St Joseph's maintain perfect start in Division 1 with victory over Portlaoise

St Joseph’s have cemented their position at the top of the ACFL Divison 1 standings with a splendid win over Portlaoise in Rathleague this evening.

Having trailed by three points with 35 mins on the clock, they never looked back as they put Portlaoise to the sword in the second-half.

St Joseph’s 1-14

Portlaoise 0-13

Portlaoise began the game with real intent as they got the game’s first in the opening minute. Ricky Maher pointing a free for the home side. Benny Carroll added to Portlaoise’s tally as they raced into an early lead.

Aaron Cooney ensured that Portlaoise wouldn’t get in for a green flag as he saved superbly with his feet from Aaron McEvoy. Portlaoise’s next scores came from placed balls as Maher and DJ White both split the posts as Portlaoise led four points to no score after nine minutes.

St Joseph’s would get their first score of the contest in the 10th minute as half-back Conor Kealy pointed well from distance. Dylan Doyle would add another for the away side as he capitalised on a poor hand-pass from the Portlaoise defence to raise a white flag.

Paul Cahillane pointed another free for Portlaoise with Josh O’Brien replying with a free of his own. Oisin Hooney made it a one-point game as he pointed from play. White kicked a further two frees while O’Brien got his second score of the game in between the two placed balls. Portlaoise leading seven points to five at the break.

Portlaoise started the second-half just like they had the first as Jason Maher and another free from White pushed them four points clear. Michael Keogh and Ricky Maher (free) traded scores before St Joseph’s grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and scored 1-2 without any Portlaoise resistance.

O’Brien and Doyle both kicked the points while O’Brien would rattle the back of the Portlaoise net as he made the most of a slack kick-out from Brown. The away side could have had another goal had it not been for a superb block from Benny Carroll on Michael Dempsey.

Portlaoise keeper Brown came forward to kick a free as St Joseph’s led by two. Their lead would soon be five points as Doyle kicked another from play while substitute Jamie O’Brien also dissected the posts. Josh O’Brien tacked on another point with a free. 

Portlaoise went in search of goals as they were down by five but they never came as they pointed two more with Cahillane and White kicking a score each off their left boot. Michael Keogh got the game’s final score as St Joseph’s secured their fifth win with five games played.