The late Violet McNulty was foremost in the thoughts of the Portlaoise players as they battled their way to a one-point victory over Sarsfields in yesterday's Leinster club SFC quarter-final.

Violet, who will be laid to rest this morning, was the mother of Portlaoise manager Malachy McNulty and former Portlaoise and Laois footballer Peter, who died tragically in October 2010.

"It was a tough week for the McNulty family, but the respect and commitment Mal shows to Portlaoise and the players to him was shown today," selector Tommy Mulligan is quoted in the Irish Daily Star.

"Malachy has great respect to that group of players. I sympathise with the family. He is such an important man in the Portlaoise camp that the win today might make it a little easier after the loss of his mother.

"Violet and Peter were certainly looking down on us today."

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