Portlaoise recover from slow start to overcome Clonaslee St Manman's

Portlaoise overcame a flat first half display to produce a far more convincing second half performance and see off Clonaslee St Manman’s in their opening Laois Shopping Centre SFC encounter in Annanough.

The Town were second best for much of the opening period and were perhaps fortunate to trail by only three points at the interval, with Clonaslee St Manman’s guilty of passing up a number of opportunities that could have left them with a more commanding advantage.

However, once Portlaoise found their rhythm after the restart, they took complete control. Their pace and direct running caused Clonaslee St Manman’s all sorts of problems, as they finished strongly to secure their place in the winners’ section of Round 2.

Clonaslee St Manman’s made an ideal start and raced into a 0-3 to 0-0 lead inside three minutes. Cathal Lee, who started in place of James McRedmond, opened the scoring with an excellent two-pointer before Cian Callaghan added another. Emmet Moloney eventually got Portlaoise off the mark, while Damon Larkin saw an effort for goal saved over by Oisin Keating.

Clonaslee St Manman’s then enjoyed their best spell of the contest, adding five unanswered points. Lee struck a second two-pointer before converting a free, while Niall Corbet and substitute John Rigney also found the target to leave them 0-8 to 0-2 clear after 20 minutes.

DJ White and Kevin Swayne responded for Portlaoise but James Dunne restored Clonaslee St Manman’s five-point cushion. Portlaoise came close to a goal when Ben Dempsey’s effort was brilliantly tipped onto the post by Keating before the danger was cleared. White added his second point, but Clonaslee St Manman’s continued to respond, with Rigney providing the pass for Bob Downey to score.

Late points from Moloney and Josh Hogan ensured Portlaoise remained within touching distance at the break as Clonaslee St Manman’s led 0-10 to 0-7.

Portlaoise emerged with renewed purpose after half-time and were level within four minutes. Ben O’Connor, White and Moloney all pointed from play to wipe out the deficit.

Downey and Rigney edged Clonaslee St Manman’s back in front, although that proved to be the final time they would lead. In between those scores, Larkin was again denied by Keating after getting on the end of a long delivery from Colin McEvoy.

The decisive moment arrived in the 41st minute when Portlaoise grabbed the game’s opening goal, albeit in fortunate fashion. Darren Brennan’s effort for a point dropped dangerously into the square and O’Connor was on hand to apply the finishing touch. Darragh Scully quickly restored parity, but from there Portlaoise took complete control, reeling off 1-7 without reply to put the game beyond doubt.

Kieran O’Donnell began the scoring spree before Brennan punished a breach with a two-point free. Clonaslee St Manman’s maor uisce Jack Owens was shown a red card after the breach by referee Seamus Mulhare following an exchange with linesman Johnnie Brennan.

O’Connor followed up his goal with another point before Portlaoise struck again. Larkin burst straight through the middle and released White, who finished to the net. Substitute Ricky Maher added his name to the scoresheet, while White and Hogan, from a free, stretched the margin to ten points approaching the final minute.

Clonaslee St Manman’s had the final say when Corbet converted a two-point free, but it was little more than consolation as Portlaoise finished with eight points to spare.

Final Score

Portlaoise 2-17

Clonaslee St Manman’s 0-15

SCORERS– Portlaoise: DJ White 1-4, Ben O’Connor 1-2, Emmet Maloney 0-3, Darren Brennan (two-point free) and Josh Hogan 0-2 each, Kevin Swayne, Damon Larkin, Ricky Maher and Kieran O’Donnell 0-1 each. Clonaslee St Manman’s: Cathal Lee 0-5 (two two-pointers, 0-1 free), Niall Corbet 0-3 (one two-point free), John Rigney and Bob Downey 0-2 each, James Dunne, Cian Callaghan and Darragh Scully 0-1 each.

PORTLAOISE: Conor Browne; Gary Whelan, David Seale, Ben Dempsey; Ben O’Connor, Ben Reddin, Emmet Maloney; Ciaran McEvoy, Kevin Swayne; Josh Hogan, Colin McEvoy, Darren Brennan; DJ White, Damon Larkin, Kieran O’Donnell. Subs: Ricky Maher for O’Donnell (53 mins), Conor Raggett for Seale (55 mins), Benny Carroll for McEvoy (57 mins)

CLONASLEE ST MANMAN’S: Oisín Keating; Diarmuid Conroy, Adam McDermott, DJ Callaghan; James Dunne, Darragh Scully, Noah Flynn; Cian Callaghan, Will Young; Bob Downey, Ger Reilly, Manus Dunne; Niall Corbet, Cian Conroy, Cathal Lee. Subs: John Rigney for C Callaghan (18 mins), James McRedmond for Conroy (55 mins)

Referee: Seamus Mulhare (The Heath)