LEINSTER SFC FIRST ROUND/Portlaoise (Laois) 2-21 Mattock Rangers (Louth) 0-2:SIX-TIMES Leinster Club champions Portlaoise sent an early warning to other title pretenders in the province following this annihilation of the Louth standard-bearers at the Gaelic Grounds, Drogheda, yesterday.
The three-in-a-row Laois champions produced a devastating display to completely destroy a very disappointing Wee County outfit.
From the time midfielder and captain Brian McCormack fired his side into the lead after seven seconds there was only one team in it. Portlaoise led 1-11 to 0-1 at the interval.
Mattock were forced to line out without captain Mark Brennan (injured) and county player Adrian Reid (holidays) but this display was a far cry from their impressive 10-point win over Cooley Kickhams in the county final and they failed to score from play.
Barry Fitzgerald's goal on eight minutes helped Portlaoise lead 1-4 to 0-0. Wingbacks Brian Mulligan and Kieran Lillis and midfielders McCormack and Adrian Kelly all scored in the first half.
The visitors continued to dominate and Zach Tuohy, Craig Rogers, Paul Cahillane and Fitzgerald all impressed in attack. Corner forward Cahillane scored the winners second goal on 41 minutes with a simple tap-in.
PORTLAOISE: M Nolan; M McNulty, K Fitzpatrick, A Fennelly; B Mulligan (0-1), C Healy, K Lillis (0-1); A Kelly (0-1), B McCormack (0-2); C Rogers (0-4), Z Tuohy (0-3, one free), B Glynn; P Cahillane (1-2, two frees), B Fitzgerald (1-4, one free), P McNulty (0-2). Subs: C Byrne for Fitzgerald (47), C O'Boyle for Lillis (47), J Fennell for Glynn (50), R Maher (0-1) for Cahillane (55), M Kavanagh for Tuohy (55).
MATTOCK RANGERS: M Englishby; T O'Reilly, David Brennan, P Bannon; S Gilsenan, C Grimes (0-1, free), T Murphy; N Callan, D Bannon; K Brennan, D Reid (0-1, free), R Lenaghan; S Grimes, R Brennan, G Monaghan. Subs: Darren Brennan for K Brennan (11 mins), M Sherlock for Murphy (44 mins), E Roche for S Grimes (45 mins), K Hamill for Monaghan (45 mins), G Duff for David Brennan (51 mins).
Referee: G McCormack (Dublin)
Portlaoise will meet the winners of next Sunday's Meath final between Wolfe Tones and Seneschalstown. Clara will meet Carlow's Rathvilly, and Clonguish will play Garrycastle of Westmeath. Dublin's Ballyboden St Enda's play Wicklow's Rathnew, with all four quarter-finals scheduled to take place on November 8th.
