Gorey pipped in stormy affair
Wednesday March 03 2010
BEFORE A ball was kicked, there was tension in the damp air around the Portlaoise club venue on Friday last when Gorey Community School took on the local C.B.S. in the South Leinster Senior football 'B' final.
The game was scheduled for three weeks earlier but the Wexford side were unable to fulfil the fixture and the title was awarded to their rivals.
Gorey appealed the decision and, after Portlaoise gave their consent, the game was re-fixed but on the condition that the game be staged at the Portlaoise venue instead of the original neutral setting. Gorey grudgingly accepted this decision.
From the throw-in exchanges were borderline, but both played good football, in particular the visitors when aided by the breeze early on.
Two great points from centrefield player Jonathan Bealin signalled the visitors' intent and, ten minutes into the game, he set up full-forward Jack Hobbs for a welltaken goal.
The Portlaoise defence looked in serious trouble and a further point by Hobbs put the visitors six ahead.
Portlaoise settled down and, after they had what looked a perfect goal by Kevin Whelan disallowed, they struck again.
The move started with a good interception by Darragh Nolan whose effort reached Liam McGovern. He fed Whelan who in turn found Gary Comerford who struck a great goal in acres of space.
A Kevin Whelan point left the halftime score 1-5 to 1-1 in favour of the visitors.
If the pot simmered in the opening half, it certainly came to boil as the second progressed. Portlaoise got a good start with a brace of points from Martin Staunton, and Conor Nolan then came on in defence after centreback Damien Mullally received his marching orders on a second yellow.
Gary Comerford narrowed the gap with a great pointed free after 45 minutes, and now the minimum separated the teams.
Gorey had not registered since the 25th minute and, due mainly to the excellent Liam McGovern in midfield, they did not look like scoring but they stoutly defended their lines.
As the game entered the final quarter, Portlaoise continued to launch attack after attack and, when they won a close-in free, Martin Staunton held his nerve to land the equaliser.
Portlaoise were then dealt another blow after a great ball in from the corner flag was fisted to the net by Kevin Whelan, but the man in black ruled it out.
The closing ten minutes were tension-filled and, following the dismissal of Jonathan Bealin for a robust tackle, indiscipline cost Portlaoise dearly.
First Pádraig Fitzpatrick marched for his involvement, but worse was to follow as Martin Staunton became the third Portlaoise man to see red.
Extra-time beckoned, but in injury time Gary Comerford, the Shamrock Rovers Youths player, sent over a spectacular point from a close-in free after the unfortunate Pierce Maxwell was deemed to have over carried.
The Portlaoise Senior club team had been in the headlines for the wrong reasons only five days earlier when they disgraced themselves in the All-Ireland Club semifinal against Kilmurry-Ibrickane. Clearly they were not good role models for the local school side.
