Portarlington get off to perfect start with victory over Ballyfin in Laois Shopping Centre SFC

Portarlington have won their opening game of this year’s Senior Football Championship after they were made to work for their victory over Ballyfin this evening in Laois Hire O’Moore Park.

Ballyfin well and truly pushed Anthony Cunningham’s men to the pin of their collars with a late flurry of scores enough to see his side over the line.

Portarlington 1-10

Ballyfin 0-9

The reigning county champions almost had the ball in the net within the first minute as Ronan Coffey set up Darragh Galvin, but his effort was superbly saved by Eoin Connolly in the Ballyfin net. The game’s first score would come courtesy of a placed ball as Ballyfin’s Darragh Connolly fouled Galvin with Rioghan Murphy pointing the resulting free.

Portarlington had to be patient in the early stages of the contest as Ballyfin held a strong defensive shape. Their second score came as a result of using the ball well with Rioghan Murphy teeing up Sean Michael Corcoran to fist the ball over the black spot.

Ballyfin began to grow into the game and their first flag came from James Finn as he floated a score over off the outside of his boot. Sean Moore levelled the game as he kicked over a free having been fouled. Jason Moore pushed Portarlington in front after the half-back went on a superb run before splitting the posts.

Ballyfin then hit their purple patch in the first-half with three scores without reply. Jack Priestley pointed after Ballyfin had worked the ball from back to front. Sean Moore kicked the other two scores, one coming from a feee and one from a stunning left footed effort.

Rioghan Murphy opened his account with a free in reply before Sean Moore done the same to leave Ballyfin leading by two points as the clock ticked towards half-time. However, it would be Portarlington who would go in ahead at the break as Coffey once again set up a goal-scoring chance with Colm Murphy making no mistake in tucking the ball beyond Connolly in the Ballyfin goals. 1-4 to 0-6 in favour of Anthony Cunningham’s men.

The second period began the same as the first as Portarlington kicked the first two scores. Colm Murphy pointed a free while Rioghan Murphy scored from play to give them a three-point cushion.

Ballyfin would once again raise three white flags unanswered to level the contest as Sean Moore slotted over three frees to take his individual tally to six points. Ronan Coffey was quickest to react for the next score as a quickly taken free found the Portarlington forward who split the posts.

Rioghan Murphy put two between the sides with his third point. The eventful victors would push themselves three points ahead with a well-taken score from play as they showed their champion credentials to take the game away from Ballyfin. Rioghan Murphy pointed another free as their lead now stood at four points. Portarlington held onto the ball for the last few minutes to make sure of the victory.