Portlaoise secure Laois SFC quarter-final spot with victory over Arles-Killeen

Portlaoise secured their spot in the quarter finals of the Laois Senior Football Championship by brushing Arles Killeen with a dominant second half performance. 

The Town took a long time to warm up as it took them 20 minutes to register their first score, and a further two until they scored from play. 

PORTLAOISE 2-10 

ARLES KILLEEN 0-4 

Arles Killeen had bodies aplenty behind the ball despite having a strong wind advantage in the first half and Portlaoise broke through eventually before half time, kicking two goals to take a five-point lead at the break. 

Coming out with the breeze at their backs in the second half Portlaoise never looked in any danger as they kicked the opening six points in a row and kept Arles Killeen scoreless until the 52nd minute. 

Portlaoise struggled early on to get any scores on the board and saw several chance either float wide or drop short into Jason Enright’s arms. 

Arles Killeen got the scoring underway after five minutes thanks to a Paul Kingston free. They had very few chances to add to that lead in the proceeding 10 minutes as Portlaoise continued to misfire.  

Kingston saw a second chance at a free go wide but he made amends moments later from a 45 to put them two ahead 15 minutes into the game. 

Portlaoise eventually rose their first flag at the town end on 20 minutes when Benny Carroll was on the receiving end of a tough shoulder and got a free for his troubles which Ricky Maher popped over. 

David Seale got the game’s first score from play to level things up two minutes later. 

Arles Killeen found themselves in front once again when Colin Dunne did well to win a mark and kick it over, but things were about to take a turn for his team. 

Portlaoise’s opening goal came from an excellent run down the right from Benny Carroll before he cut inside and played the ball to Paul Cahillane who finished well. 

A defensive mix up right on the eve of half time gifted Portlaoise their second goal. Arles Killeen failed to clear their lines and a pass across the goals was intercepted on the 14 by Carroll and he handed it off to Damon Larkin to hammer it home and make it 2-2 to 0-3 at half time. 

Portlaoise finished the first half on a high and brought that momentum into the second half, kicking five points in the opening 10 minutes. 

Larkin got the opener, a well taken point to add to his first half goal and Maher quickly followed with two, the first an exquisite attempt from play. 

Benny Carroll added the fourth for The Town, a lovely effort from the right wing and David Seale made it five in eight minutes moments later. 

We’d have to wait another eight minutes for the next score to come from a Maher free and Portlaoise were well out of sight with 14 minutes left on the clock. 

Arles Killeen got their first score of the second half on 52 minutes, over 30 minutes of play since their last score when Paul Kingston saw a goal attempt from a free saved but Sean O’Shea tidied it up with a fist over the bar. 

That would be their only score of the second half and final score of the game as Portlaoise went on to see out the half well with two late points, one each for Maher and Carroll.