Portlaoise 2-8
Arles-Killeen 1-8

Kevin Fitzpatrick won his 10th Laois SFC medal as Portlaoise staged a second half comeback to edge out Arles-Killeen at O'Moore Park.

It was The Town's seventh consecutive title and 30th in all, with former county star Fitzpatrick coming off the bench to score a match-changing goal midway through the second half. Ultimately, Portlaoise's greater strength in depth and know-how proved decisive, with the likes of Craig Rogers, Paul Cahillane and Colm Boyle excelling.

In one of the best Laois finals in years, Rogers netted a 14th minute penalty for the winners, but the impressive Paul Kingston replied with a goal within minutes for the underdogs to help them to a 1-6 to 1-3 lead at the break.

When Brian 'Beano' McDonald extended Arles-Killeen's advantage to four points on the restart, the upset looked on, but they wouldn't score again until the final minute as the champions took control. Fitzpatrick's fisted goal edged them into a 2-5 to 1-7 before Zach Tuohy - who was man of the match in Saturday night's International Rules first Test - was unleashed with 10 minutes to go.

Brian 'Bruno' McCormack kicked two great points before Rogers added another to seal the seven-in-a-row for the men in green and white.

Portlaoise - M Nolan; M McNulty, B Mulligan, D Seale; E Whelan, C Healy (0-1), T Fitzgerald; C Boyle, K Lillis; B Glynn, B Fitzgerald, C Rogers (1-4, 1-0 pen, 2f); P Cahillane (0-1), B McCormack (0-2f), B Smith. Subs: P Cotter for Seale, K Fitzpatrick (1-0) for Smith, Z Tuohy for B Fitzgerald, A Kelly for Glynn.

Arles-Killeen - M Leigh; James Mahon, P McDonald, N O'Rourke; J Mulhare, S Julian, B O'Shea; J Enright, D Kingston (0-2, 1f); S O'Shea, D Brennan (0-2f), D Julian; C Keightley, P Kingston (1-3, 2f), B McDonald (0-1). Subs: A Ryan for B McDonald, B O'Loughlin for Keightley, John Mahon for D Julian.

Referee - E Kinsella. Tweet

Most Read Stories