110 years after Portarlington failed to score in the county final they are set to battle it out with Courtwood in the replay

ON Sunday next reigning champions Portarlington and first time finalists Courtwood, will make another attempt to decide the destination of the 2025 Jack Delaney Cup and all that brings with it.

After all the hullabaloo surrounding the drawn game, all eyes will be on the throw in by Maurice Deegan from Stradbally, who by co-incidence took the charge of the last senior replay ten years ago when Portlaoise overcame Emo.

Interestingly, 110 years ago Portarlington failed to score against Ballyroan in the final, Ballyroan winning 0-8 to 0-0.

So when was the first drawn county final. The records tell us it was in 1898 when Abbeyleix and Ballyroan met in Ballybrophy. The replay was in Durrow the game was abandoned after many minutes play when the score board read 0-4 each. At that stage the referee called time and the title was awarded to Abbeyleix.

Eight years later, in 1906 Raheenabrogue and Portlaoise finished all square. In the replay Raheenabrogue won 1-3 to 0-4.

In 1918 The Heath and Moyanna were all square at full time. In the replay Dick Booth led the Heath to victory, 1-1 to 0-0. A year later Abbeyleix relieved the Heath of their title winning 2-2 to 0-4.

Two years later, in 1920 The Heath thrashed their neighbours in the replayed final, 5-4 to 0-1 again led by Dick Booth. In the drawn game the sides shared four points.

1921 saw the emergence of Portarlington. They would claim three in a row titles, beating Abbeyleix twice and Annanough.

Graiguecullen arrived from across the Barrow and Barney Hennessey led them to their first title,. Then arrival of Stradbally and they beat Graiguecullen to claim three in a row led by Jack Delaney.

Next Graiguecullen won a first and second led by Joe McDonald but Stradbally beat the Carlow border team two in a row led by Bill Delaney.

Graiguecullen came back to beat Ballyroan in 1942 and the following year Ballyroan, led by Corcoran, they saw off Flemings Fire Clay in the final by 0-9 to 1-3.

Then came Graiguecullen’s golden era. They won four in a row titles, 1944-47. A year later the Skies Oer Ballyroan lit up after they beat Stradbally after a replay led by Paddy Peacock.

Graiguecullen then appeared in two in a row, losing to Ballyroan but were proud champions led by the ‘Boy Wonder’ Tommie Murphy in 1949.

In 1951 another name went on the plinth when Fran Nerney captained Annanough beating Portarlington. Park then put titles back to back 1952-53 led by Paddy Dunne. Annanough lost the next two finals to Portarlington led by Harry Connolly and Bill Bolton.

In 1956 Tom Gorman led Annanough to victory once more beating Park. 1957 saw the return of the Heath when they claimed three in a row. Their captain was duel player Sean Brennan. He also helped Clonad win senior hurling titles in 1958 and also in the ‘60s.

In 1958 the Heath and Portlaoise finished all square. Portlaoise won the replay but lost on an objection.

Bill Bolton led Portarlington in 1959 but Sean Brennan would lead the Heath to glory for the next three years. 1963 saw O’Dempsey’s claim their first title beating Portarlington by two points.

It was in 1964 that the Jack Delaney Cup was presented for the first time. Portlaoise were back to see off Graiguecullen by a point when the winning captain was Jim Hughes.

1965 saw Graiguecullen win their last title beating beat Timahoe 1-10 to 1-8 and Jim Callinan remains the only player to bring the cup across the Barrow.

1966 saw O’Dempsey’s and Portlaoise finish level. In the replay Jim Hughes lifted the cup. 1967/68 saw Portlaoise win back to back led by Alfie Lewis and the late great Paddy Bracken, number one choice for Laois over many years.

1969 is never to be forgotten with Timahoe beating Portlaoise led by TJ Bradley. Sadly the great Timahoe player passed away six weeks ago.

Portlaoise reclaimed the next two titles. In 1970 Teddy Fennelly lifted the chalice and Mick Murphy after they beat the Heath a year later.

The next two years saw new names on the cup. In 1972 Paddy Lalor lifted both the Rexie McDonald and Jack Delaney cups. In 1973 Des Brennan carried the cup to the ‘Laurels’ in Ballyadams.

1974 saw another replay when the neighbours in Morette could only muster one goal in two games. In the end it was Jackie Hyland who brought the Delaney Cup to the Heath for the first time.

In the next part of the series we look at 1975 to 2025.