LAOIS SHC FINAL: Clough-Ballacolla 1-10 Portlaoise 0-11:PORTLAOISE'S DOUBLE dream ended as Clough-Ballacolla triumphed at O'Moore Park, Portlaoise, yesterday. A ninth-minute Michael Dunphy goal gave Clough-Ballacolla a three-point lead at the interval.
Clough-Ballacolla led by 1-5 to 0-3 after 20 minutes, with Tim Delaney, Michael McEvoy, Willie Hyland and Damian Bergin adding points to Dunphy’s goal and the latter had the final say of the half to ensure a 1-6 to 0-6 lead.
Scores from Tony Byrne and Cahir Healy cut the deficit to a point early after the restart. Clough/Ballacolla bagged three points in a nine-minute spell while Portlaoise’s Simon Norton had a goal disallowed with 10 minutes remaining.
CLOUGH-BALLACOLLA:D Hanlon; B Duggan, D Maher, J Doyle; C Coonan, J A Delaney, T Delaney (0-1); S Hanlon, T Delaney; B McEvoy, M McEvoy (0-2), S Maher; W Dunphy (0-1), W Hyland (0-3, frees), M Dunphy (1-1). Subs: D Bergin (0-2) for S Hanlon (17 mins); A Flaherty for B McEvoy (52 mins).
PORTLAOISE:C Clear; C Healy (0-1), E Browne, B Smith; B Mulligan, H Coughlan, J Phelan; E Costello (0-1), K Murphy; T Byrne (0-1), N Costello (0-6, 0-5 frees), B Fitzgerald; C Taylor, T Fitzgerald (0-2), D OMahoney. Subs: S Norton for Taylor (half-time); C Gleeson for Byrne (47 mins).
Referee:Mick Cleere.
