It was all too easy for Portlaoise as they carved out a 2-21 to 0-2 humbling of Louth champions Mattock Rangers in a dreadfully lop-sided AIB Leinster club SFC tie in Drogheda. The midlanders raced into the lead after just seven seconds with a point from team-captain Brian McCormack and the lights remained stuck on green for the visitors thereafter. Rangers were threading deep water from there to the finish with their inability to score from play underlining their gross inferiority. Portlaoise led by 1-6 to 0-0 after 13 minutes with Barry Fitzgerald grabbing the goal before Brian Mulligan and Paul Cahillane helped themselves to a point apiece. The Louthmen eventually broke their duck in the 17th minute when county ace David Reid converted a free. Five points without reply, including two from Zach Tuohy, followed from Portlaoise as they eased their way into a 1-11 to 0-1 interval lead. The second half was no less painful for the Wee County champions even though Christy Grimes reduced their deficit early on with another free. Grimes' effort painfully proved to be Mattock's final score of the afternoon as Portlaoise stood on the gas to extend their advantage in impressive form. The issue was finally done and dusted in the 42nd minute when Cahillane added a second goal. In the final minutes, Mattock put the icing on the cake with two points apiece from Fitzgerald and McNulty sealing a meeting with the eventual Meath champions in the next round. Tweet

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