The Town and The Saints dominate the latter part of the last century and the early years of the new Millennium
Bill and John Bolton are the only father and son to have captained their club to senior football titles
PRIOR to that, on the senior front, in 1975 St Joseph’s returned to winning ways. Tony O’Brien was the skipper when they proved too strong for Graiguecullen. A year later Portlaoise and Graiguecullen finished all square. Led by Mick Dooley Portlaoise, not alone reclaimed the title, but went to Croke Park to lift the Leinster Club title before Austin Stacks ended their All-Ireland dreams.
St Joseph’s came back to put titles back to back. Willie Campion led them to a two-point victory over O’Dempsey’s and a year later the Saints beat Timahoe led by Pat Fingleton.
However, Portlaoise were to deny them a treble when a last minute point from team captain Eamon ‘Atch’ Whelan saw the Town claim the crown.
1980 produced an unforgettable final. Graiguecullen were back again facing O’Dempsey’s. The Barrowsiders led for almost all of the contest. Then a Brian Costelloe delivery deceived ‘Chops’ Scully in the Graiguecullen goal and the title was bound for the Thatch on a 1-5 to 0-7 scoreline.
Portlaoise were seldom too far away and the put two more titles back to back. In 1981 Tom Prendergast led them to a narrow victory 0-12 to 2-5 over Graiguecullen.
The Town’s 1982 campaign went on for a long time. They beat Annanough in Portarlington. They then added the Provincial title beating Ballymun Kickams before beat St Finbar’s of Cork in Portarlington in the All-Ireland semi-final. They rounded off a great year when Liam Scully lifted the Andy Merrigan in Cloughjordan after they had beaten Clan na Gael of Roscommon 0-12 to 2-0.
A year later St Joseph’s, led by Michael Dempsey, beat O’Dempsey’s 1-8 to 1-5 in the final.
Portlaoise were back in Centenary year when they got the better of Ballyroan after a replay. Colm Browne was skipper winning 2-8 to 0-4. 1985 Mick Mulhall was skipper when Ballyroan suffered another loss.
In 1986 the Lalors of Emo were out in numbers but again the Town were too powerful winning 2-9 to 1-7 and Gerry Browne brought home the silver. A year on Noel Prendergast became the brother of another winning captain with Portlaoise beating Ballylinan comfortably.
1988 saw the only winning captain named Pacelli, Donegan was presented with the winner’s trophy as Portarlington beat Timahoe 1-6 to 0-8.
1989 became first drawn final since 1976 when St Joseph’s reclaimed the title beating the Little Town at a second attempt. After ending 1-9 apiece first outing, Aiden Lacey lifted the Delaney Cup when the Saints won the replay, 1-8 to 1-7.
Come 1990 and James ‘Skinny’ Fahy, his father played the trumpet with the Knights Showband, captain Portlaoise to beat Ballyroan 1-9 to 0-8 and you can be sure there was music in Fahy’s as Skinny arrived home with the cup.
1990 produced a big clash between Portlaoise and Portarlington. There were to be no with Portlaoise scoring 0-7 and Portarlington 0-5. Their captain was Liam Duggan whose his daughter helped Meath to many lady football titles and Liam helped himself to a few successes by the Royal.
In 1992, after many losses, Ballyroan goalkeeper Tony McMahon lifted the trophy for the Sky Blues after they shocked St Joseph’s, 0-8 to 0-6.
The following year, after another drawn encounter, the title again rested in The Heath. Denis Lalor was captain when they beat Ballyroan only after a replay. It ended 1-8 apiece first day. The replay went to extra time before The Heath came out on top, 2-17 to 2-15.
In 1994 Emo reached another final but captain Ger Lalor was on crutches. Mark O’Brien led a good St Joseph’s outfit to the title, final score 1-16 to 2-7.
Twenty years ago Brendan McCann skippered Portarlington as they beat St Joseph’s 1-10 to 0-7. A year later the same pairing but the winners were reversed, St Joseph’s 0-10 Portarlington 1-6 captained by Fergal Lacey.
For the first time since the ‘40s Stradbally reached finals back-to-back, first beating Portlaoise 2-10 to 0-16 in 1997 led by Donal Donoghue. They would retain the title beating the Rock just before Christmas when Eamon Delaney brought home the silver.
The last final of the century saw the ‘Legend’, Tommy Conroy bringing the silverware to the Ridge Road when Portlaoise beat St Joseph’s 1-13 to 1-11.
There was revenge for the Saints got revenge in the first year of the new Millennium when they 1-13 to 1-8 led by Joe Murphy.
2001 produced another drawn final when a late goal by Kevin McCann ensured another meeting with Stradbally. The first replay of the century saw Portarlington win 2-13 to 1-8 after both finished on 1-8 first day out. John Bolton was presented with the Delaney Cup a proud day for the family. His father Bill was captain in 1959, to this day they are the only father and son to be presented with the Delaney Cup.
2002 saw the trophy back in the capital town. Portlaoise beat St Joseph’s 2-11 to 1-6 when Ian Fitzgerald was team captain.
In 2003 history was made when Arles Kilcruise reached the final and shocked Stradbally in the decider to win 0-8 to 0-7 led by Patrick Conway.
Normal service was resumed in 2004 when Portlaoise beat Emo 0-15 to 0-6.
Twenty years ago, Eamon Delaney was back for a second helping when he lifted the Delaney Cup again after Stradbally relieved the Town of their title with a last minute point 1-10 to 1-9.
In the final part of the series we will look at the period from 2006 to the present day.
