Portlaoise for 27th or Crettyard for number two

FOR many years the minor football final was the curtain raiser to the senior final. For some unknown reason that all changed and nobody seems to knows why. Gladly that arrangement made its reappearance last year when Portlaoise picked up where they left off in 2012 when they won their 25th title.

On Sunday Portlaoise will defend their title captained by county player, Finn Dawson. They are in the final on merit and had a severe test on Saturday last against last year’s beaten finalists, Portarlington.

This year they face a unique opposition which sees Crettyard-Spink with a few isolated players from neighbours, Killeshin.

Crettyard-Spink have joined forces for many years and this year have enjoyed a great run at this level. In earlier games they lost narrowly to both O’Dempsey’s and Portlaoise, but beat Ballyroan Abbey, Mountmellick, Graiguecullen, and then The Heath in the quarter-final.

Last Thursday as Storm Amy was gathering force, Crettyard-Spink were on the pitch in Ratheniska against the home team and in atrocious weather the visitors came away with victory. This means they will now contest their first final since Evin O’Carroll led them to their only title back in 2013 when they beat a powerful St Joseph’s-Barrowhouse 4-12 to 0-10.

On Sunday they will look to players like Mark Dowling, Fionn Brennan, Conor McDonald, Rhian Dwyer, the Brennan twins Darren and Michael, Jack McGrath along with vice-captains Tiernan Paterson and Jamie Fitzpatrick.

Not many clubs overcome the Town especially in a final. They will look to goalkeeper Daire Timmons, the hero last week, Mark O’Connor, Oisin McRedmond, Cian Fitzpatrick, Aiden O’Reilly and inspirational captain in Finn Dawson who has lined out with Laois in the past two years.

Early comers should be in for a treat if the game is anything like the thriller between Portlaoise and Portarlington last week.