2018 Laois Senior Men’s Football Final

Portlaoise 2-16

O’Dempsey’s 1-13

Match report from Irish Times (link)

Match report from Laois Today (link)

Portlaoise are Laois senior football champions for a 34th time – and 11th in 12 years – following their latest county final win over O’Dempsey’s in O’Moore Park this afternoon.

A goal in each half from Ricky Maher were key scores as they made their overall superiority count against an O’Dempsey’s side making their first final appearance in 35 years. To be fair to the Killenard men they put up as good a fight as they could and played very good football in the opening half.

But Portlaoise did what they had to and there was no denying that they were worthy county champions again.

To have any chance O’Dempsey’s needed to start well and still be in.

While Craig Rogers (free) and Ricky Maher got the first two poinst of the game for Portlaoise, O’Dempsey’s hit the next three – two frees from Matthew Finlay and one sweet effort from 18-year-old Mark Barry.

O’Dempsey’s then had a golden goal chance – but Graham Brody did as he has done all year with Laois by pulling off a point blank save on Matthew Finlay.

Portlaoise, however, hit a purple patch. Cahillane, Rogers and two from Conor Boyle put them 0-6 to 0-3 and suddenly O’Dempsey’s were in a similar space to where many teams have found themselves against The Town: hanging on.

And within minutes Portlaoise had the game’s first goal – a series of fumbles in the O’Dempsey’s defence ending with Ricky Maher finishing along the ground past Padraig Bannon. Gareth Dillon added a point straight away and there was seven in it.

O’Dempsey’s to their credit fought back very well – with two great points from Michael Finlay and a free from Mark Barry.

Cahillane hit back with a free but O’Dempsey’s then worked a great team goal, big Dan McCormack flicking to the net from close range after a pass across the square from Barry.

Barry Kelly added a point from play to reduce the gap to one but Portlaoise got the last two of the half – both Cahillane frees – to lead 1-10 to 1-7 at the break.

Portlaoise won the game in the first ten minutes after half time. O’Dempsey’s missed a handful of chances before Ricky Maher struck for his second goal, after initially hitting the cross bar. Points from Cahillane, Lillis, Graham Brody (free) and Conor Boyle had them 13 clear midway through the second half.

O’Dempsey’s hit four points in a row – from Matthew Finlay (free and play), Barry Kelly and a long-range effort from Conor Meredith.

But Portlaoise had more than enough in hand and they predictably saw it out.

SCORERS – Portlaoise: Ricky Maher 2-2 (0-1 free), Paul Cahillane 0-5 (three frees), Conor Boyle 0-3, Craig Rogers 0-2 (one free), Gareth Dillon 0-1, Conor Dunphy 0-1, Graham Brody 0-1 (free), Kieran Lillis 0-1. O’Dempsey’s: Matthew Finlay 0-5 (four frees), Mark Barry 0-3 (two frees), Dan McCormack 1-0, Barry Kelly 0-2, Michael Finlay 0-2, Conor Meredith 0-1

PORTLAOISE: Graham Brody; Colin Finn, David Seale, Gary Saunders; Chris Finn, Cahir Healy, David Holland; Ciaran McEvoy, Kieran Lillis; Gareth Dillon, Conor Boyle, Benny Carroll; Ricky Maher, Paul Cahillane, Craig Rogers. Subs: Scott Lawless for McEvoy (38), Frank Flanagan for Colin Finn (47), Conor Dunphy for Carroll (50)