Deegan the hero as Stradbally Parish Gaels hold off Portlaoise
Eoin Shortall (SPG) about to secure this ball in their U/20 Football Championship win over Portlaoise Photo: Denis Byrne
STRADBALLY Parish Gaels made it two wins from two in the U-20 Football Championship on Friday evening as Cormac Deegan’s late free secured a dramatic two-point victory over Portlaoise in Rathleague.
SPG, who are aiming for a third successive U-20 championship title, looked to have control of the contest when they led by three points with five minutes remaining. Portlaoise fought back to draw level with a minute left, but Deegan kept his composure to convert a free from outside the arc in the 61st minute and settle a tense finish.
Deegan was outstanding in the closing stages, scoring SPG’s final four points as he also converted two 45s during the last ten minutes.
Joe Larkin was another key figure for Stradbally Parish Gaels, producing an excellent display at full-forward and finishing with 2-3. He was denied a hat-trick only by a superb piece of defending from Ben O’Connor, who cleared Larkin’s goal-bound effort off the line.
Portlaoise brought Ryan Morrin back to try to contain Larkin from the start, but the SPG forward made an impact whenever possession came his way.
Both teams had started the championship with victories, SPG defeating Killeshin in Round 1 while Portlaoise won away to Portarlington.
It was the visitors who opened the scoring through Fionn McEvoy after just a minute. Portlaoise then made the most of the breeze, hitting four unanswered points to move three clear after eight minutes.
Darren Brennan converted a free before Ben O’Connor won possession in the Stradbally defence and found Aaron McCormack, who turned and fired over. Brennan added another free before David Timmons got on the scoresheet following good work from David Valanius.
SPG eventually responded through a David Donohue free, but Portlaoise then found the net. Davy Delaney delivered a dangerous ball forward and Finn Dawson got ahead of Anthony Skelly to fist the ball past him.
Stradbally responded immediately. Donohue sent a high delivery towards the full-forward line and Larkin got the decisive touch, flicking the ball beyond the advancing Liam Conroy.
Oran Darcy then reduced the gap to a point before the sides exchanged two scores apiece before half-time. Conor O’Callaghan and McCormack, from a free, scored for Portlaoise, while Larkin and Deegan replied for SPG.
Portlaoise held a narrow 1-6 to 1-5 advantage at the interval.
SPG made the perfect start to the second half as Larkin found the net again within two minutes. McCormack responded with his third point before Darcy landed Portlaoise’s first two-pointer. Larkin then added a fisted point to put SPG four ahead after 35 minutes.
Portlaoise hit back strongly, scoring four consecutive points to level the contest by the 41st minute. Mark O’Connor opened the sequence before curling over a two-pointer, while Brennan followed with his third point.
Larkin edged SPG ahead again, but the game then settled into a tense spell with Stradbally holding a one-point lead and ten minutes remaining.
Larkin looked certain to complete his hat-trick when his shot beat Conroy, only for Ben O’Connor to race back and clear the ball off the line for a 45. Deegan converted that 45 before another block from O’Connor handed him a second opportunity from the 45. Again, Deegan made no mistake, putting SPG 2-11 to 1-11 ahead.
Portlaoise refused to surrender. Brennan converted a two-point free before substitute Robbie Brophy levelled the game with two minutes remaining.
That set up the decisive moment. Darcy was fouled outside the arc in the 61st minute and Deegan stepped up to fire over the winning score and complete a second victory in seven days for SPG.
Stradbally Parish Gaels will finish their group campaign against Portarlington on Friday, November 6, while Portlaoise face Killeshin on the same evening.
Stradbally Parish Gaels: Joe Larkin 2-3, Cormac Deegan 0-5 (1tpf, 0-2 45s), Oran Darcy 0-3 (1tp), David Donohue (f) and Fionn Mullally 0-1 each. Portlaoise: Darren Brennan 0-5 (1tpf, 0-2fs), Finn Dawson 1-0, Mark O’Connor (1tp) and Aaron McCormack (0-2fs) 0-3 each, Conor O’Callaghan, Robbie Brophy and David Timmons 0-1 each.
Anthony Skelly; Blaine Corcoran, Ben Dillon, Colm Dundon; Adam Murray, Conor McDonald, Eoghan Deegan; Cormac Deegan, Eoin Shortall; Pauric Ramsbottom, Fionn Mullally, Sean Tuohy; Oran Darcy, Joe Larkin, David Donohue.
Subs: Seamus Ramsbottom for Tuohy (50m).
Liam Conroy; Rio LaCumber, Sean Powders, Ryan Morrin; Davy Delaney, Ben O’Connor, Finn Dawson; Rory Tully, Josh Finn; Mark O’Connor, Darren Brennan, David Valanius; Conor O’Callaghan, Aaron McCormack, David Timmons.
Subs: Jake Byrne for Valanius (36m), Robbie Brophy for Finn (42m), Danny Gavin for O’Callaghan (54m).
Ciaran McManus (O’Dempsey’s)
