Fitzpatrick stars as Portarlington see off dogged O’Dempsey’s

Portarlington are into yet another Laois Shopping Centre SFC semi-final after having five points to spare over their neighbours O’Dempsey’s in the last of the quarter-finals.

O’Dempsey’s defensive approach stifled and frustrated Portarlington throughout the game. However, Portarlington scored 1-2 unanswered after half-time, which ultimately proved to be the difference between the sides.

This was most certainly a game for the purists, as O’Dempsey’s set up with plenty of men behind the ball. They also allowed Portarlington plenty of possession from their own kick-outs. Curtis Lyons was the first Portarlington player to unlock the O’Dempsey’s defence as he ran towards goal before fisting the ball over. O’Dempsey’s replied a minute later as Mark Barry played a great pass to Eoin Finlay, who put the ball between the posts.

Portarlington were struggling to break down the O’Dempsey’s defence, with 10 minutes passing without either side registering a score. Robbie Piggott became the second Portarlington half-back to register a score when he put his side in front after 14 minutes. Ben Coen levelled the sides soon after.

Portarlington’s first three points all came from their half-back line, with Jason Moore the scorer this time. Mark Barry pointed a free and the sides were locked level for the third time. Jordan Fitzpatrick, who started instead of Colm Murphy, became the first Portarlington forward to register a score.

O’Dempsey’s were clinical when chances came their way and they went in front just before the break. Finlay and Barry pointed a free each, but Portarlington would lead at half-time as Fitzpatrick put a free over from outside the arc with the last kick of the half. It was 0-6 to 0-5 in favour of Ronan Sweeney’s side.

Portarlington came out after half-time and put four points between the sides as Rioghan Murphy played the ball across the square for Fitzpatrick to palm into the net. Colm Murphy converted a free and Rioghan Murphy added a point from play to put Portarlington well on their way to victory.

Barry scored a free, and Fitzpatrick matched it down the other end before O’Dempsey’s got in for their goal. Barry was the man who finished the move after receiving the ball from Fionn Holland. Rioghan Murphy tapped over a free to put four between them with a quarter of an hour to play. Portarlington thought they had their second goal, but Keith Bracken’s goal-bound effort was kicked into the net by Robbie Piggott and was disallowed for a square ball.

O’Dempsey’s weren’t going down without a fight as their deadly duo scored again. Finlay pointed another free and Barry scored from play to set up a tense last 10 minutes. However, the reigning champions took control of the ball and scored the next three points to put the game to bed. Paddy O’Sullivan scored two points in a row, with Fitzpatrick getting the other one to finish the game on 1-5.

Barry rounded off his own superb performance with a score as he also ended with 1-5. Portarlington’s final score came from Ronan Coffey before O’Dempsey’s were given a chance to reduce the deficit to two when Jack Lennon was fouled in the square. Mark Barry took the penalty, but saw his effort hit the underside of the crossbar and bounce on the line.

The full-time whistle was blown shortly afterwards to send Portarlington into yet another semi-final.

They have been drawn to face Killeshin, the side who knocked out Portlaoise on Saturday evening. For O’Dempsey’s, it’s the end of their 2026 campaign, but they ended it with a solid performance against their nearest neighbours.

FINAL SCORE

Portarlington 1-14

O’Dempsey’s 1-9

SCORERS- Portarlington: Jordan Fitzpatrick 1-5 (one two-point free), Paddy O’Sullivan and Rioghan Murphy (0-1 free) 0-2 each, Ronan Coffey, Colm Murphy (free), Robbie Piggott, Curtis Lyons and Jason Moore 0-1 each. O’Dempsey’s: Mark Barry 1-5 (0-3 frees), Eoin Finlay 0-3 (0-2 frees, Ben Coen 0-1.

O’DEMPSEY’S: Podge Bannon; Jim Holland, Johnny Kelly, Adam O’Leary; Jack Doris, Tommy Kehoe, Joe Lennon; Barry Howlin, Fionn Holland; Cormac O’Hora, Eoin Finlay, Daithi Howlin; Ben Coen, Mark Barry, Barry Kelly. Subs: Jack Lennon for O’Hara (41 mins), Shane Nerney for Doris (44 mins), Joe Finn for Coen (47 mins), Tom Kelly for B Kelly (52 mins), Dylan Quick for D Howlin (55 mins).

PORTARLINGTON: Evan Grattan; Alex Mohan, Tom Corcoran, Cathal Bennett; Jason Moore, Robbie Piggott, Curtis Lyons; Hugo Emerson, Eoin McCann; Rioghan Murphy, Paddy O’Sullivan, Hugh Connolly; Jordan Fitzpatrick, Ronan Coffey, Sean Moran. Subs: Colm Murphy for Mohan (15 mins, inj), Sean Michael Corcoran for McCann (Blood 31 mins, reversed at HT), Sean Byrne for Emerson and Conor Moran for Bennett (Both HT), Keith Bracken for McCann (43 mins), Daragh Galvin for S Moran (52 mins).

Referee: Des Cooney (St Joseph’s)