; Colm Murphy, Darragh Galvin, Darragh Slevin. Subs: Corey Lyons for Corcoran (50), Dylan Murphy for D Bennett (58), Cathal Ryan for McCann (60), Evan Lyons for Coffey (62)
ST JOSEPH’S: Aaron Cooney; Conor Kealy, Tom Dunne, Jamie Kelly; Cormac Murphy, Danny Hickey, Jack Lacey; Mikey Dempsey, Brian Daly; Oisin Hooney, Eoghan O’Flaherty, Josh O’Brien; Dylan Doyle, Michael Keogh, Matthew Campion. Subs: Aidan Brennan for Kealy (injured – 17), Dean Brophy for Hickey (blood – 21-22), Jamie O’Brien for O’Brien (41), Dean Brophy for Lacey (44), Adam Campion for Kelly (50)
REFEREE: Hugh Coghlan (Park-Ratheniska)
Man of the Match – Rioghan Murphy
There was a number of fine contenders on both sides with Oisin Hooney, Eoghan O’Flaherty, Brian Daly and Michael Keogh all putting in strong displays for St Joseph’s.
Jason Moore and Colm Murphy were to the fore for Portarlington but Rioghan Murphy is our choice of Man of the Match.
Covered an amount of ground as usual, got back into the sweeper role when Joseph’s were attacking and also banged over three lovely points from play – as well as a late free to make sure of the Port win.
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