Portarlington power into SFC quarter-finals after Stradbally demolition

Portarlington are the first team safely through to the quarter-finals of the Laois Shopping Centre SFC after they dismantled Stradbally in Friday evening’s clash at Laois Hire O’Moore Park.

The first half was closely contested, with the lead changing hands several times, but Portarlington finished the opening period strongly. They scored seven of the final nine points of the half to take a four-point lead into the interval and never looked back after the restart.

Rioghan Murphy was the star of the show, finishing with an impressive 3-4, while Hugh Connolly also caught the eye with five points from play. Murphy also missed two penalties, but scored both rebounds.

Portarlington made the perfect start and led by two points inside the opening two minutes. Connolly opened the scoring after just 20 seconds before Murphy added another.

Stradbally then enjoyed their best spell of the first half, hitting five unanswered scores. Tom Shiel got them off the mark with a two-pointer before Garry Comerford converted a two-point free. From the resulting kick-out, Conor Buggie sent the ball back over Evan Grattan’s head and over the bar to put Stradbally 0-5 to 0-2 ahead after five minutes.

Sean Moran and Murphy responded with points for Portarlington, either side of an advanced mark from Stradbally’s Jack Deegan. Portarlington were then handed a golden opportunity to find the net when Colm Murphy was fouled by Comerford inside the square. Comerford’s kick-out had gone straight to Portarlington after they had registered the game’s first wide.

Murphy stepped up to take the penalty, but Comerford saved his effort. The Portarlington forward was quickest to react, however, and fired the rebound into the net.

Benny Lawlor levelled the sides for a second time with a free before Portarlington suffered a blow when Colm Murphy was forced off injured. It appeared to be the same injury that had ended his involvement against The Heath in Round 1.

Stradbally moved back in front when Shiel landed his second two-pointer, but Portarlington responded in style with four points in succession. Moran, Tom Corcoran, Hugo Emerson and Ronan Coffey all found the target to put Port two ahead. Stradbally’s final score of the half came from a David Donohue free, but Portarlington finished with three more points in a row.

Murphy, Coffey from a free and Connolly all split the posts, with Connolly securing the final score of the half after also opening the scoring. Portarlington led 1-11 to 0-10 at half-time.

Connolly added to his tally immediately after the restart before Murphy struck his second goal, finishing with his right foot.

A second penalty was then awarded to Portarlington after Comerford fouled Murphy and was shown a black card. Substitute Jack Larkin replaced Fionn McEvoy and went between the posts for the penalty.

Murphy stepped up once again and, despite Larkin saving his spot-kick, he was on hand to drill the rebound into the net for his second goal.

Shiel converted a two-point free for Stradbally to open their secondhalf account, but there was no stopping Portarlington as they rattled off seven unanswered scores.

Connolly added two more points, Jordan Fitzpatrick landed a two-pointer, Darragh Slevin scored twice and Murphy added another point to his tally, completing an outstanding individual performance with three goals and four points.

Cillian Maher converted a two-point free for Stradbally before substitute Daragh Galvin added a fourth Portarlington goal. Stradbally finished the game with points from David Dineen and Maher from a free, but Portarlington had long since put the outcome beyond doubt.

FINAL SCORE

Portarlington 4-19

Stradbally 0-16

SCORERS- Portarlington: Rioghan Murphy 3-4, Hugh Connolly 0-5, Daragh Galvin 1-0, Sean Moran, Darragh Slevin, Ronan Coffey (0-1 free) and Jordan Fitzpatrick (two-pointer) 0-2 each, Hugo Emerson and Tom Corcoran 0-1 each. Stradbally: Tom Shiel 0-6 (two two-pointers, one two-point free), Cillian Maher 0-3 (one two-point free, 0-1 free), Garry Comerford 0-2 (two-point free), Jack Deegan (mark), Conor Buggie, David Dineen, Benny Lawlor (free) and David Donohue (free) 0-1 each.

PORTARLINGTON: Evan Grattan; Alex Mohan, Tom Corcoran, Cathal Bennett; Darragh Slevin, Jason Moore, Curtis Lyons; Hugo Emerson, Eoin McCann; Rioghan Murphy, Sean Michael Corcoran, Hugh Connolly; Colm Murphy, Ronan Coffey, Sean Moran. Subs: Jordan Fitzpatrick for C Murphy (18 mins), Daragh Galvin for Moran (40 mins), Robbie Pigott for Moore (43 mins), Sean Byrne for S M Corcoran and Keith Bracken for McCann (50 mins)

STRADBALLY: Garry Comerford; Sean Maher, Liam Knowles, Conor McDonald; Eoin Buggie, James Devoy, Ben Dillon; Jack Deegan, Fionn McEvoy; Conor Goode, Conor Buggie, Joe Larkin; Benny Lawlor, Tom Shiel, David Donohue. Subs: Jack Larkin for McEvoy (35 mins), David Dineen for Buggie (40 mins), Cillian Maher for Donohue (43 mins), Jody Dillon for Comerford (48 mins)

Referee: Seamus Mulhare (The Heath)