Foster kicks late scores to get champions Portarlington off to winning start in league

The reigning Division one league and Jack Delaney cup holders, Portarlington, kicked off their 2022 campaign against neighbours O’Dempsey’s in McCann Park on Friday evening.

The champions fielded a very strong starting side despite this being the opening match of the league. They had eight players that started from the 2021 Championship final victory over Portlaoise, while they also welcomed Jason Moore back into the fold at centre-back.

 O’Dempsey’s looked fit and organised though and gave their rivals a right game of it. Second-half goals from Barry Howlin and Ben Coen had O’Dempsey’s ahead, but a Colm Murphy goal from a penalty, along with two Jake Foster points, gave Portarlington the points here.

Portarlington 1-14

O’Dempsey’s 2-8

DIVISION 1 FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Portarlington began brightly on their home patch by kicking over the first three scores. Jake Foster curled a couple of simple frees before centre-forward, Ronan Coffey, landed the first score from play under pressure.

Matthew Finlay got O’Dempsey’s on the scoreboard from a placed ball after Barry Howlin had been dragged back. Portarlington continued to impress with their play though, as they fired over the next four scores to take a comfortable lead.

Colm Murphy spotted the run of Jake Foster and played a lovely pass to him before Foster turned on a sixpence and split the posts. Murphy then took it upon himself to launch over a sublime score from distance.

Adam Ryan’s then got in on the scoring act, as he sprinted towards the O’Dempsey’s goal before blasting over from close range. Colm Murphy landed another point from a free before O’Dempsey’s responded by finishing the half strongly.

Matthew Finlay placed over another free, and then Eoin Finlay knocked over a score from a tight angle. Colm Murphy replied with a point from a free, but O’Dempsey’s got the last score of the half through Brian Nugent to leave them 0-4 to 0-7 behind at the break.

Brian Nugent landed the opening score of the second half as well for O’Dempsey’s. Sam Molloy did well to keep the ball in play, before offloading to Nugent who curled one between the uprights. Portarlington hit back though, as Adam Ryan’s pace and power continued to cause O’Dempsey’s problems, with Ryan adding two more points to his name.

O’Dempsey’s then grabbed the first goal of the match to get them right back into the mix. Matthew Finlay’s effort from distance dropped short into the square, where Eoin Finlay got a flick on, and that left Barry Howlin with a tap into an empty net.

Matthew Finlay leveled proceedings through a placed ball, but points from Foster (free) and Ryan gave Portarlington the advantage once more. However, O’Dempsey’s scored their second goal shortly after the first, as Ben Coen marched up from wing-back to bury one into the bottom left corner.

Foster and Finlay exchanged points from placed balls before Portarlington grabbed a crucial goal from the penalty spot. Ronan Coffey floated in a lovely ball to Colm Murphy, who caught well and was dragged back before he could get a shot away. Murphy stepped up and calmly dispatched the spotkick.

Shane Nerney fired over a point from close range to level the affair again, but Foster stepped up to kick two late points (one from a free and one from play) to give Portarlington the maximum points on offer.

PORTARLINGTON

Scorers: Colm Murphy 1-3 (1-0 pen, 0-2 frees), Jake Foster 0-6 (0-5 frees), Adam Ryan 0-4, Ronan Coffey 0-1

Team: Sean Mooney; Cathal Bennett, Robert Pigott, Mikey Bennett; Stuart Mulpeter, Jason Moore, Colin Slevin; Eoin McCann, Keith Bracken; Jonathan Fulham, Ronan Coffey, Adam Ryan; Jake Foster, Sean Michael Corcoran, Colm Murphy. Sub: PJ Ward for Corcoran (51 mins)

O’DEMPSEY’S

Scorers: Matthew Finlay 0-4 frees, Barry Howlin and Ben Coen 1-0 each, Brian Nugent 0-2, Eoin Finlay and Shane Nerney 0-1 each

Team: Podge Bannon; Tommy Kehoe, Liam Whelehan, Johnny Kelly; Barry Kelly, Shane Nerney, Ben Coen; Brian Nugent, Fionn Holland; Jack Lennon, Daithi Howlin, Matthew Finlay; Eoin Finlay, Barry Howlin, Sam Molloy. Sub: Peter O’Leary for Molloy (42 mins)

REFEREE: Des Cooney (St Joseph’s)