Portlaoise drawn to face rivals Arles-Kilcruise in second round

THE Portlaoise and Arles-Kilcruise rivalry which has built up between the sides as they contested the last two Laois finals will be given its latest outing in two weeks’ time after they were drawn to play each other in the second round.

The Laois championship finally got underway over the weekend, and five in-a-row-chasing Portlaoise sounded an ominous warning to their rivals with a 4-16 to 1-9 hammering of Ballylinan.

The reigning champions were always in control as they eased themselves into the championship and probably should have won by more.

Arles-Kilcruise also got their championship season off to a winning start as they battled to a three-point win over The Rock.

However the beaten finalists of the last two years were made to work hard for it as The Rock caused plenty of problems for 50 minutes.

But Kilcruise’s experience eventually told and, led by Ross Munnelly, they ran out three-point winners 0-12 to 1-6.

Last night Stradbally had a fine display from Darren Maher to thank as they saw off Emo 2-15 to 0-13.

The Eamon Delaney-trained side were in control at the break and they weathered a strong comeback from Emo in the second half before emerging victorious.

Also on Sunday, Arles-Killeen had too much for Timahoe, who finished with 13 men, winning 0-14 to 1-7, while St Joseph’s saw off Crettyard by 1-10 to 0-7.

In the most one-sided of the games played, O’Dempsey’s crushed relegation favourites Clonaslee St Manman’s 8-18 to 1-2.

On Saturday night, The Heath almost blew a seven-point second-half lead against Mountmellick but composed themselves to claim a two-point win, 3-7 to 2-8.

In the other game played in the first round, beaten ACFL Division 1 finalists Graiguecullen bounced back with a comprehensive victory over Portarlington, strolling to a 3-14 to 2-5 win.

Winners’ section: Portlaoise v Arles-Kilcruise, The Heath v Arles-Killeen, O’Dempsey’s v St Joseph’s, Stradbally v Graiguecullen.

Losers’ section: Clonaslee v Ballylinan, Portarlington v The Rock, Mountmellick v Timahoe, Emo v Crettyard.