Portlaoise take full advantage

Laois champions Portlaoise overcame a disappointing Athlone in an action packed AIB Leinster football club championhship quarter-final played before a large attendance in Pairc Chiarain.

Portlaoise led throughout although Athlone did manage a brief revival at the start of the second half, during which they reduced the six points interval lead to two.

Portlaoise opened the scoring on six minutes when chief marksman Ian Fitzgerald sent over his first of seven points. The centre forward added a free within a minute and Athlone replied five minutes later when Neil Dolan kicked a fine point.

Dolan levelled proceedings from a 45 on 14 minutes. As the game flowed from end to end Ian Fitzgerald added a second free before a major defensive blunder resulted in a bizarre own goal by Brendan Kenny that put Portlaoise four points ahead.

Athlone failed to add to their tally in the remaining quarter while Portlaoise added further points from Fitzgerald to lead 1-5 to 0-2 at half-time. Athlone came more into the game in the second-half and had the opening four points from Joe Fallon (2), Stephen Hahessy and David Prendergast to reduce the deficit to just two.

However, Portlaoise hit back and for the remaining 20 minutes.

Kevin Fitzpatrick kicked a free on 40 minutes, followed swiftly by a Fitzgerald score to increase the Laois lead to four points. Fallon momentarily reduced the Portlaoise advantage before Brian Fitzpatrick (2) and Fitzgerald sealed victory and a semi-final date with Dublin champions Na Fianna.

PORTLAOISE: J Hanniffy; C O'Keeffe, E Boland, B Gaynor; D Mullins, T Conroy, C Parkinson; B Fitzpatrick (0-2), K Fitzpatrick (0-1); F Fennell, I Fitzgerald (0-7), A Fennelly; N Collins, E Coleman, P Phelan.

ATHLONE: R Daly; P Mullen, A Collins, P Allen; B Kenny, F Murray, J Kilroy; R O'Connell, S Geraghty; D Kelly, D Prendergast (0-1), P Fogarty; J Fallon (0-3), S Hahessy (0-1), N Dolan (0-2). Subs: N Lynch for Kelly, N Johnson for Fogarty.

Referee: S McCormack (Meath).