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.
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| 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.
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| St Vincent's full forward Ciaran Dorney celebrates |
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
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