Formidable Portlaoise march on

Portlaoise 1-14 St Patrick's 0-5: This didn't take long. The few Portlaoise people who made the trek up to Dundalk witnessed the easiest of strolls past a St Patrick's side whose lack of any notable resistance hardly embellishes the reputation of Louth football.

This was a dreadful match that never developed anything remotely resembling intricate patterns or rhythm for the 1,500-plus attendance. Granted, there was a surfeit of petulant fouling but referee Seán Carroll seemed to constantly have the whistle resting on his lower lip, much to the frustration of both teams but mainly the Portlaoise defenders. They were not allowed hit hard.

From his needless, scene-setting, third-minute booking of Colm Parkinson, Westmeath official Carroll flashed the yellow card on 12 occasions. This is even more remarkable considering the lack of naked aggression although, as highlighted, petty, cynical fouls became the norm.

Parkinson - a favourite target for defenders down through the years - came in for his fair share of attention but "Woolly", as he is affectionately known at home, simply got up and flipped the ball to Peter McNulty whose left foot crafted score upon score.

Damien Connor fooled the locals into thinking a contest was on the cards with St Patrick's opening point after nine minutes - to bring it back to 0-3 to 0-1. He popped over another free soon after but McNulty and Barry Fitzgerald scores allied to a fine strike from Kevin Fitzpatrick had Portlaoise leading 0-9 to 0-2 at the break.

If someone slipped into St Brigid's Park after throw-in they would have thought they were watching Laois against Louth as both teams donned their county colours because of clashing green jerseys. St Pat's made a statement of sorts by taking the field in their club colours but soon changed.

There was also a six-minute delay as the umpires behind the far goal forgot to bring out score flags.

Any Portlaoise weaknesses ahead of a guaranteed sterner test against either St Vincent's or Seneschalstown in a fortnight? Not many, although goalkeeper Michael Nolan looked shaky under a high balls, dropping two.

The St Patrick's full forward line failed to take advantage.

The positives are familiar. Laois still have the best youth system in Ireland with lads like McNulty and more recently Zach Tuohy coming to national prominence at minor level and now driving this Portlaoise team. It could be Tuohy's last season in Ireland as the teenager has agreed initial terms to join Aussie Rules club Carlton next year.

Such was the visitors' dominance manager Karl Lenihan replaced his midfield before the finish when unleashing his full array of substitutes.

McNulty sustained a calf strain and came off, leaving Brian McCormack to ably cover the right-hand side frees, while Parkinson took a heavy and illegal belt near the touchline. The locals thought he was play-acting. He wasn't. He moved gingerly to the line soon after.

On 39 minutes the game was offered a lifeline when the ball broke nicely for Karl White. The corner forward raced towards goal but fired straight at Nolan who saved with his feet. A goal would have made it a four-point game with plenty left on the clock. Maybe St Patrick's would have rediscovered the form that brought them this far.

Instead McCormack clipped over a free from near the touchline before substitute Danny Reddin pounced on a horrible mistake by corner back Liam Oliver. Reddin's stylishly-finished goal made it 1-10 to 0-2.

McCormack and Barry Fitzgerald added two more points apiece before Portlaoise shut up shop; not scoring for the last 10 minutes.

St Patrick's came downfield in search of consolation and Connor registered a third free. White did post another free while full back Colin Goss saw his speculative ball into the square bounce clean over the bar.

PORTLAOISE: M Nolan; C Healy, E Bland (capt), A Fennelly; B Mulligan, T Fitzgerald, Z Tuohy; S McManus, S Cotter; C Parkinson, B McCormack (0-3, two frees), C Rogers; P McNulty (0-5, three frees), K Fitzpatrick (0-1), B Fitzgerald (0-5, five frees). Subs: D Reddin (1-0)for P McNulty (half-time), J Delaney for E Bland (35 mins), B Gaynor for C Parkinson (41 mins), J Fennell for S Cotter (49 mins), B Glynn for S McManus (52 mins).

ST PATRICK'S: R Arthurs; L Oliver, C Goss (0-1), J O'Hare; D White, O Zamboglou, R Finnegan; P Keenan (capt), P Mallon; D Murphy, E Carroll, D Finnegan; D Connor (0-3, three frees), S Connor, K White (0-1, free). Subs: C McCann for S Connor (42 mins), D O'Hanlon for D Finnegan (55 mins), D O'Connor for K White (57 mins).

Referee: S Carroll(Westmeath).