Portlaoise power past Arles Killeen into SFC quarter-finals
Portlaoise's Josh Hogan breaks through the Arles Killeen defence during their SFC Rd 2 game at Laois Hire O'Moore Park on Saturday Photo: Denis Byrne
Portlaoise 0-26
Arles Killeen 1-12
PORTLAOISE booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Laois Shopping Centre SFC after pulling away from Arles Killeen to record an 11-point victory at Laois Hire O’Moore Park on Saturday evening.
Both sides had impressed in Round 1, although in very different ways. Portlaoise came good in the second half to see off Clonaslee/St Manman’s, while Arles Killeen showed their clinical edge as they got the better of 2025 Laois Shopping Centre IFC champions Park/Ratheniska.
There was little between the sides for much of the opening half, with Arles Killeen battling back from being five points down early on, but Portlaoise finished the first half strongly and never relinquished their advantage.
The Town eventually ran out 0-26 to 1-12 winners, with an impressive 12 different players getting on the scoresheet in a display that underlined the depth of their attacking options.
It was the first championship meeting between these sides in three years and Portlaoise made a blistering start.
Damon Larkin got them off the mark inside two minutes when he fisted over, before Kevin Swayne added their second. Emmet Maloney, Josh Hogan and another Swayne point followed as Portlaoise raced into a 0-5 to 0-0 lead after 12 minutes.
Arles Killeen finally settled when Paul Kingston converted a two-point free from around 50 metres. Colin Dunne then produced an excellent score from outside the arc before Donie Kingston showed great composure to dummy Kieran Lillis and tap over.
Darren Brennan restored Portlaoise’s lead, but Arles Killeen then struck for a fortunate goal. Ennae Byrne’s effort appeared to have fallen short, but the bounce off the hard surface deceived Portlaoise goalkeeper Conor Brown and the ball ended up in the net.
The sides exchanged the next four scores, with Larkin and DJ White responding for Portlaoise while Donie and Paul Kingston kept Arles Killeen in front.
Arles Killeen led by two points with three minutes of normal time remaining in the first half, but Portlaoise completely changed the momentum before the interval.
Ben Dempsey, DJ White, Josh Hogan, Brennan and Larkin all found the target in succession as Portlaoise rattled off five unanswered points to go from two behind to three ahead.
They went into the dressing room leading 0-13 to 1-7 and were in control of the contest from that point onwards.
Ciaran McEvoy and Kieran Lillis extended the Portlaoise advantage early in the second half, although Lillis was denied a goal when Jason Enright made an important save after Hogan had picked out the Portlaoise number eight.
Paul Kingston briefly reduced the deficit before Larkin landed a two-point score and Hogan converted a free to leave Portlaoise 0-18 to 1-8 ahead after 37 minutes.
Kingston added another point for Arles Killeen, but Portlaoise immediately replied through Hogan. The game then took a decisive turn when Arles Killeen were reduced to 14 players.
Donie Kingston was shown a straight red card for an incident involving David Seale as the Portlaoise player attempted to gather possession on the ground. Seale had initially been penalised for touching the ball on the ground before the red card was produced.
From there, Portlaoise took complete control. Ben O’Connor and Hogan added further points before Dunne replied for Arles Killeen, but the Town then registered four points without reply.
Larkin struck twice, while Benny Carroll landed a two-point score, as Portlaoise continued to stretch their lead.
Arles Killeen had a couple of late opportunities, with Oisin Byrne converting a free before Dunne’s effort was superbly saved by Conor Brown and deflected over. Substitute Ricky Maher completed the scoring for Portlaoise as they won by 11 points in the end.
SCORERS:
Portlaoise: Damon Larkin 0-7 (1 tp), Josh Hogan 0-5 (0-1f), Darren Brennan, Kevin Swayne, DJ White, Benny Carroll (tp) 0-2 each, Emmet Maloney, Ben Dempsey, Ricky Maher, Ciaran McEvoy, Kieran Lillis and Ben O’Connor 0-1 each.
Arles Killeen: Paul Kingston 0-5 (1tp, 0-1 free), Colin Dunne 0-4 (1tp), Ennae Byrne 1-0, Donie Kingston 0-2, Oisin Byrne 0-1 (f).
PORTLAOISE: Conor Browne; Gary Whelan, David Seale, Ben Dempsey; Ben O’Connor, Ben Reddin, Emmet Maloney; Ciaran McEvoy, Kieran Lillis; Kevin Swayne, Colin McEvoy, Darren Brennan; DJ White, Damon Larkin, Josh Hogan.
Subs: Gary Saunders for Maloney (blood 16-19m), Benny Carroll for Brennan (49m), Ricky Maher for Colin McEvoy (49m), Conor Raggett for Seale (53m), Conor O’Callaghan for White (55m).
ARLES KILLEEN: Jason Enright; Eoin Kelly, Joe Mulhare, Enda O’Rourke; Mick Wall, John Mahon, Ben Griffin; Oisin Byrne, Ennae Byrne; Conor Keightley, Paul Kingston, Sean O’Shea; Niall O’Rourke, Donie Kingston, Colin Dunne.
Subs: Dermot Julian for Keightley (42m), Andrew Wall for E O’Rourke (49m), Gerry McWey for Mahon (51m), Shane Byrne for P Kingston (57m).
Referee: Ciaran McManus (O’Dempsey’s)
