Portarlington earn another semi-final place

Senior Football championship Qtr Final 

Portarlington 1-10 

Ballyroan Abbey 1-8 

Portarlington are back firmly in the race for a place in another county final. This year one of the most experienced football managers in the county, Pat Rowe has guided them past O’Dempsey’s in the opening round and, although short several first choice players, they now find themselves an hour from a fourth final in five years.

Last Saturday Portarlington were boosted by the return of a number of players who have not been available to them in earlier games and they played a major role in this win.

Ballyroan Abbey have enjoyed great success at underage level in recent times and, by co-incidence, are now under the guidance of successful football boss, and former Portarlington manager, Martin Murphy.

Portarlington hit the ground running in Laois Hire O’Moore Park on Saturday with points from Jake Foster and Darragh Galvin giving them an early advantage.

And in a low scoring contest they were never headed. When defender Alex Mohan ran down field he kicked over his side’s fifth point with 14 minutes on the clock. Portarlington then squandered a few good opportunities but made amends 20 minutes into the game when the man wearing number 20, Jordan Fitzpatrick cut across the Ballyroan Abbey goal before rifling past the keeper. The same player had scored a late goal to secure extra time against Graiguecullen.

This score stung Ballyroan Abbey into action and they hit back within minutes. Connaire Gee was in the right place at the right time and gave the Portarlington keeper no chance. They added a point from defender Colm Walsh but three points still separated the teams.

When Brian Whelan converted a free the scoreboard read 1-5 to 1-3 and that was how it looked as the sides headed to the dressing rooms.

Within a minute of the restart Rioghan Murphy extended the Portarlington advantage but Connaire Gee responded a minute later. Both sides squandered opportunities but not the returning Jake Foster who converted a free after 38 minutes.

Ten minutes into the half Shaun Fitzpatrick soloed down field and off loaded to full forward Diarmuid Whelan. Two minutes later Rioghan Murphy wriggled past the defence before landing his second point.

Ballyroan Abbey now introduced Michael John Tierney and he won good possession. Entering the final ten minutes full forward Diarmuid Whelan landed two excellent points and the deficit was now just a single point with ten minutes remaining.

The scene was set for a thrilling conclusion. Jake Foster showed he had lost none of his appetite landing a perfect point. At the other end Davin McEvoy kicked over a fine point and one still divided the teams with five minutes remaining.

Portarlington were awarded a free from 50 metres out and Ronan Coffey landed a perfect point.

The remaining minutes were hectic. Ballyroan Abbey saw a free drift wide and that was to be their last chance.

Martin Murphy was greeted by his former players and officials and he shook the hand of every player. He knows Ballyroan Abbey still have work to do but most of the team are very young.

Pat Rowe is too long on the road to get carried away but everything else is a bonus. There was a wry smile when on Sunday evening Portarlington were paired with Graiguecullen, the side they beat to win the first of the three-in-a-row titles. 

And also when the sides met in round two in August the game went to extra time before Graiguecullen emerged on a score line of Graiguecullen 0-20 Portarlington 1-15. That promises a real treat.

SCORERS:

Portarlington Rioghan Murphy 1-2, Jake Foster 0-3 (fs), Darragh Galvin 0-2, Graham Weldon, Ronan Coffey (f) and Alex Mohan 0-1 each, Ballyroan: Diarmuid Whelan 0-4, Connaire Gee 1-1, Davin McEvoy, Colm Walsh and Brian Whelan (f) 0-1 each.

PORTARLINGTON: Luke O’Reilly; Paddy O’Sullivan, Michael Bennett, Alex Mohan; Graham Weldon, Cathal Bennett, Jordan Fitzpatrick; Keith Bracken, Eoin McCann; Sean Michael Corcoran, Ronan Coffey, Jason Moore; Jake Foster, Darragh Galvin, Rioghan Murphy.

Subs: Darragh Slevin for Corcoran (45m), Dylan Murphy for Fitzpatrick (50m) BALLYROAN ABBEY: Adam Jones; Mark Cahill, Conor Brennan, Evan McEvoy; Conor McWey, Martin Scully, Colm Walsh; Killian Byrne, Aaron Carroll; Connaire Gee, Davin McEvoy, Shaun Fitzpatrick; Padraig McMahon, Diarmuid Whelan, Brian Whelan.

Subs: James McWey for McMahon (50m), Enda McWey for Whelan (50m).

Referee: Hugh Coghlan (Park/Ratheniska)