Clough-Ballacolla champions again
Heavy favourites coming in the game, Ballacolla were made to battle all the way by a determined Portlaoise outfit, who themselves had to come to terms with a fourth final defeat in five years. They had started the better of the two teams with Noel Costelloe slotting over a free in the second minute, but a Mick Dunphy goal after nine minutes had Ballacolla into the lead. That goal separated the sides 1-6 to 0-6 at the break.
The second-half was a tight, niggly affair, with Portlaoise dominating possession but crucially, they couldn’t turn into scores, and Ballacolla held on for a two point win.
