Sunday 9 November 2014

St Vincent's goals see off Portlaoise challenge

Portlaoise 0-10 St Vincent’s 3-11

A second half blitzing secured victory for St Vincent’s against a beleaguered Portlaoise side in O’Moore Park earlier today. Two second half goals from Shane Carthy, and a first half Tomas Quinn three pointer, ensured Vincent’s would still be in contention for retaining their Leinster Senior Football Championship title after this quarter final encounter.

The current All Ireland Club champions started the brighter of the two teams with two points within the opening two minutes. Potent centre forward Diarmuid Connolly was involved in both scores. Connolly latched on to an early free from Tomas Quinn before a quick one two set the evergreen corner forward through on goal to score the first point of the match. The Vinnie’s number 11 then embarked on a mazy run through the Portlaoise rearguard before nonchalantly bisecting the posts.

Portlaoise could not handle the pace at which the Dublin outfit were controlling the game. With less than five minutes played, and Portlaoise still to register any meaningful attack, a Michael Savage kick out was fielded by Shane Carthy in the midfield area for Vincent’s. A lofted pass aimed at Ciaran Dorney was palmed down to Connolly who hand passed the ball across to Tomas Quinn. The Vincent’s full forward managed to get the ball across the goal line despite being completed annihilated in the process. Quinn gingerly rose to his feet safe in the knowledge his bravery had given his team an early 1-02 to 0-00 lead.

Portlaoise’s first score of the game came from the boot of Paul Cahillane after a mix up in the Vincent’s full back line. St Vincent’s Gavin Burke and Tomas Quinn then had goal chances of their own which they did not take. Subsequently, Portlaoise grew into the game. Cahillane got his second score of the game after he gained possession from a fortuitous bounce off a Brendan Egan block.

Both teams exchanged points as the first half drew to a close. Zach Touhy pointed before his effort was cancelled out by Shane Carthy. Portlaoise scored the last two points of the half as Craig Rogers and Brian McCormack’s respective points clawed Portlaoise to within a point of their opponents at the half time break, 0-06 to 1-04.

St Vincent's Shane Carthy (L) and Daithi Murphy (R) compete for possession with their Portlaoise opponents
In similar fashion to the opening of the first half, St Vincent’s stormed out of the blocks. After an uncharacteristic wide from Tomas Quinn, the Marino men were intent on building an unassailable lead. As the crowd were still taking their seats after the interval at O’Moore Park, Shane Carthy drilled the ball past Micky Nolan in the Portlaoise goal. St Vincent’s were passing the ball with ease and after some good build up play from Daithi Murphy and Gavin Burke, Carthy made full advantage of his teams dominance.

A pointed Tomas Quinn free followed before Carthy kicked the ball over the black spot with 37 minutes played. After a physical opening 30 minutes, Carthy was continuously improving in what was an outstanding performance from the lively half forward. Portlaoise began to deploy substitutes in the form of Adrian Kelly and Eoghan Feane in an attempt to quell the Vincent’s dominance. Ultimately, their efforts would be in vain.

After a pointed free from Craig Rogers on the 42nd minute mark and another substitution from Portlaoise, this time Malachy McNulty entering the field for Eoghan Whelan, St Vincent’s hammered home the final nail in the Portlaoise coffin. A quickly taken free from Diarmuid Connolly caused panic in the Portlaoise full back line as ‘keeper Micky Nolan raced to punch clear the dangerously aimed free. Somehow, the ball dropped to Shane Carthy who stroked the ball into an empty net. Carthy will not score an easier goal in his career as the metropolitans had a 0-07 to 3-06 lead with 17 minutes still to play.

St Vincent's full forward Ciaran Dorney celebrates
St Vincent’s are often lauded for the flamboyance of their attack and goal scoring prowess. However, their resilient defending was just as easy on the eye on this occasion. They were intent on working the ball up the field through intricate passing moves. Just like the Dublin SFC final, their full back line was in charge for the entire 60 minutes. The experience of captain Ger Brennan rallied the troops but it was the performance of young Jarlath Curley marking the cumbersome Zach Touhy out of the game that really stood out in a backline which gave very little away.

As the match entered the final ten minutes, Portlaoise legs grew heavier. They could not keep up with the pace of their opponents with Vincent’s superior stamina shining through. With cynical challenging aplenty, Kieran Lillis was shown a black card for dragging Diarmuid Connolly down by the neck. Connolly took responsibility of the resulting free and confidently scored to maintain his team’s nine point lead.

The game petered out as a contest in the last five minutes of play. Both teams had made numerous changes and it was the industrious Cormac Diamond who made a case for a starting berth in the semi final after two deserving late scores. The scoreboard read 0-10 to 3-11 in favour of St Vincent’s after 60 minutes of intense football played at an unstoppable pace throughout.

Portlaoise, the most decorated club in the history of the Leinster SFC, bow out after a regimented St Vincent’s display. The match was befitting of the 12 Leinster titles held between both clubs. The Laois men will be disappointed that they didn’t get to stamp their authority on the match but St Vincent’s were as ruthless as they have been all year. Tommy Conroy has manufactured a team that will strike fear into any opponent. Next up for the Dublin side is a semi final encounter with Garrycastle of Westmeath in Parnell Park.  

Portlaoise Panel and Scorers

M Nolan; D Seale; P Cotter; B Mulligan; E Whelan; C Healy; C Boyle; K Lillis; S Nerney; G Dillon; B McCormack (0-01); B Glynn; P Cahillane (0-06, 4 frees); Z Touhy (0-01); C Rogers (0-02, 1 free); Subs: R Downey; K Fitzpatrick; R Maher; G Brody; L McGovern; A Kelly; M McNulty; M Rogers; E Bland; E Feane; J Nerney.

Wides: 4

St Vincent's Panel and Scorers

M Savage; K Bonnie; J Curley; H Gill; B Egan; G Brennan; M Concarr; E Fennel; D Murphy; G Burke; D Connolly (0-02, 1 free); S Carthy (2-02); R Trainor (0-02); T Quinn (1-03 2 frees); C Dorney; Subs: D Jordan; M Moore; Cameron Diamond; S Byrne; M Loftus; Tiernan Diamond; Cormac Diamond (0-02); A Baxter; G Murphy; L Bree; B Quigley; M McNally; A Martin; K Malone; Turlough Diamond; L Sheehy; E Brady; C Brennan; J Brennan.

Wides: 8

S.DAWSON 09/10/14