Portlaoise prove too powerful for Courtwood in Division 1 league opener

Portlaoise Senior footballers returned to action on Saturday evening against Courtwood, as they began their Division 1 league campaign at home. The last time ‘The Town’ were in action prior to this was in the 2021 county final against Portarlington, where Portlaoise fell to a resounding fifteen-point defeat in O’Moore Park.

Courtwood are now three seasons into football at the top flight after earning a promotion from Intermediate back in 2018. They managed to reach the quarter-finals last year but fell to a talented Ballyroan Abbey outfit in the end.

Eddie Kinsella’s charges travelled to Rathleague for this one, but they would run into a strong Portlaoise outfit who proved too strong on this occasion and the home side collected the points on offer.

Portlaoise 3-17

Courtwood 2-10

It was all Portlaoise in the early doors of this one as they scored 1-4 without reply in the opening quarter of the match. Damon Larkin landed the two opening points before Matthew Walsh scored a delightful outside of the boot score.

Portlaoise then scored the first of their three goals. Damon Larkin played it to David Holland, and Holland unselfishly played it across the square to Matthew Walsh who fisted home into an empty net.

Courtwood were struggling to keep up with the pace and intensity early on, but a fortuitous goal got them up and running. Niall Donoher’s effort dropped short, and Niall Dunne arrived to flick it into the goals.

Portlaoise replied with points from Jason Maher (free) and Ben Brennan. Danny Luttrell grabbed Courtwood’s first point of the game from a placed ball, but Portlaoise again hit back with Jason Maher (free) and David Holland firing over further points for them. 

Courtwood struck for goal number two though shortly after that. Nice play from Dylan Keane and Paul O’Flynn resulted in midfielder Robert Tyrell going through and bursting a shot into the right corner of the goals.

However, Portlaoise responded with their second goal of the game straight from the next kick-out. Matthew Walsh fired home his second goal of the half, as he ruthlessly punished Courtwood for falling asleep.

Niall Dunne and Danny Luttrell (free) added points for Courtwood, but it was Jason Maher who landed the final score of the half from a placed ball for Portlaoise. They led 2-9 to 2-2 at the half-time interval.

Niall Dunne knocked over the opening score of the second half, as he coolly placed over a lovely effort despite being under pressure. The energetic David Holland hit back for Portlaoise with his second point, before ‘The Town’ men scored their third goal to put the game beyond Courtwood.

A swift counter-attacking move resulted in Benny Carroll flying in on goal, and the former Laois Senior footballer made no mistake with the finish. Robert Tyrell kept Courtwood ticking over with a couple of fine points, but Portlaoise remained well ahead thanks to further scores from substitute DJ White and Matthew Walsh.

Courtwood finished the contest strongly to put some gloss on the final scoreline. Niall Dunne, Niall Donoher, Danny Luttrell (frees), and Alan Kinsella all registered points, while DJ White impressed from the bench for Portlaoise with two more excellent points.

PORTLAOISE 

Scorers: Matthew Walsh 2-3, Jason Maher 0-4 (0-3 frees), DJ White 0-3 and David Holland 0-3 each, Damon Larkin 0-2, Ben Brennan and Ross Brennan (free) 0-1 each

Team: Graham Brody; Michael Dowling, Aidan McGovern, Josh Hogan; Paddy Downey, Chris Finn, Colin McEvoy; Conor Boyle, Ross Brennan; David Holland, Damon Larkin, Benny Carroll; Ben Brennan, Jason Maher, Matthew Walsh. Subs: Michael Nolan for Brody (8 mins, inj), Jack O’Connell for Keenaghan (HT), DJ White for Larkin (43 mins, inj)

COURTWOOD

Scorers: Niall Dunne 1-3, Robert Tyrell 1-2, Danny Luttrell 0-3 frees, Niall Donoher and Alan Kinsella 0-1 each

Team: Matthew Byron; Paul O’Flynn, Mark O’Halloran, Nathan Little; Collins Ugochukwu, Rob Flynn, David Duffy; Robert Tyrell, Niall Dunne; Colm Wilson, Luke Doran, Danny Luttrell; Niall Donoher, Alan Kinsella, Dylan Keane. Subs: Michael Doyle for Duffy (HT), Jake Doyle for O’Halloran (47 mins), Eoghan O’Neill for Flynn (58 mins, inj)