Timahoe storm into semi-final as Portlaoise fade after halftime

LOETB LGFA Senior Championship Rd 3 

Timahoe 2-10 

Portlaoise 1-6 

TIMAHOE secured direct passage to the semi-final after a strong second-half performance saw them overcome Portlaoise by seven points in Friday evening’s LOETB Laois LGFA SFC Round 3 clash at Timahoe GAA.

With a place in the semi-final at stake for the winners, and the quarterfinal awaiting the losers, both sides entered the contest knowing exactly what was on the line. It made for a competitive and entertaining opening half, with both teams showing plenty of attacking intent and neither willing to give an inch.

Portlaoise opened the scoring through Lara Culleton, but Timahoe responded in style when Niamh Dundon rattled the top of the net after just four minutes.

Dundon almost had a second moments later, but Portlaoise goalkeeper Keeva O’Reilly produced an excellent save to deny her. O’Reilly was called upon again shortly afterwards when Dundon broke through, with the Portlaoise netminder once again keeping her effort out.

Portlaoise settled and a superbly taken goal from Alison Taylor and a point from play for Grainne Moran put them back in front, with Moran adding another shortly afterwards.

Timahoe then hit back with a second goal. Mo Nerney stepped up to take a free from the 14-metre line and made no mistake, sending the ball low into the bottom-right corner of the Portlaoise net.

Portlaoise continued to threaten, with Ciara Byrne finding Faye Brown with a ball over the top, but Emma Brophy was alert to the danger and made a good save.

At the other end, Katie Donoghue’s free struck the crossbar before falling to Maureen Young, but O’Reilly produced another outstanding save to keep Timahoe from extending their lead.

Donoghue eventually got on the scoresheet with a point, while Moran responded for Portlaoise. Moran then converted a free to level the game once again.

Portlaoise had another opportunity when Fiona Dooley picked out Alison Taylor, but Brophy made another important save. The exchanges remained intense as both sides looked to gain an advantage before the break, with the goalkeepers playing a significant role in keeping the game so tightly contested.

Nerney added a free for Timahoe before half-time, leaving the teams level at the interval, Timahoe 2-2, Portlaoise 1-5.

Timahoe came out strongly after the restart and began to take control of the contest. Donoghue opened the second-half scoring with a free, before Moran replied with Portlaoise’s only score of the half, also from a free.

From there, Timahoe gradually pulled away. Their intensity increased as the half progressed, while Portlaoise struggled to find the same attacking rhythm they had shown before the interval. Timahoe began to dominate possession and territory, forcing Portlaoise to defend for long periods.

Nerney converted another free before Dundon added two points in succession. Nerney then struck the crossbar with an effort that went over for another point before adding two further scores.

Orla Hennessy rounded off the scoring for Timahoe as they completed a dominant second-half display.

After an evenly matched opening 30 minutes, Timahoe’s ability to find another gear after the break proved decisive. Portlaoise were restricted to just one second-half point as Timahoe pulled clear to secure a seven-point victory.

The result earns Timahoe a direct route to the semi-final, while Portlaoise must now take the quarter-final route. The defeat was compounded by a double blow for Portlaoise, with Fiona Dooley and Ciara Crowley both forced to leave the field through injury. Their injuries will be a concern for Portlaoise as they now turn their attention to the quarter-final, with the hope that both players will recover in time for the important game ahead.

SCORERS:

Timahoe: Mo Nerney 1-5 (1-1fs), Niamh Dundon 1-2, Katie Donoghue 0-2 (0-1f), Orla Hennessy 0-1.

Portlaoise: Grainne Moran 0-5 (0-2fs), Alison Taylor 1-0, and Lara Culleton 0-1.

TIMAHOE: Emma Brophy; Niamh Kehoe, Aisling Quigley, Heather Bennett; Lilly Hooney, Jenny Murphy, Sarah Larkin; Sarah Quigley, Aoife Gorman; Maureen Young, Orla Hennessy, Niamh Dundon; Ava Dempsey, Mo Nerney, Katie Donoghue.

Subs: Keelin Moore for Young (51m), Ciara Gorman for Dempsey (55m), Sinead Goode for Quigley (62m).

PORTLAOISE: Keeva O’Reilly; Rachel Byrne, Deirdre Phelan, Sarah McDonald; Rebecca Reddin, Aishling Saunders, Ciara Crowley; Fiona Dooley, Ciara Byrne; Grainne Moran, Alison Taylor, Molly McNulty; Leah Brophy, Faye Brown, Lara Culleton.

Subs: Ellen Bergin for Crowley (55m, inj), Leah Loughman for Dooley (55m, inj).

Referee: Kevin Phelan (St Brigid’s).