‘Real Leinster final’ sees Portlaoise face their toughest test yet

HARD to make a case for anything bar the game in Semple being top of the bill in GAA terms this weekend.

Yet, if you were to argue the point, chances are it would start and end with Kilmacud Crokes’ clash with Portlaoise in the Leinster football semi-final.

The norm at this time of year is to wax lyrical about the plucky little village outfit that wins an unlikely county title before warming everyone’s heart with an All-Ireland title on St Patrick’s Day.

Not here. Crokes, as we know, are one of the elite super-clubs on the Dublin scene, but Portlaoise cast a shadow far larger in Laois than Kilmacud do in the capital. Despite the near drought ‘The Town’ suffered in senior titles in the 1990s, their recent successes in both codes have resurrected calls within the county for the formation of a second club in the town to dilute their pulling power.

The fact Portlaoise share the record for most Leinster titles with Éire Óg - five - actually supports both camps’ claims as their last provincial success came all of 17 years ago.

The chance of adding number six to the pile has been given a significant boost by the return of Ian Fitzgerald from abroad, while Martin Delaney may play some part.

“It’s definitely a boost having Ian and Martin back in contention but we have to be careful that the other players don’t take their feet off the pedal because of that,” warned manager Tommy Conroy. “We’ll need an even better performance than the one against Rhode to get through.”

On the face of it, that would seem an impossible task. By half time of that game in Tullamore, word was already spreading around the rest of the province that this Portlaoise team was laying down a serious marker.

Chief tormentor was Portlaoise captain Colm Parkinson, who left his off-field troubles behind him to proffer a tally of 1-4 to the side’s cause.

“Wooly was fantastic that day, as he has been all season for us,” said Conroy. “We never had any doubts about him in Tullamore. He’s never let any of it affect him and we don’t expect that to change.

“The 15 points was a bit harsh on Rhode though, to be fair. You couldn’t really judge both teams on that one day. We worked hard, showed good unity and got the breaks, especially the first goal, which was a complete freak mistake by their keeper.”

Dubbed the ‘real’ Leinster final in some quarters, the midlanders know this is the toughest test they have ever faced as a collective unit, a fact Conroy is only too keen to buy into.

“I saw during the week that Kilmacud have been made favourites for the All-Ireland with one bookies. There’s no two ways about it, any team that has such a good midfield that Liam McBarron is playing wing-forward is a serious outfit. From what I hear, Darren Magee is absent but I won’t believe that until 2.30 on Sunday and he’s not togged out.”

Magee would be a foolish man to miss this one.