Kilcavan overcome Portlaoise to set up ACFL Division 3 final showdown with Crettyard

Kilcavan booked their place in the ACFL Division 3 final after pulling away from Portlaoise’s second string in the second half of their semi-final clash at the LOETB Centre of Excellence on Tuesday evening.

With the sides level at the interval, Kilcavan found another gear after the break, outscoring their opponents 1-7 to 0-5. A decisive goal from Adam Hunt midway through the half helped them establish daylight and ultimately secure a final meeting with Crettyard.

Portlaoise enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges and were rewarded with the game’s first score. Trevor Swayne was denied by Killian Doyle after combining with Paul Cahillane. Ryan Morrin’s 45 looked to be going wide of the target, but Swayne kept the ball in play and fed Oisín Fitzpatrick, who finished the move with a goal. Conor Dunphy followed up with a point to leave The Town 1-1 to 0-0 in front after seven minutes.

Kilcavan eventually got up and running through Niall Lalor in the 11th minute, though Conor Boyle quickly restored Portlaoise’s four-point cushion. The momentum then swung in Kilcavan’s favour as Robert Hunt and Evan Hunt chipped in with scores before Cian Ryle raised an orange flag with a two-pointer to put his side ahead.

Portlaoise had Ryan Morrin on target from another 45 late in the half, while Niall Lalor replied at the opposite end. Rory Lalor came close to a goal, only for Graham Brody to produce an important save, and the teams headed in level at 1-3 to 0-6.

Kilcavan resumed in impressive fashion. Rory Lalor struck a two-pointer and points from Gearoid Treacy and Adam Hunt quickly stretched the lead to four.

Ross Brennan’s introduction sparked Portlaoise and he immediately supplied Conor Dunphy for a score. However, Kilcavan continued to keep their noses in front, with Rory Lalor and Niall Lalor finding the target as Portlaoise responded through Conor Boyle and Oisín Fitzpatrick.

A controversial moment followed when Portlaoise appeals for a penalty after Paul Cahillane went to ground in the square were dismissed by referee Seamus Mulhare, who instead motioned that Cahillane had dived. Kilcavan capitalised in ruthless fashion moments later, Adam Hunt finding the net before adding a point to push his side seven clear.

Late scores from Jason Maher and Cahillane, from a free, reduced the deficit, but Kilcavan remained in control during the closing stages and safely negotiated their way into the Division 3 decider.

FINAL SCORE

KILCAVAN 1-13

PORTLAOISE 1-8

SCORERS - Kilcavan: Adam Hunt 1-3, Rory Lalor (one two-pointer) and Niall Lalor 0-3 each, Cian Ryle (two-pointer) 0-2, Gearoid Treacy and Robert Hunt 0-1 each. Portlaoise: Oisín Fitzpatrick 1-1, Conor Dunphy and Conor Boyle 0-2 each, Paul Cahillane (free), Ryan Morrin (45) and Jason Maher 0-1 each.

PORTLAOISE: Graham Brody; David Valinus, Gary Whelan, Jack O’Connell; Mark O’Connor, Chris Finn, Sean Powders; Conor Boyle, Ryan Morrin; Trevor Swayne, Conor Dunphy, Oisín Fitzpatrick; Cathal Duggan, Paul Cahillane, Ben O’Reilly. Subs: Ben Conroy for O’Connor (25 mins, inj), Ross Brennan for Swayne (36 mins), Dean Cullen for O’Connell (48 mins), Liam Conroy for B Conroy and Jason Maher for Fitzpatrick (both 55 mins).

KILCAVAN: Killian Doyle; Michael Hyland, Michael Bermingham, Barry Conroy; Ian Dunne, Evan Hunt, Robert Hunt; Gearoid Treacy, Niall Lalor; Tristan Hunt, Aaron Tarpey, Ronan Gorry; Rory Lalor, Adam Hunt, Cian Ryle. Subs: Darragh Hughes for Conroy (5 mins, inj), Declan White for Gorry (62 mins).

Referee: Seamus Mulhare (The Heath).