Coolraine's title hopes damaged in thriller

Portlaoise handed Coolraine their first defeat in the league on Sunday in a scintillating six-goal thriller. Coolraine came into the game in the hope of cutting the six-point gap between themselves and league-leaders, Gallen, but Portlaoise proved to much for the Offaly side.

CCFL Division 1

Portlaoise AFC 4

Coolraine 2

Despite not playing, Abbeyleix Athletic were the big winners on the weekend as first-place Gallen United also lost in their game away to Rosenallis. Abbeyleix had a fantastic win at home to Gallen last week and today’s results leaves the sides locked in a three-way battle for promotion.

The fixture was moved from Portlaoise’s traditional ground – Rossleighan Park – due to the recent heavy rain, and relocated to the Astro pitch at Portlaoise’s Leisure Centre. The pitch is huge and unforgiving, but ultimately suited the home side’s style of play.

Coolraine started the game quicker, getting in for some very real goal chances in the early goings. In the 8th minute, Pa Cosgrove brought the ball around Portlaoise goalkeeper, Mateusz Cwienk, but steered his shot just wide. Five minutes later, captain, Chris Bracken saw his well-struck free-kick kiss the outside of the post.

But the men in red did take the lead in the 24th minute when Sean Carroll beat Cwienk to a loose ball, went around the keeper and smashed it beyond the retreating Victor Oladapo.

Portlaoise switched from their cautious 4-1-4-1 formation to an inverted 4-3-3, which made a huge difference. Kevin Ogedegbe and James Wheeler pushed higher up the field and the two combined for the equalised in the 32nd minute. Ogedegbe beat three defenders and whipped the ball into the box where the arriving Wheeler turned it home.

Both sides had chances to take the lead before the break but it ended 1-1 at half time.

Coolraine started the second half much brighter, with Cosgrove, Jordi Daly and Micki Feery all going close. But it was Portlaoise who went in front in the 52nd minute when Gavin Comerford got on the end of an in-swinging corner from Sean Kitchen.

Coolraine are a bigger, stronger, more experienced team, but it was the speed of Portlaoise that kept the hosts in the game and ultimately got them the win. With twenty minutes to go, Portlaoise got the ball into the Coolraine box where a lovely one-two between Jason Horan and Kevin Sesela resulted in Horan finding the net to make it 3-1.

Coolraine pulled one back less than five minutes later thanks to a fantastic strike from Feery after some wonderful interplay with Daly.

It was a shaky end to the game for Portlaoise, but substitute Ashby Joaquin made sure of the points with a goal in the 90th minute, audaciously chipping the ball over Paul Lewis in the Coolraine goal.

SCORERS - Portlaoise: James Wheeler, Gavin Comerford, Jason Horan, Ashby Joaquin. Coolraine: Sean Carroll, Mickie Feery.

The teams

PORTLAOISE: Mateusz Cwienk, James Wheeler, Sean Kitchen, Victor Oladapo, David Oluwabale, Gavin Comerford, Cathal Hewitt, Jake Comerford, Kevin Sesela, Kevin Ogedegbe, Jason Horan. Subs: Ashby Joaquin for Ogedegbe (76), Osema Boulakhdar for Sesela (82).

COOLRAINE: Paul Lewis, Jack Brickland, Chris Bracken, Jack Watkins, Ger Ward, Jordi Daly, Sean Carroll, Enda Ravenhill, Pa Cosgrove, Mickie Feery, Gary Kelly. Subs: Pa Murphy for Ravenhill and Paul Kinnarney for Kelly (both 56), Conor Fletcher for Watkins (80), Eddie Kenahan for Daly (82), Ben Kilroe for Cosgrove (91).

Referee: Billy Conlon (Roscrea).