Laois SFC final: six-in-a-row for Portlaoise
October 22, 2012
Laois and Portlaoise star Brian McCormack
Arles-Kilcruise 0-9
Portlaoise won a record sixth Jack Delaney Cup in-a-row and their 29th in all when they had seven points to spare over Arles-Kilcruise at O'Moore Park.
In what was the third final meeting of the sides in four years, The Town never looked back after Brian 'Bruno' McCormack scored the only goal in the opening stages. Conor Boyle and David Conway had traded early points before full forward McCormack capitalised on a defensive mix-up to rattle the Arles-Kilcruise net.
Paul Cahillane and Barry Fitzgerald tagged on points for Portlaoise before Chris Conway and Kevin Meaney replied to leave the champions 1-7 to 0-5 in front at the break.
Mick Lillis' side upped the ante after the restart with team captain Brian Mulligan producing a man of the match display. Arles-Kilcruise, who were very dependent on their county star Ross Munnelly for scores, never looked like scoring a goal, while at the opposite end, Jim McDonald needed to be alert to deny Cahillane two certain goals.
Portlaoise will face the winners of next Sunday's first round clash between Eire Óg, Carlow and St. Patrick's of Wicklow in the Leinster quarter-final.
Portlaoise - M Nolan; T Fitzgerald (0-1), C Healy, B Mulligan; P Cotter, K Lillis, C Rogers (0-1); C Boyle (0-2), A Kelly; H Coghlan, B Fitzgerald (0-1), B Glynn (0-1); P Cahillane (0-4), B McCormack (1-1), B Smith (0-2). Subs: S Nerney for Kelly, K Fitzpatrick for Boyle, B Gaynor for Glynn, L McGovern for McCormack.
Arles-Kilcruise - J McDonald; M O'Shea, P Conway, R Stynes; J P Conway, C Munnelly, A McElroy; S Miller, K Meaney (0-1); E Stynes (0-1), D Conway (0-1), J Conway; D Carroll, R Munnelly (0-5), C Conway (0-1). Subs: F Egan for McElroy, B Conway for E Stynes, F Tully for Carroll.
Referee - J Brennan. Tweet
