Round-up: Matthew Ging the matchwinner again for Tinahely against Portarlington

GING THE KING: Tinahely’s Matthew Ging scores a goal. Pic: ©INPHO/Ken Sutton

Matthew Ging was the matchwinner once more as Wicklow outfit Tinahely defied 5/1 odds to overcome Leinster SFC club title hopefuls Portarlington, 2-5 to 0-10.

Fresh off his 12-point haul in last weekend's county final, clinching a first Garden County title for Tinahely in 40 years, Ging this time struck 1-3 including the match winning point late on.

With holders Kilmacud Crokes out of the provincial race, 2022 semi-finalists Portarlington were seen as one of the teams capable of stepping up and filling the void.

But the concession of two first-half goals to Ging and Eoin Darcy cost Portarlington - who were without county final trio Colm Murphy, Robbie Piggott and Paddy O'Sullivan - and left Tinahely 2-3 to 0-6 up at half-time.

Tinahely didn't score in the entire third quarter and only managed two second-half points but that was still enough for them to prevail.

Darcy pointed from a free in the 48th minute and Ging, son of manager Martin, popped up to separate the teams with that 57th minute score - securing a home game in Aughrim for Tinahely against Tullamore next Sunday.

Meanwhile, it went closer to script at DEFY Pairc Mhuire where hosts and Louth champions Ardee beat Longford's Abbeylara 3-14 to 2-8.

Goals from Louth duo Tom and Liam Jackson, as well as one from Karl Faulkner, did for Abbeylara as Ardee secured a quarter-final clash with Carlow's Rathvilly next Sunday, also in Ardee.

A goal from Abbeylara's Ciaran Scanlon just before half-time left the sides level at the break, 1-6 to 2-3.

But losing Cathal Gilligan and Jason Kelly to black and red cards respectively in the second-half cost Abbeylara who conceded the Tom Jackson and Faulkner goals after that.

Louth attacker Ciaran Keenan was influential for Ardee too while county colleague Donal McKenny got forward for a point.