Laois rivals serve up a cracking game with the honours just about going to the Navy Blues

Portlaoise 31 

Portarlington 21 

PORTLAOISE and Portarlington served up a cracker of a game in Togher on Sunday when the home side came out on top in what was the final game in the first phase of the Leinster League Division 2B/3 race for promotion.

And this game will only have whetted the appetite when the same two teams must do it all again next Sunday in the first round of the Provincial Towns Cup.

Portlaoise came into this game in second place four points behind table toppers Roscrea. Portarlington came into the weekend just three points behind their county neighbours. But the weekend’s results have changed the perplexion of the table. While Roscrea did beat North Meath they failed to get a bonus point but Portlaoise did and now the gap at the top is down to three points.

Portarlington face a tough second phase if they are to get back into the promotion battle as they now lie 11 points adrift of Roscrea and eight behind Portlaoise. The top team gains automatic promotion while the second place team plays off against the second from bottom team in Division 2A.

The game started a frenetic pace with Portarlington putting the hosts under a lot of pressure. This resulted Portlaoise making a lot of errors, dropping balls several times. And the game was just two minutes old when Portarlington could have opened the scoring. Portlaoise were penalised in a scrum but Andrew Evans kick came back off the upright.

Two minutes later from a scrum inside the Portlaoise 22, the visitors moved the ball across the backs and looked to have broken through only to be called back for crossing.

With ten minutes played Portlaoise were similarly penalised when they looked like opening their account.

Five minutes later Jordan Fitzpatrick won the race for Evan’s long clearing kick and looked clear through until somehow Portlaoise centre Padraig Culleton got back to put in a hand tap and end the move.

But Portarlington were now dominated the game and were to open the scoring minutes later. From a scrum of their right the moved the ball left, went through the phases and Fintan Murphy took the ball on the burst and crashed over. Evan added the extras.

Portlaoise came within inches of hitting back when a try after Liam Doyle sent winger Jamie Holohan away only to be tacked into touch.

Just half hour mark the home side restored parity. In attempting to break clear a Portarlington players fumbled the ball which was gathered by Holohan. He broke away and after the ball was passed to a number of pairs pf hands Glen Connolly went in for the try in the corner. Oisin Hade landed the conversion to level affairs.

Portlaoise had now found their rhythm and added a second try in the 38th minute. From atap penalty Connolly broke. Scrum half Jake Evans fed Bryan Croke who spun a wide pas to Eoin Keenan who in turn popped the ball to his broth Niall to cross for the try. Hade struck a magnificent conversion from the sideline.

Such was Portlaoise’s dominance at this stage then they might well have scored again before the break but as it was they would have been happy to be leading 14-7 after their shaky start.

When Portlaoise strike for their third try just two minutes after the restart it looked like the game might be done and dusted. But Portarlington had other idea. For the try Hade gathered a long Portarlington clearance and made a burst. He linked up with Croke who did likewise with Culleton who fed Croke who had gone on the loop and ran around behind the posts to score. The leaf was out to 21-7 with Hade’s conversion.

Portarlington had a chance to narrow the gap minutes when Portlaoise were penalised for a high tackle, but unfortunately for then Evans’ kick drifted just right of the posts.

But Portarlington’s never say die Attitude paid dividends midway through the half. From a tap penalty they drove in low for the try and Evan’s conversion made it 14 points.

Hade settled Portlaoise nerves when he converted a penalty in the 66th minute. But this game was not over yet.

Portlaoise extended their lead when Culleton crossed for a try converted by Hade and now 17 points separated the sides with eight minutes of normal time remaining.

And still Portarlington kept on battling and got their reward when full back Evans put in a delicate chip and ran on to gather the ball and score under the posts. His conversion closed the gap to two points but that was a good as it would get for the visitors.

And so it ended an those who were in attendance in Togher cannot wait for next Sunday.

PORTLAOISE: Oisin Hade; Niall Keenan, Padraig Culleton, Kevin Griffin, Jamie Holohan; Bryan Croke, Jake Byrne; Eoin Kenan, Ryan McEvoy, Joe Stevens; Michael Rigney, Mark Sherlock; Glen Connolly, Cormac Rigney, Liam Doyle.

Replacements: Paddy Coss, Aaron Coiley, Cian Butler, Dara Davis, Mark Kelly, Conor Horan, Euan McCann.

PORTARLINGTON: Andrew Evans; Reinas Balakauskas, Fintan Murphy, Jordan Fitzpatrick, Anavil Storey; Jack Hynes, Darragh Perry; Conor Perry, Aaron Costello, James Dunne; Jason Yellop, Jack McCann; Gavin Crampton, Warren Murray, Toby Neilson-Dry.

Replacements: Jack Hennessy, Adam Lambkin, Eoin Worrill, Mark Petriw, Denville Maya, Peter Dunne, Théo McGrath.