Reigning champions Portlaoise lost their title to Castletown in a hard-fought contest in heavy underfoot conditions at Portlaoise yesterday.
Two goals from Castletown's Fionan O'Sullivan in the eighth and 14th minutes helped them to a 2-2 to 0-3 half-time lead, with Niall Rigney taking all the losers' scores from frees.
Castletown opened the new half with points from Eamon Kirwan and O'Sullivan; then Portlaoise staged a great rally and scored three points without reply and Rigney added a spectacular goal with a minute remaining.
However Paul Cuddy closed the scoring with a long-range point for Castletown. An earlier incident had seen a player from either side sent off.
CASTLETOWN: J Lyons; M Phelan, P Cuddy (0-1), T Phelan; R Delaney, C Cuddy, J O'Sullivan; D Cuddy, E Dooley; E Kirwan (0-1), P Cuddy, S Hanlon; F O'Sullivan (2-2), P Dollard, P Phelan (0-2). Sub: D Palmer for Dooley.
PORTLAOISE: J Hanniffy; D Killeen, C Duggan, E Murphy; J Phelan, Niall Rigney (1-3), D Mullins; D Rigney (0-1), B Fitzpatrick; T Mulligan, B O'Sullivan, E Fennelly; B Bohane (0-1), Noel Rigney, C Clear. Subs: J Taylor (0-1) for C Clear; J Gleeson for Noel Rigney; M Bowe for T Mulligan.
Referee: L McEvoy (Timahoe).
