Portlaoise bounce back to winning ways with victory over Arles Killeen

ACFL Division 1 Rd 3 

Portlaoise 1-11 

Arles Killeen 0-10 

PORTLAOISE bounced back from their second-round defeat to St Joseph’s by running out four-point winners over Arles Killeen in Maganey on Sunday afternoon.

A Ben Brennan goal midway through the second half proved crucial to the away sides victory as it gave Portlaoise a five-point lead with 18 minutes to go and it was just too much for Arles Killeen to claw back.

It was nip and tuck throughout the first half as there was nothing between the sides. DJ White and impressed for Portlaoise as he got the first point of the contest. Eannae Byrne soon responded for the home side.

Both sides traded points on two occasions with White landing his second while Ben Brennan registered the other Portlaoise score.

Donie Kingston got two to leave it 0-3 apiece in the early stages of the game. Oisin Byrne then hit a two-pointer free to open up a two-point gap for the home side.

Portlaoise responded emphatically as they hit the next three points in a row as the grabbed a stranglehold on the kickouts. Gary Whelan, White and Ben Dempsey all scored to put Portlaoise back into the lead.

The home side then hit three of their own points with Shane Byrne, Eannae Byrne and Oisin Byrne all scoring. Josh Hogan finished the scoring in the half as Killeen led 0-8 to 0-7 at half time.

Portlaoise soon levelled through Damon Larkin straight after the break. They nearly had their first goal, but Jason Enright produced a brilliant save from White.

But the play was called back for a mark as White expertly caught the ball and stroke the mark over the bar.

Josh Hogan then grabbed his second as Portlaoise seized the initiative in the game. They finally got their goal through Ben Brennan who made no mistake in finding the back of the net to leave the scores at 1-10 to 0-8.

Kingston and Oisin Byrne reduced the gap to three points again, but Josh Hogan broke through the defence and fisted the ball over the bar for his third and the insurance point.

The home side then went in search of goals and had three attempts in the last few minutes. Kingston produced a brilliant save from Conor Brown, in the next attack Kingston had a shot that flashed past the post.

Oisin Byrne then had another effort off the foot of the post, but Portlaoise held out for a valuable two points on the road.

The second half saw the same pattern with Portlaoise getting on top. A Ben Brennan goal in the 42nd minute was the difference which gave Portlaoise a five-point lead.

Killeen got it back to three and went in search of goals but were denied on multiple occasions with Portlaoise holding out for the win.

SCORERS:

Portlaoise: DJ White 0-4 (0-1 mark), Ben Brennan 1-1, Josh Hogan 0-3, Gary Whelan, Ben Dempsey and Damon Larkin 0-1 each.

Arles Killeen: Oisin Byrne 0-4 (1 tpf), Donie Kingston 0-3 (0-1f), Eannae Byrne 0-2, Shane Byrne 0-1.

PORTLAOISE: Conor Browne; Gary Whelan, Ben Dempsey, Conor Ragget; Trevor Swayne, Colin McEvoy, Oisin Fitzpatrick; Damon Larkin, John Mark Foley; Josh Hogan, Darren Brennan, Ben Brennan; DJ White, Ross Brennan, Conor O’Callaghan.

Subs: Ryan Morrin for B Brennan (43m), Ronan McEvoy for R Brennan (45m), Kieran O’Donnell for O’Callaghan (45m).

ARLES KILLEEN: Jason Enright; Andrew Wall, Dermot Jullian, Ger McWey; Michael Wall, John Mahon, Ben Griffin; Oisin Byrne, Conor Keightley; Niall O’Rourke, Eannae Byrne, Sean O’Shea; Shane Byrne, Donie Kingston, Michael Doheny.

Subs: Kevin Lambe for Sean O’Shea (ht), Daire Eyre for Wall (45m).