Portlaoise and Portarlington top the pile over the past 20 years, with a few others in between

AT the end of the last instalment, we recorded how Eamon Delaney captained Stradbally for a second time in 2005 to win the Delaney Cup, relieving Portlaoise of their title with a last minute point.

Two new names contested the 2006 final when Ballyroan Gaels had three points to spare over Arles Killeen.

The following year had a familiar ring to it when Portlaoise and Stradbally faced off in O’Moore Park. Portlaoise ran out convincing winners on a 1-14 to 0-7 scoreline. But no one would have predicted what would unfold over the next eight years.

In 2008 Timahoe’s hopes of winning just their second senior football title were dashed by Portlaoise. The lads in red had no answer to the Town’s pace and movement that saw them pull away in the final quarter and win by 2-14 to 1-7, with later Peter Mcnulty scoring 1-3.

The 2009 final may not have lived up to its billing, but it was notable for a few issues, most notably the way Arles Killeen stuck rigidly to their game plan and how Portlaoise patiently responded to it. Kilcruise pulled almost everyone back into defence denying Portlaoise the space to play the ball around, but meaning that when Kilcruise did win possession there was no one forward. In the end Portlaoise were just too strong winning 1-9 to 0-8.

The same pairing were to do battle in 2010. Experience is a priceless commodity and Portlaoise had it in bucket fulls. Despite the enormous pressure being put under by an unyielding Arles Kilcruise side they kept their cool, never panicked and in the end eked out the 1-018 to 0-8 victory they probably deserved on the day.

The 2011 final was to be a history making one with Portlaoise becoming the first club to win five titles on the trot. They may have been slow to get going against Graiguecullen but finished strong to win 1-11 to 1-6.

The final pairing in 2012 had a familiar ring to it, Portlaoise v Arles Kilcruise. And for the third time in four years the Town had too much in the tank for the maroon clad men winning 1-13 to 0-9. On this evidence it was hard to see Portlaoise’s winning sequence being brought to an end in the foreseeable future.

2013 saw the club from the other side of the Arles parish – Killeen looking to be the side to stop Portlaoise in their tracks. It was Portlaoise’s strength in depth and the introduction of substitutes after half time that resulted in the balance of power swinging Portlaoise’s way and win by 2-8 to 1-8. And coincidentally, Portlaoise had beaten Kilcruise in the semi-final,.

2014 was to be a repeat of 2013 with Portlaoise and Killeen doing battle in the final. It may not have been the prettiest of games but that will not matter to Portlaoise, after all they had amassed eight-in-a-row senior football county titles.

And while the Town were to continue their roll, what marks out this final is the way the fortunes of the two Arles clubs have diminished over the next decade.

In the last drawn final, 2015, Paul Lawlor kicked the equalising point with four minutes of injury played, Portlaoise 0-15 Emo 2-9. Paul kicked six of his side’s points and the ageless Michael added the two goals. In the replay Portlaoise ran out convincing 2-13 to 0-7 winners.

Few imagined what would happen 12 months later.

When Portlaoise and Stradbally took to the field we felt his might be a tight contest but that the Twon would make further had winning ten-in-a-row. With minutes to go in the final that looked like how it would play. But then op stepped Jody Dillion and rifle the ball to the top corner of the net and Portlaoise’s reign was brought to an end.

I suppose you could cay normal service was resumed in 2017 when Portlaoise had a convincing 3-13 to 0-10 win over Ballylinan, Paul Cahillane scoring 1-6.

A year and it was the Town and O’Dempsey’s who faced up in final day. O’Dempsey’s three-decade wait for a title fell short as the Portlaoise juggernaut continued to steam through history, winning 2-16 to 1-13.

I wonder what odds the bookies would have offered you if you had looked for odds on Portlaoise and Killeshin contesting the senior final in 2019. In the end Portlaoise’s latest winning just about survived when they won by a single point, 0-14 to 2-7.

And on to the second decade of the new Millennium, a year that marked the emergence of Portarlington as a real power in Laois football. Along with Graiguecullen both were seeking their 13th senior title when they met in the final, Portarlington going back to 2001 since they last tasted success and Graiguecullen even further back to 1965. In the end, a storming first half display laid the founda-tion for this well-deserved victory for Portarlington winning on a 1-14 to 0-7 score-line.

Twelve months later Portarlington were back in O’Moore agains as hot favourites to retain their crown against the old foe, Portlaoise. Few envisaged just how comprehensively they would kill off what was a pitiful Portlaoise challenge, winning 4-9 to 0-6.

The following year would pit Portarlington, going for their third successive title, against their near neighbours, O’Dempsey’s in the final. The last time a club had put three titles back to back, Brian ‘Bruno’ McCormack was Portlaoise captain when they beat Arles Kilcruise in 2009. In horrendous condition in O’Moore Park Portarlington blew O’Dempsey’s out of the water (quite literally), winning 2-13 to 0-8.

Two years ago Portlaoise and St Joseph’s contested the final having already drawn in round one. In the semi-finals Portlaoise accounted for Graiguecullen while St Joseph’s dethroned the champions Portarlington. On final day St Joseph’s prevailed by a narrow margin and Brian Daly carried the Delaney Cup across the Windy Gap.

Last year the stage was set for an old time county decider, Portlaoise taking on Portarlington. After a year’s absence the title returned to the Offaly border when Portarlington comfortable saw off the Portlaoise challenge on a 3-13 to 0-13 scoreline. This was their fourth county title in five years, marking the first under manager Pat Roe.

And so we come to 2025.

Could Courtwood make history and win their first ever senior title, or would Portarlington continue their domination of club football in Laois?

Two weeks ago Courtwood pulled off one of the greatest shocks ever in Laois football. Making their first-ever appearance in a senior final, Courtwood, just as in the semi-final, Dylan Keane came to their rescue, splitting the posts deep in injury to ensure a replay.

By 8pm, or so this evening, we should know who the 2025 champions are.