A dominant first half performance was central to Portlaoise's Leinster club SFC quarter-final victory over Moorefield, according to manager Malachy McNulty.

'The Town' made the most of wind advantage to lead by 1-8 to 0-4 at the break. Moorefield reduced the deficit to three points in the second half, but Portlaoise held on to avenge last year's defeat at the same stage to the holders and set up a mouth-watering semi-final against Kilmacud Crokes.

"We were playing the Leinster champions so we wanted to hit them hard and notch up as many scores as possible," McNulty explained to the Irish Independent.

"At this time of year, it comes down to a real physical battle and a war of attrition. We knew it would be won or lost in the middle third and the stats at half-time showed that we won 13 of the 19 breakdowns in the first half. We were edging it there and, for me, that's where games are won and lost."

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