Clara 1-05 Portlaoise 0-07 - Match abandoned 33 minutes. An Taoiseach Brian Cowen watched on as his native Clara and Laois champions Portlaoise will be forced to meet again after referee Joe Curley abandoned their AIB Leinster Senior football Championship semi-final three minutes into the second half. Despite tough dark, wet and windy conditions throughout which forced the switch-on of the floodlights, both sides persevered in a keenly contested first half. A second minute goal from Stephen Deehan proved to be the difference between the sides for large periods of the opening half. However an impressive second quarter by Portlaoise ensured the sides were tied a 0-7 to 1-4 at the interval. Portlaoise made their usual quick-fire start to the opening half with a Paul Cahillane point inside the opening 30 seconds. However 'The Town' failed to find their usual goal-scoring form in the first half. Playing with the aid of backing of a gale-force wind Clara quickly made full use of this when Graham Guilfoyle launched a long ball inside to John Reynolds who watched his shot come off the upright. However Stephen Deehan quickly pounced to push his side two points clear, after sneaking the ball past Portlaoise goalkeeper Michael Nolan. Clara ran rampant at this stage with Thomas Deehan slotting over the first of his four first-half points. Portlaoise responded with a Peter McNulty score, but Clara defended in packs and slotted over two of the next three points, with Thomas Deehan on target for both scores. However Portlaoise were sublime in the second quarter, slotted over five unanswered points - all from open play. The hosts were unlucky not to sneak a goal in the 15th minute after a Paul Cahillane penalty effort rebounded off the post. Cahillane made amends soonafter with a point, and with further scores from Adrian Kelly, Kevin Fitzpatrick and Kieran Lillis Portlaoise led by 0-7 to 1-3 by the 26th minute. However Thomas Deehan added his fourth point in the closing stages of the half to tie the game at the interval. Clara made a bright start to the second half with a Stephen Deehan point after a minute and a half, but with weather conditions worsening Meath referee Joe Curley opted to bring the game to an early finish. Scorers for Clara: T Deehan 0-4 (1f); S Deehan 1-1. Scorers for Portlaoise: P Cahillane 0-2; P McNulty, A Kelly, B McCormack, K Lillis, K Fitzpatrick 0-1 each. Portlaoise - M Nolan; E Bland, K Fitzpatrick, M McNulty; B Mulligan, C Healy, K Lillis; A Kelly, B McCormack; C Rogers, A Fennelly, B Glynn; P Cahillane, B Fitzgerald, P McNulty. Clara - K Meehan; A Cronin, M Rosney, D Kelly; D Baggot, M Mitchell, L Hiney; S Brady, C Kelly; S Deehan, J O'Hara, G Guilfoyle; E Brady, J Reynolds, T Deehan. Ref - Joe Curley (Meath) Tweet

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