St Vincent’s 3-12
Portlaoise 3-9
TOMÁS QUINN AND Diarmuid Connolly hit the priceless late points that propelled St Vincent’s to victory over Portlaoise in a six-goal thriller in today’s AIB Leinster SFC club final in Tullamore.
An absorbing contest saw Portlaoise lead by 3-9 to 3-8 entering the last ten minutes before Quinn brought the teams level with a pointed free. Then a strong break upfield by captain Ger Brennan, returning from suspension, lead to Quinn pushing St Vincent’s into the lead with four minutes remaining.
And it was another Dublin star Diarmuid Connolly who then pointed before the outstanding Quinn sealed victory for his team by raising the last white flag of the game.
That score brought Quinn’s tally for the game to 0-8 and was in keeping with his brilliant displays throughout the Dublin and Leinster campaigns this year for St Vincent’s.
Success propels St Vincent’s towards an All-Ireland semi-final meeting against either Ulster champions Ballinderry or London’s Kingdom Kerry Gaels, with those teams clashing in next Sunday’s All-Ireland quarter-final.
St Vincent’s lifted the Leinster crown for the fifth time today and the first time since 2007 but there was heartbreak for Portlaoise for the second successive year in a provincial decider. Last year they had also lost by three points to Dublin opponents when Ballymun Kickhams defeated them.
The crowd at O’Connor Park were treated to a hugely entertaining encounter with Portlaoise starting brightest as Craig Rogers and Paul Cahillane helped them lead by 0-4 to 0-2 after 17 minutes. St Vincent’s had yet to score from play but then they did so in style when Ciarán Dorney planted the ball to the net.
Moments later Ruairi Trainor accelerated clear to fire home St Vincent’s second goal and they were in front by 2-4 to 0-4. But then they were rocked by a double blast from Portlaoise as Craig Rogers fired home two goals, the second a superb shot to the top corner from a penalty after he had been fouled himself.
The teams were level at 2-5 apiece before there was an explosive start to the second-half. Portlaoise found the net early on through Brian Glynn and they were ahead by 3-7 to 2-6.
But St Vincent’s rallied with Shane Carthy striking their third goal of the game and then Dorney tied the teams with a point. The exchanges were keenly-contested in the finale and extra-time looked a prospect at one stage. Yet Quinn and Connolly stepped up to put daylight between the sides and ensured St Vincent’s were the team celebrating.
Scorers for St Vincent’s: Tomás Quinn 0-8 (0-4f), Ciarán Dorney, Ruairí Trainor 1-1 each, Shane Carthy 1-0, Gavin Burke, Diarmuid Connolly 0-1 each.
Scorers for Portlaoise: Craig Rogers 2-3 (1-0 pen, 0-3f), Brian Glynn 1-1, Paul Cahillane 0-3 (0-1f), Brian McCormack, Brian Smith 0-1 each.
ST VINCENT’S: Michael Savage; Michael Concarr, Jarlath Curley, Hugh Gill; Cameron Diamond, Ger Brennan, Brendan Egan; Eamon Fennell, Daithi Murphy; Gavin Burke, Diarmuid Connolly, Shane Carthy; Ruairi Trainor, Ciaran Dorney, Tomas Quinn.
Subs: Tiernan Diamond for Trainor (42), Ben Quigley for Cameron Diamond (45), Kevin Golden for Dorney (55), Nathan Mullins for Burke (60).
PORTLAOISE: Michael Nolan; David Seale, Cahir Healy, Thomas Fitzgerald; Kieran Lillis, Paul Cotter, Brian Mulligan; Stuart Nerney, Conor Boyle; Brian Smith, Paul Cahillane, Brian Glynn; Craig Rogers, Brian McCormack, Barry Fitzgerald.
Subs: Eoin Whelan for Mulligan (39), Adrian Kelly for Glynn (56), Kevin Fitzpatrick for Cahillane (59).
