Laois SFC final: Dramatic scenes as Portlaoise dethroned

October 16, 2016

Stradbally's Colm Begley.
©INPHO/Cathal Noonan.

Jody Dillon is the toast of Stradbally after he hit a goal with practically the last kick of the game to throw a spanner in the works of Portlaoise's 10 in-a-row bid at O'Moore Park today.

It appeared to be business as usual for Portlaoise as they led by two points entering stoppage time but up popped Dillon to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat for Stradbally.

The O'Moore Park scoreboard read Stradbally 2-10, Portlaoise 1-12 following a dramatic finish.

The Martin Murphy managed Stradbally played with the backing of the wind in the first-half and they retired at the break with a slender 0-9 to 1-4 lead.

Brian McCormack raised Portlaoise's green flag but injury brought his participation to a premature end shortly after and his absence was sorely missed in the second-half.

It was nip and tuck throughout the second-half as Gary Comerford's goal kept Stradbally in contention.

Late points from Stuart Nerney and Brian Mulligan looked to have sealed victory for the holders but Dillon had other ideas!

Stradbally - D Beale; C Beale, L Knowles, J Kavanagh; Cormac Delaney, E Buggie, J Donohue (0-2); D Maher, C Begley (0-1); D Murphy, G Comerford (1-5, 0-3f), Conor Delaney; P Fitzpatrick (0-1), J Dillon (1-1), G Ramsbottom. Subs: S Lawlor for Cormac Delaney, T Shiel for P Fitzpatrick, D McEvoy for Conor Delaney, Cormac Delaney for T Shiel, C Kelly for G Ramsbottom.

Portlaoise - G Brody; C Finn, D Seale (0-1), C Healy; B Mulligan (0-1), K Lillis, G Dillon (0-1); S Nerney (0-1), C Boyle; C Dunphy, B Smyth (0-1), B Glynn; P Cahillane (0-5, 2f), B McCormack (1-0), C Rogers (0-1). Subs: A Kelly (0-1) for B McCormack, C McEvoy for C Dunphy, R Maher for A Kelly.

Referee - E Kinsella.


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