Stroll in the park for Portlaoise in Garda demolition

Portlaoise 56 

Garda Westmanstown 21 

Portlaoise got the second phase of their Leinster League Division 2B campaign off to a resounding success with the comprehensive defeat of Garda Westmanstown in Togher on Sunday.

From the moment Portlaoise scored their first try in the second minute there was to be no stopping them. By the half hour mark they had 35 points to spare over their opponents.

Garda pulled back a try before the break and added a second just after the restart but there was never any danger to the home. Portlaoise may not have been as fluid in the second period but they made a raft of changes ensuring that players on the verges got game time, which could be vitally important as the latter stages of the season progresses.

It was game where some of the more experienced players like Mark Sherlock in the forwards and Bryan Croke in the backs pulled the strings but the contribution of all was outstanding.

Unlike a certain team in green on Thursday night, no one could deny the intent of these boys on Sunday. In the backs the likes of Jamie Holihan, Joe McCormack, Kevin Griffin and Jake Byrne were persistent, while up front all eight starters and the replacements never gave an inch. One stand out display came from replacement prop Daniel Breen, who despite being a novice stood up to all that was asked of him.

The game was just two minutes old when winder Jamie Holohan somehow slithered through three of four tackles to score ion the corner. Bryan Croke converted.

Even at this early stage Portlaoise threatened to overwhelm the visitors but could not add to the tally until the 14th minute, and the try was a thing of beauty.

A Garda penalty kick failed to find touch and was gathered by Kevin Griffin. He popped a pass to Bryan Croke on his outside who broke the line a fed the ball back inside to Griffin. He in turn flipped it out to winger Mark Bracken to cross in the corner. Croke’s conversion opened up a 14 point gap.

A high tackle on the flying Niall Keenan saw Croke tap the ball into the corner for a five-metre lineout. Mark Sherlock led the charge but was just short of the line but Glen Connolly was alert and dived in for the try. Again Croke was on target with the kick.

Minutes later try number four arrived when Croke made a daring break from inside his one half to score under the pasts, and adding the extras for good measure.

Ad again minutes later another try after Connolly made an excellent turn over. The ball was flashed across the back line with Kevin Griffin placing Cormac Rigney to cross. Croke’s conversion mad it 35-0 with 28 minutes on the clock.

Garda might have opened their account on the half hour but Jamie Holohan somehow got back to tackle their winger as he looked certain to score.

T

he visitors however did have the final say of the half when, from a five metre scrum, their scrumhalf Robin Schiller caught the home defence napping and nip in for a try which converted.

From the kick off for the second half Garda doubled their tally racing in for a second try.

With Portlaoise making a raft of changes at half time their play became somewhat disjointed but it did the fringe players some valuable game time.

Try number six came from another close in line out. Cormac Rigney won it, fed Sherlock and from the maul the ball was flashed wide where Joe McCormack found a huge gap to score. Replacement Oisin Hade converted.

Garda out half Michael Russell scored their third try which Schiller converted.

Portlaoise were top round off their display with two tries, one from replacement Eric Smith and the final one from Niall Keenan, both of which Hade converted.

This bonus point win sees Portlaoise close to gap to Roscrea at the top of the table to just two points. The Navy Blues head to Lea Road next week for their three game in a matter of weeks against Portarlington where they will be hoping to maintain their winning ways.

PORTLAOISE: Niall Keenan; Jamie Holihan, Joe McCormack, Kevin Griffin, Mark Bracken; Bryan Croke, Jake Byrne; Paddy Coss, Ryan McEvoy, Aran Coiley; Michael Rigney, Darragh Davis; Mark Sherlock, Glen Connolly, Cormac Rigney.

Replacements: Daniel Breen, Joe Stevens, Cian Coffey, Mark Kelly, Oisin Hade, Jack Duffin, Eric Smith.

GARDA: Alan Murphy; David Dunne, Anthony Castillo, Robert Kihls, Senan Morris; Michael Russell, Robin Schiller; Matthew O’Connell, Neil Costigan, Ciaran Allen; Paul Kelly, Sean Garrett; Gary Crowe, Cillian Walsh, Brendan Darcy.

Replacements: Jack Bermingham, Attila Urban, Colm Carroll, David Harrington, Gavin Maher, Shane Deegan.