All our Laois GAA club championship coverage is brought to you in association with Mulhall’s SuperValu, Portlaoise
Borris-Kilcotton v Clonad
Laois JHC ‘C’ Final in COE at 7pm
Two more pieces of silverware will be handed out this evening with a double header of finals in the Centre of Excellence.
Up first is the Laois Shopping Centre JHC ‘C’ final between Borris-Kilcotton and Clonad.
It forms part of a big week for both clubs as Borris-Kilcotton will contest the SHC quarter final and Clonad the IHC semi final – both on Sunday.
So tonight provides that chance for either club to start on a high as this is Clonad’s second string against Borris-Kilcotton’s fourth.
Clonad began this competition in Group A where they actually lost in Round 1 to Ballypickas.
But wins over Mountmellick and Camross ensured that they took top spot in the group and progressed straight to the semi finals.
Borris-Kilcotton were in Group C where they drew with Portlaoise but then defeated Rosenallis in Round 2.
They didn’t beat Rosenallis by as much as Portlaoise which left them in second spot in the group.
This sent them down the quarter final route where they had ten points to spare over Camross.
The semi finals were thrilling encounters for very different reasons.
Clonad and Abbeyleix produced 13 goals between them but Clonad won by eight points.
Murt Norton, Dan McCormack and Ray Killeen all hit the net that night while captain Colin Delaney was steady on frees.
In the other semi final, Borris-Kilcotton ran out 2-13 to 2-12 winners over Clough-Ballacolla.
Their team is captained by Alan Drennan and includes former Laois hurler Brian Stapleton along with the likes of Chris Jones and Colm Delaney who tend to do the bulk of the scoring.
This should be close but perhaps Clonad’s ability to get goals could prove decisive.
Errill v Portarlington
Laois JFC ‘B’ Final in COE at 7.15pm
Errill will be looking to add yet another football title to their collection when they face Portarlington this evening.
Errill claimed Junior C glory in 2016 and went back-to-back as they defeated Rosenallis in 2017 to take Junior B.
They spent one year at Junior A in 2018 before relegation but bounced back in 2019 to take B glory again – defeating Mountmellick this time.
They spent a couple of years at Junior A before getting relegated in 2021 but went on to reach the final in 2022 – losing to Camross on that occasion.
This is their first final to contest since then but it is certainly an impressive record considering what went on before that.
Between 2002 and 2014, the club didn’t win a single match – a run that was ended by defeating St Joseph’s.
Their opponents tonight, Portarlington, are looking to return to the Junior A grade following their relegation in 2023.
They began this competition in Group A where they lost to Portlaoise but defeated Rosenallis and Ballyfin.
That left them second on points difference in the group and they headed for the quarter finals where they proved too strong for Clonaslee-St Manman’s.
Errill on the other hand were in a group with Mountmellick and Rathdowney – winning both games to top it.
That gave them a home quarter final where they defeated Camross and set up a semi final showdown with Portlaoise.
Jack Kelly was outstanding in that game with Laois senior hurler Paddy Purcell coming off the bench to score the match winning goal in a 1-11 to 2-5 win.
Portarlington have a youthful team with many of them just up from their minor teams of recent years.
They saw off Mountmellick by 1-12 to 2-6 with Alex Dunne, Conor Maher, Ceilum Coughlan-Maher and Paddy Murray.
With the Rathdowney-Errill hurlers due to be in a Premier IHC semi final at the weekend, and the seniors two weeks later, a lot will depend on how many of the lads due to be involved in those actually tog out here.
If they all do, Errill will have every chance of claiming yet another football title.
All our Laois GAA club championship coverage is brought to you in association with Mulhall’s SuperValu, Portlaoise
SEE ALSO – Draw made for Laois SFC, SFC ‘B’ and relegation semi-finals
