Portarlington 1-11 Castletown 0-10
Last year's semi-finalists Portarlington were immensely relieved after shaking off Wexford champions Castletown in Sunday’s Leinster Club SFC opener at Chadwicks Wexford Park.
Martin Murphy’s three in-a-row Laois kingpins now face a derby quarter-final against Carlow standard bearers Palatine.
Portarlington had to pull out all the stops to prevent Castletown from defying sizable odds for the second week running after they rocked Shelmaliers in the Wexford decider.
A point from Rioghan Murphy edged the Midlanders into a 0-11 to 0-10 lead four minutes into added-time, before a turnover led to Paddy O’Sullivan slamming home the clinching goal in a one-on-one with 'keeper Darragh Brooks.
But the involvement of corner-forward Jake Foster against Palatine is in doubt after he, a Portarlington water-carrier, and Castletown’s Joe Ahern were red-carded after a late bout of fisticuffs.
Portarlington raised the first real threat four minutes in when swiftly transferring a kick-out to the inside line where Jake Foster offloaded to Colm Murphy, whose goaling effort was deflected over.
Murphy doubled the lead from a mark, before Castletown turned the tables by 0-4 to 0-3 after 22 minutes with contributions from Conor Carty (free), Jack Higgins, centre-back Colin Kennedy and goalie Darragh Brooks (free).
While Colm Murphy restored parity from a 25th minute free, Castletown continued to prosper as they forged ahead by 0-7 to 0-4 at the break with booming closing points courtesy of Brendan Halpin, Liam Coleman and Donnacha Holmes.
The Wexford champions re-emerged to a chorus of boos having kept their rivals waiting a bit longer than usual.
And the home-side weren’t shy about emphasising their intentions when surging through from the restart for Liam Coleman to blast an angled goaling drive wide.
Portarlington responded to regain parity on 0-7 apiece after 36 minutes through the Murphy brothers, David and Colm (free), together with goalie Scott Osbourne (‘45).
Castletown lifted the siege to again threaten the net on 37 minutes when Conor Carty was foiled, and a couple of quick wides added to their frustrations.
But those anxieties were eased somewhat after a quick double from Robbie Brooks regained Castletown’s lead after 45 minutes (0-9 to 0-7).
The drama wasn’t at an end though as Portarlington seized the initiative by 0-10 to 0-9 after 57 minutes with a brace of Colm Murphy frees and another ‘45 from goalie Osbourne.
Castletown threatened to force extra-time when Robbie Brooks caught the Portarlington ‘keeper wandering out-field to force a free from which Brooks levelled for a sixth time four minutes into added-time (0-10 apiece).
But Portarlington had a real sting in their tails when stealing clear as Rioghan Murphy pointed the midlanders back in front, before the finally banished their concerns in the fifth minute of added-time when defender-turned-midfielder Paddy O’Sullivan slammed to the net.
Portarlington: Scott Osbourne (0-2 ‘45s); Cathal Bennett, Diarmuid Bennett, Alex Mohan; Paddy O’Sullivan (1-0), Robbie Piggott, Jason Moore; Stuart Mulpeter, Seán Byrne; Adam Ryan (0-1), David Murphy (0-1), Rioghan Murphy (0-1); Jake Foster, Ronan Coffey, Colm Murphy (0-6, 1 mark, 4 frees).
Subs: Darragh Galvin for Foster, temp. (15-20), Galvin for Coffey (47), Seán O’Hagan for Mulpeter (48), Eoin McCann for D. Murphy (57), Jordan Fitzpatrick for Ryan (57).
Castletown: Darragh Brooks (0-1 free); Ross Cody, Danny Gardiner, Joe Ahern; Frank Roche, Colin Kennedy (0-1), Joe Gardiner; Rory Heffernan, Liam Coleman (0-1); Jack Higgins (0-1), Jody O’Shaughnessy, Conor Carty (capt., 0-1 free); Brendan Halpin (0-1), Robbie Brooks (0-3, 2 frees), Donnacha Holmes (0-1).
Subs: Killian Pierce for O’Shaughnessy (49), Gavin McNulty for Halpin (60).
Referee: Fergal Kelly (Longford)
