Moorefield 1-11 Portlaoise 1-14: Revenge for the Laois champions as they reach Leinster semi-finals

Portlaoise have dumped holders Moorefield out of the Leinster Club Football Championship at the quarter-final stage after a well deserved three-point win in Newbridge.

It was sweet revenge for the perennial Laois champions, who were eliminated at the same stage 12 months ago by the same opposition in a late smash and grab and though they had to withstand pressure in the closing minutes as they clung to the lead, it would have been an injustice if they hadn’t emerged with the spoils.

Paul Cahillane was outstanding up front for Portlaoise, hitting 0-7, while veteran Brian ‘Bruno’ McCormack hit a couple of crucial second half points to keep Moorefield at arm’s reach.

The match got underway in dreadful conditions with wind and driving rain, though Portlaoise played with the considerable elements in their favour in the first half and eventually made it count as they held a commanding eight-point lead at the break.

They dominated the Moorefield kickout, particularly in the first quarter but it was only when Craig Rogers stole in for a goal in the 21st minute that clear daylight emerged as he finished to an empty net after the home defence had failed to deal with a Gareth Dillon point effort that dropped short.

Moorefield goalkeeper Thomas Corley endured a difficult first half having struggled with his handling and restarts and was replaced at half-time by Ian McDonnell as Portlaoise led 1-8 to 0-4.

Moorefield started the second half well and looked set to reel Portlaoise in with a point by Ronan Sweeney followed by a Niall Hurley-Lynch goal after an uncharacteristic error by All Star nominee Graham Brody, who flapped at a shy Eddie Heavey point effort.

But, crucially, Portlaoise hit the next three points through McCormack and Cahillane (two) and that gave them enough of a buffer to set up a Leinster semi-final meeting with Kilmacud Crokes in two weeks’ time.

MOOREFIELD: T Corley; L Callaghan, L Healy, M Dempsey; K Murnaghan, A Durney, J Murray; D Flynn, A Masterson; C O’Connor, R Sweeney (0-2), E O’Connor (0-4, 0-1f); E Heavey (0-2), A Tyrrell (0-2f), N Hurley-Lynch (1-1).

Subs: I Meehan for Flynn (30+2), I McDonnell for Corley (HT), S Healy for Murnaghan (38), J Phillips for C O’Connor (58), M McDermott for Heavey (59), A Mullins for Hurley-Lynch (60+2).

PORTLAOISE: G Brody; D Seale, C Finn, C Healy; F Flanagan, C Finn, D Hollan; C McEvoy, K Lillis (0-1); G Dillon (0-1), C Boyle, C Rogers (1-2); P Cahillane (0-7, 0-3f), B McCormack (0-2), R Maher (0-1).

Subs: B Glynn for Rogers (45), S Lawless for Maher (50).

REFEREE: B Tiernan (Dublin).

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