Conroy on the double as Portlaoise defeat Ballyfin in Laois GAA SHC
1-5 unanswered after half time sent Portlaoise on their way to a win in Round 1
Portlaoise GAA got their Laois Shopping Centre Laois GAA Senior Hurling Championship campaign off to a winning start on Friday evening as two goals from Liam Conroy inspired them to a hard-earned victory over Ballyfin.
The Town’s blistering start to the second half ultimately proved decisive as they emerged from the interval in devastating fashion, reeling off 1-5 without reply to seize control of the contest.
The game began at a ferocious pace, with 15 scores registered inside the opening 17 minutes. Ballyfin opened the scoring through a Garreth Dunphy free before Cathal Duggan responded in kind for Portlaoise. Ballyfin then enjoyed a dominant spell, hitting five unanswered points in as many minutes. Dunphy converted two frees and a 65, while Ciaran Quinn and Eamon Duff also found the target from play to leave Ballyfin leading 0-6 to 0-1 after eight minutes.
Portlaoise responded in emphatic fashion, drawing level inside 90 seconds. Duggan and Davy Delaney both pointed before Liam Conroy gathered a high delivery and blasted an unstoppable finish beyond Eoin Connolly. Ballyfin steadied themselves with points from brothers Darragh and Allan Connolly, but Delaney intercepted a misplaced puck-out from Brochan O’Reilly before splitting the posts. Duggan then converted another free to restore parity with 21 minutes on the clock.
The sides continued to trade scores before the interval. Gary Hofmeister and Duff edged Ballyfin back in front, while Duggan replied with another placed ball for Portlaoise as Ballyfin carried a narrow 0-11 to 1-7 advantage into half-time.
Portlaoise exploded into life after the restart. Duggan opened the scoring with a free before half-time substitute David O’Mahoney produced a superb effort. Another replacement, Matthew Dempsey, then teed up O’Mahoney for his second point before The Town struck their second goal. DJ White’s effort dropped short, Connolly could only bat it down and Conroy reacted quickest to hammer the sliotar to the net. Delaney and Conroy added points as Portlaoise surged into a commanding 2-12 to 0-11 lead.
Ballyfin finally ended a 19-minute scoring drought when Dunphy’s delivery into the square was claimed by Christopher Dunne, who finished to the net. Duggan replied with another free before Ballyfin mounted one final charge, reeling off four successive points through three from Duff and one from Hofmeister to cut the gap to a single point.
However, Portlaoise held their nerve down the stretch. A superb long-range effort from Cormac Rigney was followed by another Duggan free to seal a three-point win.
Portlaoise now face Borris-Kilcotton next weekend, while Ballyfin will look to bounce back against Rosenallis.
FINAL SCORE
Portlaoise 2-15
Ballyfin 1-15
SCORERS- Portlaoise: Cathal Duggan 0-7 (0-5 frees), Liam Conroy 2-1, Davy Delaney 0-3, David O’Mahoney 0-2, Cian Taylor and Cormac Rigney 0-1 each. Ballyfin: Garreth Dunphy (0-3 frees, 0-1 65) and Eamon Duff 0-5 each, Christopher Dunne 1-0, Gary Hofmeister 0-2, Ciaran Quinn, Darragh Connolly and Allan Connolly 0-1 each.
PORTLAOISE: Brochan O’Reilly; Conor Raggett, Frank Flanagan, Eoin O’Connor; Ross Brennan, Cormac Rigney, Cian Dowling Byrne; Cian Taylor, Sean Luke Taylor; Dean Lynch, Ciaran McEvoy, Cathal Duggan; David Delaney, Liam Conroy, DJ White. Subs: David O’Mahoney for McEvoy (HT, inj), Matthew Dempsey for C Taylor (Blood 32-38 mins), Matthew Dempsey for Lynch (48 mins), Cormac Keegan for O’Mahoney (Blood 54-60 mins).
BALLYFIN: Eoin Connolly; Cillian Rowney, Sean O’Neill, Sean O’Neill; Allan Connolly, Conall Rowney, David Connolly; Darragh Connolly, Shane Conroy; Garreth Dunphy, Eanna Lyons, Eamon Duff; Gary Hofmeister, Ciaran Quinn, Christopher Dunne. Subs: Ronan Carroll for Conroy (36 mins).
Referee: Mick Cleere (Rathdowney-Errill).