Preview and prediction for the Laois SFC County Final between Portlaoise and Portarlington

The final weekend of top grade club championship action is upon as Portlaoise and Portarlington get ready to compete to be crowned Laois Shopping Centre Senior Football champions for 2024.

It'll either be a 36th county title for Portlaoise or a 16th title for Portarlington which would see them close the gap on Stradbally to just one in the roll of honour.

The game is set up to be a right good battle. Portlaoise have been scoring for fun in the championship so far and have raised 15 green flags in their four games in the championship. They're playing a more traditional style of football which sees their players go man for man all over the pitch.

It's something that none of the teams that Portlaoise have played so far have been able to get to grips with. O'Dempsey's were probably the best side at defending Portlaoise but also the weather for their semi-final wasn't ideal for a game of football. Ballylinan, Emo and St Jospeh's were all defeated by Aidan Fennelly's side on route to the final.

Portarlington have gone through the championship somewhat under the radar. They got the better of local rivals O'Dempsey's in Round 1 before losing to Graiguecullen in Round 2 after extra-time. They bounced back and defeated Clonaslee St Manman's in Round 3 to set up a quarter-final clash with former manager Martin Murphy and his Ballyroan-Abbey side. Two points separated them which led to another meeting with Graiguecullen in the last four.

Portarlington were superb in the semi-final having played into a strong breeze in the opening half. They managed to get a fortuitous goal after an attempted shot by Graham Weldon got caught in the wind and dropped onto the fist of Keith Bracken. They only trailed by a point at half-time having played into the wind. The second-half saw them blow away Graiguecullen as they scored 2-7 with both goals being well-worked goals courtesy of Rioghan Murphy and Darragh Galvin. 

It remains to be seen how Portarlington will setup to try and curtail the Portlaoise attacking threat but The Town know that Portarlington's attack is almost as dangerous with the likes of Jake Foster, Rioghan Murphy, Ronan Coffey and Darragh Galvin all ready to take their chances when they're presented to them.

Portlaoise v Portarlington Laois Shopping Centre Senior Football Championship Final in Laois Hire O'Moore Park at 4pm

Odds: Portlaoise 8/11 Draw 13/2. Portarlington 6/4

Prediction: Portlaoise to win by three points

The Leinster Express/ Laois Live will be providing a live blog from the game.