Portlaoise win county decider

Portlaoise 1-9 Arles/Kilcruise 0-8

Paul Cahillane's 61st-minute penalty strike earned Portlaoise their third Laois SFC title in succession, following a 1-9 to 0-8 victory over Arles/Kilcruise at O'Moore Park this afternoon.

Pumped-up Portlaoise may have amassed 14 wides in this county decider but they held out against a determined Arles/Kilcruise team who were chasing their second title.

The game failed to spring into life in the opening stages, with both sides guilty of missed opportunities.

They were level on three occasions in the first half. David Conway opened the scoring with the first of his two points in the ninth minute.

Portlaoise broke in front thanks to points from midfielder Brian McCormack and Adrian Kelly, but Arles/Kilcruise were quick to respond.

Scores from Laois players Ross Munnelly and Chris Conway pushed them 0-3 to 0-2 clear in the 24th minute.

However, Portlaoise had the final say of the opening half with a Zach Tuohy free ensuring the sides were tied at the interval.

Portlaoise were by far the hungrier outfit in the second half, although it took them until seven minutes after the break to find their scoring range.

Five wides were amassed before points from Craig Rogers, Adrian Kelly, Cahillane, Peter McNulty and Tuohy pushed them into a 0-8 to 0-4 lead by the 48th minute, with Munnelly keeping Arles/Kilcruise in touch.

Arles/Kilcruise were dogged in the closing stages but Cahillane's crucial goal on the stroke of injury-time ensured his side claimed their 27th Laois SFC title.

The newly-crowned Laois champions will face Louth outfit Mattock Rangers in the Leinster Club Championship next weekend.