Portarlington survive O’Dempsey’s scare to reach last four

Portarlington 1-14 

O’Dempsey’s 1-9 

PORTARLINGTON kept their bid for a third consecutive Laois Shopping Centre SFC title on track after overcoming a dogged O’Dempsey’s side by five points in Sunday’s quarter final.

The reigning champions had to work hard for their victory as O’Dempsey’s packed their defence and made it difficult for Portarlington to find a way through. Despite enjoying plenty of possession, Port struggled to convert their chances in the first half, but a strong spell after the interval ultimately gave them enough breathing room to progress.

It was a cagey opening in Portlaoise, with both teams adopting cautious approaches. Portarlington were happy to work the ball patiently from their own kick-outs, while O’Dempsey’s dropped plenty of players behind the ball in an attempt to deny them space.

Curtis Lyons eventually found a gap and broke forward before fisting over the opening score. O’Dempsey’s responded almost immediately, with Mark Barry picking out Eoin Finlay, who made no mistake from close range.

The game then settled into a pattern of Portarlington having most of the possession without being able to turn it into scores. Ten minutes passed without either side troubling the scoreboard before Robbie Piggott broke the deadlock, with the Portarlington half-back putting his side back in front.

Ben Coen levelled again, but Portarlington’s half-back line continued to provide their main attacking threat. Jason Moore was next to get on the scoresheet, registering their third point of the afternoon.

Barry restored parity from a free before Jordan Fitzpatrick, who came into the starting line-up in place of Colm Murphy, finally got a Portarlington forward on the scoresheet.

O’Dempsey’s remained disciplined and began to make the most of their opportunities. Finlay and Barry both converted frees to edge them in front, but Portarlington had the final say before half-time.

Fitzpatrick stepped up from outside the arc and sent over a free with the last kick of the opening period to give Portarlington a slender 0-6 to 0-5 advantage at the break.

The second half began with a decisive spell from the champions. Rioghan Murphy worked the ball across the face of goal and Fitzpatrick got there to palm it into the net, opening up a four-point lead.

Colm Murphy added a free on his introduction, while Rioghan Murphy himself then got on the scoresheet from play as Portarlington began to establish control.

O’Dempsey’s refused to fold, however. Barry reduced the deficit with a free before Fitzpatrick answered at the other end. The response from O’Dempsey’s was immediate again as Barry finished off a move involving Fionn Holland to put the ball in the net. Rioghan Murphy then converted a free to restore a four-point cushion with 15 minutes remaining.

Portarlington appeared to have found the net again shortly afterwards, but the goal was ruled out. Keith Bracken’s effort was heading towards the net before Robbie Piggott got the final touch, with the score disallowed for a square ball.

The quarterfinal remained finely balanced as O’Dempsey’s continued to threaten. Finlay kicked another free before Barry added a point from play, leaving just two between the sides with 10 minutes remaining.

That was as close as O’Dempsey’s would get. Portarlington settled again and gradually took control of the closing stages, with Paddy O’Sullivan kicking two points in succession before Fitzpatrick added another to bring his personal tally to 1-5.

Barry matched that tally for O’Dempsey’s with a final score, but Portarlington responded through Ronan Coffey.

There was one last opportunity for O’Dempsey’s to make things interesting when Jack Lennon was fouled inside the square. Barry took responsibility from the penalty spot, but his effort came back off the underside of the crossbar and bounced on the goal-line.

Portarlington survived that late scare and saw out the remaining moments to secure their place in the last four.

They will now face Killeshin in the semi-final after Killeshin knocked out Portlaoise on Saturday evening.

SCORERS:

Portarlington: Jordan Fitzpatrick 1-5 (1tpf), Paddy O’Sullivan and Rioghan Murphy (0-1f) 0-2 each, Ronan Coffey, Colm Murphy (f), Robbie Piggott, Curtis Lyons and Jason Moore 0-1 each.

O’Dempsey’s: Mark Barry 1-5 (0-3fs), Eoin Finlay 0-3 (0-2fs), Ben Coen 0-1.

PORTARLINGTON: Evan Grattan; Alex Mohan, Tom Corcoran, Cathal Bennett; Jason Moore, Robbie Piggott, Curtis Lyons; Hugo Emerson, Eoin McCann; Rioghan Murphy, Paddy O’Sullivan, Hugh Connolly; Jordan Fitzpatrick, Ronan Coffey, Sean Moran.

Subs: Colm Murphy for Mohan (15m, inj), Sean Michael Corcoran for McCann (Blood 31m, reversed at ht), Sean Byrne for Emerson (ht), Conor Moran for Bennett (ht), Keith Bracken for McCann (43m), Daragh Galvin for S Moran (52m).

O’DEMPSEY’S: Podge Bannon; Jim Holland, Johnny Kelly, Adam O’Leary; Jack Doris, Tommy Kehoe, Joe Lennon; Barry Howlin, Fionn Holland; Cormac O’Hora, Eoin Finlay, Daithi Howlin; Ben Coen, Mark Barry, Barry Kelly.

Subs: Jack Lennon for O’Hara (41m), Shane Nerney for Doris (44m), Joe Finn for Coen (47m), Tom Kelly for B Kelly (52m), Dylan Quick for D Howlin (55m).

Referee: Des Cooney (St Joseph’s)