Leinster dream ends for Portlaoise as Kilmacud Crokes prove too strong
The two captains and referee prior to Sunday's Leinster LGFA Club SFC quarter-final
Portlaoise ladies made the trip to Stillorgan on Sunday afternoon to face the reigning Leinster Champions, Kilmacud Crokes, in Pairc de Burca.
Kilmacud Crokes defeated Longford Slashers the previous weekend to advance to the quarter-final whereas Portlaoise have been idle since their win over St Conleth’s 15 days earlier.
The wind favoured The Town in the first 30 minutes, but they didn’t make much use of it as Kilmacud Crokes held a six-point lead at the break.
With 12 minutes on the clock, Kilmacud Crokes had a 0-3 to no score lead against the wind. Laura Kane, Michelle Davoren and a free from Niamh Cotter got the scores for the Dublin champions.
Portlaoise got their first point courtesy of their captain Aishling Kehoe. The home side’s captain Éabha Rutledge then replied down the other end. Portlaoise kicked into gear from here and levelled the game soon after with three points without reply.
Grainne Moran pointed two of them with Alison Taylor getting the other with a superb point on the right-hand side.
Kilmacud Crokes had a purple patch of their own as Ailbhe Davoren, Amy Conroy and Cotter raised white flags before a green flag was raised by Rutledge.
The half ended with the sides trading scores as Leah Loughman pointed a long-range free from the corner while Conroy pointed for Crokes. The home side led 1-8 to 0-5 at the break.
The second half proved to be a non-contest as Portlaoise failed to score kicking into the strong breeze. Ailbhe Davoren opened the scoring in the second period before Conroy took a 45’ and it ended up in the back of the Portlaoise net. Rutledge added another point to her tally before the home side were reduced to 14 players for 10 minutes as Kate Murray was shown a yellow card for a high tackle.
Portlaoise couldn’t capitalise on the player advantage as Kilmacud Crokes kept putting scores over down the other end. Michelle Davoren pointed twice while Laura Kane, Rutledge (free) and Doireann raised further white flags for the Dublin side. The game ended with a third goal as Ailbhe Davoren sidestepped sub keeper Doireann Brennan and blasted the ball into an empty net.
Eabha Rutledge 1-3 (0-1f), Amy Conroy and Ailbhe Davoren 1-2 each, Michelle Davoren 0-3, Niamh Cotter (0-1f) and Laura Kane 0-2 each, Doireann Egan 0-1.
Grainne Moran 0-2 (0-1f), Aishling Kehoe, Leah Loughman (f) and Alison Taylor 0-1 each.
Dearbhla Gower; Philippa Greene, Emer Sweeney, Alex Bedford; Sinead O’Donoghue, Kate McDaid, Alanah Jones; Doireann Egan, Kate Murray; Laura Kane, Ailbhe Davoren, Niamh Cotter; Amy Conroy, Michelle Davoren, Éabha Rutledge.
Muireann O’Gorman for Jones (42m), Anna O’Grady for McDaid (42m), Emma Cane for Cotter (43m), Aisling Moran for Bedford (52m), Clare Byrne for Conroy (53m).
Keeva O’Reilly; Ella McNulty, Deirdre Phelan, Sarah Fleming; Ciara Crowley, Aishling Saunders, Rebecca Reddin; Fiona Dooley, Faye Browne; Alison Taylor, Aishling Kehoe, Grainne O’Reilly; Leah Loughman, Grainne Moran, Suzie Delaney.
Lara Culleton for Reddin (4m), Rebecca Reddin for Culleton (39m), Shauna Dooley for Loughman (40m), Abbey Louise Byrne for Crowley (52m), Sarah McDonald for Fleming (53m), Tory Byrne for Browne (55m), Doireann Brennan for K O’Reilly (58m).
Emma Dunne (Louth)
