Portarlington begin SFC title defence with emphatic win over The Heath
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Portarlington 2-18
The Heath 0-11
PORTARLINGTON began their quest for a third successive Laois Shopping Centre Senior Football Championship crown in convincing fashion as they proved far too strong for The Heath in the final Round 1 fixture at Laois Hire O'Moore Park on Saturday evening.
The reigning champions were never seriously troubled once they found their rhythm, with a blistering spell before half-time proving decisive as they secured a comprehensive 13-point victory to get their title defence off to the ideal start.
It was far from a vintage championship encounter, however. The opening exchanges were cagey, with both teams struggling to settle, and Portarlington were guilty of wasting several early opportunities. Two efforts drifted wide while another promising attack broke down before they eventually opened the scoring after seven minutes when Ronan Coffey split the posts.
The game remained low on quality and it took another six minutes before Colm Murphy doubled Portarlington's advantage with a well-taken point.
The Heath had yet to register but finally got off the mark in the 17th minute in spectacular fashion. James Phelan found himself in space and confidently landed a two-pointer to level the contest at 0-2 apiece, briefly raising hopes that the underdogs could make a real contest of it.
Instead, that score served only to awaken the champions. Portarlington completely seized control over the next ten minutes, producing the spell that ultimately settled the outcome as they reeled off an unanswered 2-6.
Curtis Lyons edged them back in front before the opening goal arrived through an excellent team move. Rioghan Murphy and Colm Murphy combined with the latter finishing to the net.
The restart from The Heath proved equally costly. Portarlington won possession immediately and Rioghan Murphy burst through before rifling a second goal to the net in quick succession, leaving their opponents shell-shocked.
With confidence flowing, Portarlington continued to punish every mistake. Darragh Slevin got on the scoresheet, Sean Michael Corcoran converted two excellent efforts, Sean Moran added a score and Colm Murphy finished the first half scoring burst with a point that stretched the lead to 2-8 to 0-2 after 26 minutes.
The Heath eventually stemmed the tide when Conor Booth converted a free, but Portarlington responded instantly through another Colm Murphy point. Neil Keane and Eoin McCann exchanged scores before The Heath’s Paddy Fitzpatrick curled over an excellent two-point effort. Portarlington carried a commanding 2-10 to 0-6 advantage into the interval.
There was never any real sign of a second-half comeback. Sean Michael Corcoran opened the scoring after the restart with a two-point free before Rioghan Murphy added another point to further extend Portarlington's lead.
Booth replied from a placed ball for The Heath, but Colm Murphy restored Portarlington's sizeable cushion with a free after The Heath were penalised for failing to hand back the ball.
Brian Ging and Corcoran exchanged points before Fitzpatrick clipped over his second two-pointer of the evening to provide one of The Heath's brighter moments.
Portarlington then had the opportunity to add a third goal after Rioghan Murphy was fouled inside the square. Curtis Lyons’ penalty went over the bar instead of under it, extending the lead further.
Substitute Jordan Fitzpatrick capped an impressive cameo by raising an orange flag late on, while Ging had the final say with his second point of the game.
It was little more than a consolation score as Portarlington eased home by 13 points to make the perfect start to their championship campaign.
They now look ahead to a mouthwatering Round 2 clash with Stradbally, while The Heath will seek a much-improved display when they take on Clonaslee St Manman's.
SCORERS:
Portarlington: Colm Murphy 1-4 (0-1f), Sean Michael Corcoran 0-5 (1 tpf, 0-1f, Rioghan Murphy 1-1, Curtis Lyons (0-1 pen) and Jordan Fitzpatrick 0-2 each, Sean Moran, Darragh Slevin, Sean Moran and Eoin McCann 0-1 each.
The Heath: Paddy Fitzpatrick 0-4 (2 tps), James Phelan (1 tp), Brian Ging and Conor Booth (fs) 0-2 each, Neil Keane 0-1.
PORTARLINGTON: Luke O’Reilly; Alex Mohan, Tom Corcoran, Cathal Bennett; Hugh Connolly, Robbie Piggott, Curtis Lyons; Hugo Emerson, Eoin McCann; Rioghan Murphy, Sean Michael Corcoran, Darragh Slevin; Colm Murphy, Ronan Coffey, Sean Moran.
Subs: Jordan Fitzpatrick for Moran (42m), Keith Bracken for Emerson (48m), Sean Byrne for C Murphy (56m).
THE HEATH: Joe Walshe; James Doyle, PJ Larkin, Alan Whelan; Sean Kirby, Neil Keane, Mark Phelan; Jimmy Nerney, Aaron Thornton; Denis Browne, John McNamara, Paddy Fitzpatrick; Colm Murphy, Ronan Coffey, Sean Moran.
Subs: Paddy Callaghan for Thornton (52m), David O’Brien for Nerney (52m), Sam Rooney for J Phelan (57m), Jake Ratcliffe for Browne (60m).
Referee: Padraig Whelan (Barrowhouse)
