Portlaoise stay on course for seven in-a-row

Portlaoise remain on course to claim a seventh Laois SFC title in-a-row after they eased to a six point win (1-15 to 1-9) over Arles-Kilcruise in yesterday’s semi-final.

They overcame a sluggish start to the second half, which saw Kilcruise draw level for a brief period, before they upped gears and pulled away.

Portlaoise had wind advantage in the first half and led 0-8 to 0-4 at half-time, with Paul Cahillane leading the charge. Kilcruise were a side transformed after the break and three points from Ross Munnelly and one from Brendan Conway had them level. But Portlaoise never panicked and a Brian McCormack goal put them back in control. A Munnelly goal was scant consolation for the losers.

In the other semi-final, Arles-Killeen overcame Graiguecullen 3-11 to 2-10.

First-half goals from Conor Keightley and Dermot Julian had Killeen 2-5 to 0-7 up at half-time. Sean O’Shea added a third to stretch their lead to 3-7 to 0-7 in the second half, before Graiguecullen came fighting back. Sub James Doogue and corner-forward Ambrose Doran had goals but Killeen closed out the game to win by four points.