‘It's savage to be part of it’ – Ben O’Connor

PORTLAOISE captain and man of the match Ben O’Connor couldn’t put into words how he was feeling having captained Portlaoise to their first minor title in 12 years.

“There's not much more I could actually ask for honestly. We knew it would be such a tough game going in and to come out with a win is just fantastic,” O’Connor said.

Portlaoise scored three goals in the space of nine minutes in the second half of the game. O’Connor praised his team mates on their character as they racked up an eight-point victory over Portarlington.

“This year we've been good at responding in second halves after shaky first halves and it happened again today and thankfully; we punished them for their mistakes,” O’Connor added.

In the group stages in July, Portarlington were victorious over Portlaoise by seven points in the end. O’Connor said his side just weren’t prepared on the day and they need they would need to step up a gear for the final.

“We weren't prepared at all, and we knew ourselves we had to regroup and after then losing to St Joseph’s as well we knew it would be a tough year but we dogged it out and got over the line in the end so I can't believe it honestly,” he mentioned.

Speaking about the 12-year drought The Town have suffered for minor titles, O’Connor emphasised that ‘it’s savage to be a part of’ the team which ended it.

“It's savage to be part of it. For a club like us to be going 12 years is unthinkable. But anyway, it's changed now, thank God. It's savage to be here,” O’Connor said.

It was a double header in Laois Hire O’Moore Park as Portlaoise and Portarlington battled for both the minor and senior titles. The Portlaoise captain has faith that there’s plenty of lads that played on the day who are capable of doing very well with the Seniors.

“We need to give them a run for their money. I know they're playing very well but we have loads of lads who can do well in that team and play and it's great for the club to have both teams here today and even for Portarlington as well to have both teams,” he added.

Finally, O’Connor spoke about his midfielder Darren Brennan who bagged 2-3 for Portlaoise during the final. Reflecting on Brennan as a player now and growing up, O’Connor called him ‘a class act’.

“Darren's a class act. He's very good. I've been with him since we were both young. I can't even describe him. On the pitch it's hard to see the players on the ball, but I know Darren just played very well today in fairness to him,” O’Connor concluded.