Laois SH Final: Casteltown 2-12 Portlaoise 1-11 Castletown won their fifth title in a row, and their seventh overall, with a four-point victory over Portlaoise yesterday.

The champions got off to a dream start with a Pat Phelan goal after just two minutes and they went into the half-time break leading 1-6 to 1-5 despite a goal from Brian Mulligan.

The second half followed the same trend with Brian Ferns netting a second goal. Pat Phelan added two points in quick succession before Cahir Healy got one back for Portlaoise but they never looked like relieving the champions of their title.

CASTLETOWN: J Lyons, M Phelan, R Delaney, T Phelan, JR Kingston (0-2), Paul Cuddy (0-2), D Keenan, C Cuddy, J O'Sullivan, Paraic Cuddy, D Cuddy (0-3), F O'Sullivan (0-1), J Hooban (0-1), B Ferns (1-0), P Phelan (1-3). Subs: Barry McKelvey for Paraic Cuddy, P Mullaney for T Phelan and S Lyons for JR Kingston.

PORTLAOISE: J Hannify, D Killeen, P Malone, M Bowe, J Phelan, B Mulligan (1-0), O Browne, B McCormack (0-1), C Byrne, B Fitzgerald, E Fennelly, C Healy (0-1), T Mulligan, N Costello (0-8), T Fitzgerald. Subs: N Fitzpatrick (0-1) for B Fitzgerald, S Cotter for P Malone, C Duggan for T Mulligan.

Referee: A Stapleton (Rathdowney).