Powerful second half sees Portlaoise CBS crowned 2nd year football champions

South Leinster 2nd Year Football 'B' Final

Portlaoise CBS 4-11 

Gorey CS 4-7 

PORTLAOISE CBS have been crowned South Leinster ‘B’ 2nd year champions after overcoming Gorey CS in an excellent battle in Carlow on Thursday morning.

The writing on the wall for Portlaoise CBS was not good at half time as they went in to the break in arrears by five points. But they produced a stunning comeback in the second half to run out champions.

The Portlaoise side started fast and were unlucky not to get two early goals as Ryan Fennell and Jack Moore forced Gorey keeper Darragh Morris into stunning saves.

But the Wexford side were slowly settling into this game and got control of the game for the remainder of the first half.

Midfielder Harry Swaine burst in for their first goal which sparked the game into life.

The response was empathic as Portlaoise CBS then stormed down the field straight after the Gorey goal to get a goal of their own after a great move which found Ryan Fennell who found the net Ryan Fennell and Luke Devaney hit back with points for the CBS but right on the stroke of half time, Gorey struck again for their third goal.

It was the lively corner forward Will Gardiner whose low show found the bottom corner to give Gorey a half time lead of 3-4 to 1-5.

Portlaoise CBS made a change at half time with Noah Finn coming in for Brooklyn McCarthy and it worked a treat as Conall Lalor moved to midfield and dominated the skies which helped create the magical comeback.

The Portlaoise side got their tails up and kicked three quick points through Finn McLernon, Darragh O’Riordan and Fionn Delaney to get their side right back into the contest.

They then hit the front after the great work from McLernon and O’Riordan who found Delaney who rattled the net and now the CBS led 2-8 to 3-4 inside five minutes of the second half Delaney added a point after that, but Gorey came back as two frees from O Lusaigh levelled it with a quarter of the game to go.

The CBS hit the front again moments later as they hit another goal after another brilliant team move involving James Lynch and McLernon who found Darragh O’Riordan who made no mistake In finding the net.

It was game over soon after as the Portlaoise school found the net from Ryan Fennell after the Gorey goalie made a great save from O’Riordan, but Fennell was alert and found the net.

Gorey stayed going though as Oisin White pointed and then the CBS were reduced to 14 men in the 58th minute when Lynch was dismissed following a second yellow.

That sparked an onslaught from Gorey for the remaining minutes and a goal from Paidi Bernie gave Gorey hope the arrears reduced to four points.

However, Portlaoise CBS stood firm at the back and got over the line to be crowned champions.

They now advance to the Leinster stage with a semi-final or final to come in the following weeks.

SCORERS:

Portlaoise CBS: Darragh O’Riordan 1-4 (0-3fs), Ryan Fennell 2-1, Fionn Delaney 1-3 (0-2fs), Finn McLernon 0-2, Luke Devaney 0-1.

Gorey CS: Seosamh O Lusaigh 0-4 (fs), Rian Cullen 1-1, Will Gardiner, Harry Swaine and Paidi Bernie 1-0 each, Oisin White 0-2.

PORTLAOISE CBS: Dylan Fitzpatrick (Portlaoise); Finn Moore (The Heath), Eoghan Dunne (Portlaoise), Zac Scully (Annanough); Luke Devaney (Portlaoise), James Lynch (Stradbally), Jack Davis (Stradbally); Tadas Sirvaitis (Portlaoise), Brooklyn McCarthy (Portlaoise); Finn McLernon (O’Dempsey’s), Darragh O’Riordan (Stradbally), Conall Lalor (Portlaoise); Jack Moore (The Heath), Fionn Delaney (Portlaoise), Ryan Fennell (Portlaoise).

Sub: Noah Finn (Portlaoise) for McCarthy (ht).

GOREY CC: Darragh Morris; Jim Kavanagh, Ben Morris, Charlie Kennedy; Seosamh O Luasaigh, Kyle Kinsella, Finn O’Brien; Paidi Bernie, Harry Swaine; Charlie Kavanagh, Rian Cullen, Oisin White; Noah Rossiter, Paddy Fanning, Will Gardiner.

Subs: Patrick Glinski for Rossiter (47m), Stephen O’Flaherty for Gardiner (55m).

REFEREE: Lar Murphy (Carlow)