Cahillane hat-trick sees Portlaoise into cup semi-finals at the expense of Gracefield

Paul Cahillane came off the bench to score a ten-minute hat-trick as Portlaoise AFC qualified for the semi-finals of the Division 3 Cup. Gracefield were 2-0 up with 20 minutes to play when Cahillane came on, completely turning the tide as Portlaoise marched into the semis.

The men in green survived a late scare when Gracefield won a penalty in the 93rd minute - but the visitors could not make it count.

Portlaoise AFC 'B' 3 

Gracefield FC 2 

Gracefield took the lead inside the opening quarter of an hour with a fine strike from Thomas Slevin, beating Callum McHugh from 20 yards. The visitors had their tails up after the goal and began playing some lovely football, with Curtis Lyons Carroll and Jordan Fallon causing problems on either wing.

Portlaoise finally created a few half chances and were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty for a strong challenge on Darren Rogers just inside the area.

But Gracefield made it 2-0 in the 37th minute when Eamon Kelly got on the end of a long ball over the top from centre back, Jose Delgado. Kelly took a lovely touch and held off Anthony Kavanagh before getting his shot away to double the lead.

Clifford Nolan almost had a third moments later when he ran in behind the Portlaoise defence, but he skewed his shot well wide of the target. Shane Collins made a great run into the Gracefield box just before half time but failed to test the goalkeeper, sending his shot wide of the target. 2-0 at half time.

It was all Portlaoise after the break, with the hosts creating a flurry of early chances, the best falling to Darren Rogers. With an hour on the clock, a deluge of rain and sleet began to bombard Rossleighan Park, forcing the referee to take both teams off the field temporarily.

The game resumed ten minutes later with Portlaoise again in control, but a fast-deteriorating pitch stifled both teams' ability to play their passing style. The hosts pulled a goal back 15 minutes from time thanks to Cahillane, who was only on the field a matter of moments. 

Gracefield failed to deal with a long ball into the box leading to a mix-up between Kiernan Willmot and his goalkeeper. Cahillane pounced, prodding the ball into the net to give his team a lifeline.

The sides were level just five minutes later when Cahillane again found the net, getting his foot to the ball after a tidy cut-back from Collins. And he completed his hat-trick five minutes from time, when he swung in a left-footed free kick from out on the touchline that beat everyone in the box before eventually bouncing into the net.

But there was more late drama in stoppage time when Gracefield were awarded a penalty for a hand-ball from Nathan Carpenter. Surprisingly, Gracefield's goalkeeper made the long walk to take the penalty, but Eugene Nolan drove his effort well over the crossbar.

Portlaoise are through as a result and will be licking their lips at the prospect of winning some silverware.