Seven-try Portarlington finish their season with a flurry

Portarlington 41 

Midland Warriors 24 

SUNDAY afternoon saw Portarlington bring the curtain down on their 2025/26 Leinster League Division 2B campaign in some style, running in seven tries at Lea Road to beat Midland Warriors by 17 points.

The Laois club had harboured promotion aspirations in the first half of the season, but those came crumbling down after a defeat to Roscrea came sandwiched in between home and away defeats to bitter rivals, Portlaoise.

Ross Doyle's men have since secured a third-place finish for their season, but still felt they had a point to prove coming into the clash with Midland Warriors.

The Moate club hit the ground running with a converted try inside the first five minutes.

But Port hit back directly from the restart, with hooker Jack Hennessy powering over the line to cut the gap to two points.

The spotlight turned on Devlin McLaughlin midway through the half when the Portarlington prop crossed for a try in the 14th minute and did so again just three minutes later.

Fly half Andrew Evans converted the second to put the home side up by 17-7.

Midland Warriors needed the next score, but it would be Portarlington who finished the half with one last score, as centre Jordan Fitzpatrick touched down five minutes before the break to leave Port 15 points to the good, with the bonus point in the bag by half time.

Midland Warriors crossed for their second try eight minutes into the second half, but that was cancelled out practically from the restart thanks to another try for prolific centre, Jack Hynes.

The visitors kept coming and scored their third try afternoon to make it a ten-point game, 27-17.

But Portarlington put the game to bed midway though the second half with two tries in the space of six minutes. First over the line was Jack Hennessy for his second of the day, followed quickly by five-pointer from Andrew Evans.

The fly half added the extras both times to bring his side over the 40-point mark.

The visitors added a converted try late on to give them a bonus point to take back to Moate as they end the season in fifth.

Portarlington's third-place finish sees them end with a record of ten wins, one draw and four defeats for a total of 53 points, 14 points behind Roscrea and 16 points adrift of new champions, Portlaoise.

SCORERS:

Portarlington: Andrew Evans (1 try, 3 cons), Devlin McLaughlin and Jack Hennessy (2 tries each), Jordan Fitzpatrick and Jack Hynes (1 try each).

PORTARLINGTON: Ron Miguel Meras; Simon Doggett, Jordan Fitzpatrick, Jack Hynes, Peter Dunne; Andrew Evans, Darragh Perry; Aaron Costello, Jack Hennessy, Conor Perry; James Dunne, Jack Mccann; Gavin Crampton, Theo McGrath, Warren Murray.

Replacements: Fintan Murphy, Devlin Mclaughlin, Denville Maya, Jason Yellop, Jason Keogh, Eoin Worrell, Anavil Storey.

MIDLAND WARRIORS: Kristian Jocher; John Maguire, Liam Fitzpatrick, Cody Broderick, Lucky Oviawe; Dean Broderick, Paul Dunican; Darren McCormack, Conor Flynn, Neil O'Kane; Stephen Oakley, Thomas O'Shaughnessy; Simon Bradley, Eoin Hennessy-Thornton, Dylan Lynch.

Replacements: Conor Molloy, Neil Keegan, James O'Connell.

Referee: Colin Burkley.