PREVIEW AND PREDICTION: Clough/Ballacolla chasing fifth straight win

Clough/Ballacolla and Portlaoise are set to get the final round of the Laois Shopping Centre SHC underway on Friday night and set the tone for what promises to be an exciting weekend of championship action, with plenty still to be decided at both ends of the table.

The reigning county champions will be looking to finish the group stages with a perfect record when they take on Portlaoise in the final round of the Laois Shopping Centre SHC on Friday night.

Clough/Ballacolla have won all four of their games so far, seeing off Rosenallis, Ballinakill, Camross and Abbeyleix, but they are not yet assured of top spot in Group B.

Mick McEvoy’s side currently sit on eight points, two clear of The Harps, and a win would guarantee them top spot and a place directly in the semi-finals. There, they will face the winners of a quarter-final involving two of The Harps, Borris-Kilcotton and Rathdowney-Errill.

The reigning champions have not quite hit top gear during the group stages, but they have not needed to. Their second-half performance against Abbeyleix three weeks ago was particularly impressive as they ran out 12-point winners, scoring 16 points after the break.

They will now be hoping to produce another strong display and maintain their 100 per cent record heading into the knockout stages.

Portlaoise, meanwhile, have three points from a possible eight and currently sit third in Group A.

The Town began their campaign with a win over Ballyfin before securing a good draw against Borris-Kilcotton, but they have lost their last two games against The Harps and Rathdowney-Errill.

They will reach the quarter-finals provided neither Ballinakill nor Abbeyleix win their respective games this weekend. If Clough/Ballacolla win, as expected, Portlaoise will be hoping Rathdowney-Errill beat Abbeyleix and The Harps defeat Ballinakill, which would see them remain in third place.

That would set up a quarter-final meeting with Rosenallis in two weeks’ time.

Clough/Ballacolla will start as unbackable favourites and, with top spot and a direct route to the semi-finals on the line, they will have enough to make it five wins from five.

Prediction: Clough/Ballacolla

The game throws in at 7.30pm in Laois Hire O’Moore Park on Friday, September 4.