Portlaoise 2-12 St Patrick's 1-14:THE LOUTH champions came within minutes of causing a major upset in O'Moore Park, Portlaoise yesterday. Having been outplayed in the first half, and trailing by five points, they turned the tables on the restart.

Portlaoise dominated the opening period and when captain, Craig Rogers goaled midway through the half, the Laois champions were firmly in control.

On the restart St Patrick’s upped their game and kept tapping over the points. Ray Finnegan was outstanding in their defence and also galloped forward to kick three points.

Midway through the second half Portlaoise were reduced to 14 men when half-time substitute Brian Mulligan got a second yellow card. Portlaoise somehow held on for the draw but extra-time was just minutes old when Karl White’s goal put St Patrick’s ahead.

Points were swapped and when Rogers was upended in the square the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Rogers dusted himself down then fired into the bottom corner and the sides were level again.

In the second period of extra time Paddy Keenan and Conor Boyle exchanged points but with just two minutes remaining Portlaoise corner back, Cahir Healy, burst forward to grab the winner.

PORTLAOISE: M Nolan; C Healy (0-1), K Fitzpatrick, M McNulty; D Seale, T Fitzgerald (0-1), C Boyle (0-2); K Lillis, A Kelly (0-1); B Glynn, B McCormack, H Coghlan (0-1); P Cahillane (0-1), B Fitzgerald (0-5, four frees), C Rogers (2-0, 1-0 pen). Subs: B Mulligan for McNulty (ht), B Gaynor for Seale (47mins), C Parkinson for McCormack (50 mins), B Smith for Lillis (54 mins), B McCormack for Kelly, I Fitzgerald for Cahillane (both 77mins).

ST PATRICK’S: R Arthur; J O’Hare, D Finnegan, D O’Hanlon; R Finnegan (0-3), E Breen, O Zamboglou; C Goss, P Keenan (0-7, four frees); P Mallon, S Hynes, Aidan McCann; E Carroll (0-2), E O’Connor (0-1), Daniel O’Connor (0-1). Subs: Karl White (1-0) for McCann (20 mins), Evan White for Hynes (57 mins), D Mac Artain for Breen (73 mins).

Referee: D Fahy (Longford)