Long road back for Portlaoise, says Conroy

IN 1983 he was a winner himself with Portlaoise, when they defeated Clan na Gael, Roscommon in the All-Ireland club football final.

But that piece of history merely made it harder for manager Tommy Conroy as he addressed his players after their devastating defeat in Croke Park yesterday.

Twenty two years ago (in Cloughjordan), a few of his team-mates played a hurling match later that evening.