Leinster club SFC | Naomh Máirtín's Leinster campaign comes to an end

Naomh Máirtín’s AIB Leinster Senior Club Football Championship hopes came to an end as Portarlington defeated them by three points in an entertaining quarter-final clash at Drogheda this afternoon.

The Louth champions showed plenty of courage, but they were ultimately left to regret a handful of missed chances that swung the tie against them.

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This was the Máirtín’s first outing since lifting the Joe Ward Cup three weeks ago, and they hit the ground running as All-Star sharpshooter Sam Mulroy clipped the opening point after only 20 seconds.

Two minutes later, Jack Murphy registered a lovely score to make it 0-2 to no score, but the Laois champions soon settled, and once Darragh Galvin fired over their first score, the contest began to tighten.

Rioghan Murphy levelled, but Mulroy struck again to restore the lead for the Louth men before Colm Murphy’s free tied the sides at 0-3 apiece.

Mulroy then nudged the Máirtíns ahead again from another placed ball. The Portarlington found their stride and points from Rioghan Murphy and Mikey Bennett pushed them in front for the first time.

Three more scores in quick succession, another free from Colm Murphy, captain Ronan Coffey and one from Jason Moore, left the Jocks five points behind.

Naomh Máirtín almost conceded a goal late in the half when goalkeeper Darren Morgan had to pull off an important save from Galvin, before another free put the visitors five points ahead at the break.

Half time: Naomh Máirtín 0-4 Portarlington 0-9

Whatever was said in the dressing room clearly hit home because the Máirtín's came storming out for the second half as Dara McDonnell landed a brilliant two-pointer to cut the deficit to three points.

Moments later, they won a 13-metre free, and Mulroy opted to go low and hard, but Portarlington scrambled it off the line, and the resulting ’45 drifted wide.

The Jocks kept pressing, Val Leddy squared a ball across the goal for Tom Gray to find the net from close range to bring the sides level at 1-6 to 0-9.

Portarlington steadied themselves quickly as Galvin and Murphy responded with two scores to move back in front.

Mulroy hit another free to keep the Jocks in touch, but the visitors’ defence remained well organised as they forced the Louth men into rushed shots.

As the clock ran down, Portarlington did just enough to stay that step ahead, and points from Slevin and two more from the excellent Galvin pushed them four clear entering stoppage time.

While Darragh Dorian grabbed a late score that was tipped over the bar by the goalkeeper, it wasn’t enough to salvage a comeback.

In the end, Naomh Máirtín were left to rue a few missed chances, but they showed plenty of second half spirit as their Leinster journey came to a close. Portarlington march on to face Athy in the semi-final in two weeks.

Full time: Naomh Máirtín 1-8 Portarlington 0-14.

Naomh Máirtín: Darrren Morgan; Cian Sands, Thomas Sullivan, Conor Healy; Evan Whelan, Seán Healy, Jack Murphy (0-1); Adam Booth, Dara McDonnell (0-2, 1tp); Darragh Dorian (0-1), Sam Mulroy (0-4, 2f), Wayne Campbell; Eoghan Callaghan (c), Tom Gray (1-0), Val Leddy.

Subs: Joe McGrane on for Darragh Dorian (HT), Shane Morgan on for Cian Sands (42'), Jack Lynch on for Wayne Campbell (49'), Darragh Dorian on for Seán Healy (59').

Portarlington: Luke O'Reilly; Mikey Bennett (0-1), Robbie Pigott, Curtis Lyons; Alex Mohan, Jason Moore (0-1), Keith Bracken, Seán Byrne; Darragh Slevin (0-1), Ronan Coffey (c) (0-1), Rioghan Murphy (0-2); Tom Corcoran, Darragh Galvin (0-4), Colm Murphy (0-4, 4f).

Subs: Diarmuid Bennett on for Curtis Lyons (43'), Seán-Michael Corcoran on for Tom Corcoran (59').

Referee: Patrick Coyle (Meath).