Portlaoise (Laois) 5-12 Emmet Óg Killoe (Longford) 0-11
Goals were the difference as Portlaoise booked a place in their third AIB Leinster club SFC final in four years with a 5-12 to 0-11 win over Killoe on Sunday afternoon.
Killoe started well but Portlaoise never trailed after Craig Rogers' seventh-minute goal.
A further green flag from Brian McCormack helped Portlaoise to a 2-02 to 0-04 lead after 15 minutes.
The hosts opened up a 2-06 to 0-07 half-time advantage, with Sean McCormack, Denis McGoldrick and Paddy Kiernan keeping Killoe in touch.
Portlaoise failed to ease up on the restart, as goals from Paul Cahillane (2) and Ciaran McEvoy ensured a 15-point lead.
Portlaoise lost Rogers to a black card late on, but done enough to advance to a final against Ballyboden St Enda’s at O’Connor Park, Tullamore on December 6th.
Killoe’s hopes for victory were high coming into this contest, but the record for Longford teams across all levels of inter-county competitions hasn't been great at the Portlaoise venue in recent years.
Fresh from featuring in Ireland’s four-point International Rules series win the previous night, Longford senior player Michael Quinn was in action, aiming to skipper his side to their first ever Leinster Club SFC semi-final win.
The visitors started brightly and led by 0-03 to 0-01 after scores from Sean McCormack and Daniel Mimnagh (2).
Portlaoise didn't lie down for long, and after Cahillane cut the gap to the minimum with a pointed free, they found their momentum.
Following an excellent passing move they crafted their first goal of the afternoon, when Rogers fired home after six and a half minutes.
1-02 to 0-03 ahead, Portlaoise weren’t to trail for the remainder of the contest, and three minutes later they raised a second green flag.
Killoe were under huge pressure defensively and were punished for a lapse, after Brian McCormack burst through to hand Portlaoise a five-point advantage.
The visitors worked hard to create a McGoldrick score, but two quick points from Rogers gave Portlaoise a 2-04 to 0-04 lead after 20 minutes.
McCormack and Cahillane swapped scores, as did McGoldrick and Cahillane, but Killoe edged back with the final score of the half from Kiernan to ensure a five-point gap at the break.
Scores from McCormack and Mark Hughes cut the gap early on the restart, but Killoe were being punished from short kick-outs.
This eventually caught them, when Portlaoise worked the ball quickly, for Cahillane to bag his first goal after 33 minutes.
The Wexford Youths soccer player was on target for yet another goal inside 90 seconds to ensure a 4-06 to 0-09 lead.
Killoe kept in touch from frees, but Portlaoise never looked back.
Substitute Ciaran McEvoy netted their fifth goal with seven minutes remaining, before Killoe were reduced to 14 men following a second yellow card for Simon Kiernan. From there on, there was only going to be one winner.
PORTLAOISE: G Brody; D Seale, J Delaney, C Healy; E Whelan, K Lillis, B Mulligan (0-01); D Cullen, C Boyle; G Dillon, C Rogers (1-03, 2f), C Dunphy; B McCormack (1-02), P Cahillane (2-06, 4f), B Smith.
Subs: R Maher for Dunphy (45); C McEvoy (1-00) for Cullen (52); K Fitzpatrick for Smith (54); D Holland for Rogers (BC 57); C Finn for McCormack (59).
EMMET ÓG KILLOE: C Burns; L Hughes, P McCormack, D Keogh; S Dowd, M Quinn, C Farrelly; J McCormack, S Kiernan; D McGoldrick (0-02, 1f), D Mimnagh (0-02), P Thompson; S McCormack (0-05, 3f), M Hughes (0-01), P Kiernan (0-01).
Subs: R McGoldrick for Thompson (HT); L Moran for D McGoldrick (43); E Clarke for P Kiernan (43); S Clarke for Hughes (52); R Keogh for Dowd (55).
REFEREE: Niall Ward (Westmeath)
