Mixed fortunes for Portlaoise AFC youth teams
Getting ready for a set piece during the KDUL U/18 Major game between Portlaoise and Derry Rovers
A pleasant spring day saw Portlaoise host Edenderry based side Derry Rovers at Portlaoise Leisure Centre on Saturday.
Portlaoise lead the table with eight wins, one draw and one defeat so far, but Derry Rovers are one of the teams in with a chance if they won their games in hand.
Portlaoise have a big panel of 22 players, good in one way but impossible to get all players game time unfortunately, but credit to coach Conor Whally and his assistant Callum McHugh for rotating the squad.
Portlaoise had the best of the early exchanges without really testing the Rovers keeper. They paid the price for this when the away side took the lead, giving keeper Cillian Doyle no chance with a well taken effort.
Portlaoise upped their game in the second half and took control. A purple patch saw the impressive Sean Conka got them back level with a fine effort, confusion in the Rovers defence resulted in an own goal and minutes later midfielder Gary Brennan blasted home to double the lead.
The renowned goal scorer Glen Johnson with a excellent strike from within the box with his back to goal sealed a deserved victory. Portlaoise now have seven league games left, the biggest threat at the moment comes from Carragh Celtic who have dropped a point less.
Cillian Doyle, Kayden Carroll, Cormac Walsh, Ryan Keane, Alex Ryan Keane, Jack Phelan, Gary Brennan, Sean Conka, Robert Rowe, Max Ryan, Glen Johnson, Ross Dunne, Conor Dunne, Danny Gavin, Cian Fitzpatrick, Andy Keane, Lucas Fitzpatrick, Alan Dixon, Rossa Bracken, Jack Ryan, Aidan Byrne, Jack Hennessy.
Edenderry and Portlaoise faced off for the fourth time in seven weeks. To say the teams were familiar with each other would be an understatement.
Edenderry started the strongest, getting a foothold in the game early. They took the lead on five minutes with a goal Portlaoise would feel was avoidable. Portlaoise offered very little going forward while Sophie Leonard in goals was pulling off some unbelievable saves.
Edenderry doubled their lead on the stroke of halftime with a good finish that their dominance deserved. Great time to score, horrible time to concede.
Portlaoise gathered themselves at half time and came out with more fire in their bellies. They snapped into tackles and looked much more dangerous going forward.
Just when it looked like it wouldn't be their day Emma O Sullivan hit a cracker from way out into the top corner, a goal of the season contender.
That gave Portlaoise a bit more impetus to push for a second and it came with four minutes to go. Great work by Aoibhinn Forde down the left saw her shot saved by the keeper but Charlotte O’Regan was quickest to react to slot home from close range, great anticipation from the midfielder.
It looked like there was only going to be one winner at this stage but Edenderry had other ideas. Their midfielder scored a brilliant solo goal to take all three points for the home side.
In fairness on the balance of play it was what they deserved. But for Leonard in goals it probably would have been a wider margin.
Portlaoise know they'll have to up their game in matches to come to get back to the standard they've set themselves since the turn of the new year.
Sophie Leonard, Danielle Brown, Holly Byrne, Sophia Johnston, Lauren Farrell, Charlotte O’Regan, Aoibhinn Forde, Emma O’Sullivan, Allanah Harkin, Leah Lawlor Kane, Serina Mullin, Aoife Gleeson, Mia Morawska.
