St Joseph's 0-07 Portlaoise 0-06
St Joseph's are Laois senior football champions for the first time in 23 years, after they defeated Portlaoise in O'Moore Park in a tight encounter on Sunday afternoon.
It wasn't an affair that will live long in the memory but St Joseph's won't care as they claimed their first title since 2000. For Portlaoise, their wait for a title goes on as they are now winless since 2019.
As expected, this one was cagey from the start with scores and space at a premium.
Portlaoise got the first two with Gareth Dillon and Paul Cahillane on target. Eoghan O'Flaherty and Brian Daly levelled it up for Joseph's and by that stage, 18 minutes had been played.
There was some limited goalmouth action, with most of it coming down the Portlaoise end.
Dylan Doyle went close and his run ended with a brilliant block by Chris Finn. From the resulting 45, Eoghan O'Flaherty landed in the ball and Doyle shot again but it was blocked.
David Seale regained the lead for Portlaoise but they were unable to add to their scoring tally for the remainder of the half. Two Eoghan O'Flaherty frees ensured that St Joseph's headed for half time with a 0-04 to 0-03 lead.
Five minutes of the second half passed before we had the next score. It was worth waiting for as after a long spell of passing, Paul Cahillane received the ball inside the 45 and curled one over off the outside of his boot.
Five more minutes passed before St Joseph's reclaimed the lead from the boot of James Kelly after another long passage of possession.
The pace of the game slowed and there was an eight minute gap before Portlaoise levelled after Mick Dowling did really well to win a St Joseph's kick-out. Benny Carroll made a burst and the ball came back to Kevin Swayne who levelled from distance.
In between all of those scores, we had long periods where both sides just went over and back across the pitch before losing possession.
But it looked like the last ten minutes would book that trend when Ben Reddin robbed the next kick out directly after the Swayne score and set up Kieran Lillis to put Portlaoise ahead.
Then, in the 52nd minute, St Joseph's went straight down the other end where Brian Daly landed a massive score from in front of the terrace.
Josh O'Brien came on then and with his first act, he made a run that ended with James Kelly pointing from distance for a second time.
That was in the 54th minute and neither team would score again. Portlaoise had a late chance when Jason Maher shot but it dropped short and St Joseph's held on.
St Joseph's: Aaron Cooney; Jack Lacey, Adam Campion, Aidan Brennan; Danny Hickey, James Kelly 0-2, Tom Dunne; Michael Dempsey, Gearoid Lynch; Oisin Hooney, Eoghan O'Flaherty 0-03 (all frees), Cormac Murphy; Dylan Doyle, Brian Daly 0-02, Mick Keogh.
Subs: Matty Campion for Dempsey (44, blood, reversed 48), Matty Campion for Murphy (48), Josh O'Brien for Hooney (51)
Portlaoise: Conor Brown; Aidan McGovern, Ben Dempsey, Conor Raggett; Chris Finn, David Seale 0-01, Michael Dowling; Kevin Swayne 0-01, Ciaran McEvoy; Gareth Dillon 0-01, Paul Cahillane 0-02, Damon Larkin; Ricky Maher, Benny Carroll, Kieran Lillis 0-01.
Subs: Colin McEvoy for Ciaran McEvoy (ht), Ben Reddin for Dillon (45), Gary Saunders for McGovern and Josh Hogan for Cahillane (both 53), Jason Maher for R Maher (58)
Referee: Maurice Deegan (Stradbally)
