Portlaoise turn it on in second-half

RED-HOT favourites Portlaoise had to wait until the second-half beforebeing able to impose their authority on a gallant Rathnew side in this quarter-final clash at O’Moore Park yesterday.

Rathnew had to pick themselves up from the disappointment of last Sunday’s Wicklow county final defeat by divisional side St Mary’s, who were ineligible to participate in theprovincial competition.

But against all the odds the side managed by new Garden County manager Harry Murphy, who included county midfielder James Stafford, who had the red card he received in last Sunday’s county final rescinded, made all the early running and were full value for their 0-8 to 0-4 lead at half-time.