Laois SFC Final / Stradbally 1-10 Portlaoise 1-9: The village of Stradbally begins at the windy gap, just down from the Rock of Dunamase, and dips down into the main street before rising as one turns out at the graveyard. Blink and you'll miss it.
Known for the Steam Rally festival and more recently the Electric Picnic, this morning they are kings of Laois football as the Delaney Cup is in their possession for the first time since 1998.
From the winner's podium, captain Eamon Delaney gave an impression of what it means for a small community to win a county title, especially after the surprise defeat to Arles-Kilcruise in the 2003 decider. "We're a little village and here we are again. We are a team of young players who stood up, gave our hearts, our bodies and our minds. I'd like to thank especially the mothers, wives and girlfriends for playing such a part in what we've done today. Thanks."
Portlaoise only have themselves to blame, well, the stubbornness of the Stradbally defence that they bombarded for the last 20 minutes must also be credited.
A Peter McNulty free was their only return in this period. Stradbally lifted the siege just as three minutes of additional time was announced. The ball went long to excellent full forward Colm Kelly. Brian Mulligan, ever so slightly, went into the back of him and he crumbled. Referee Eddie Kinsella awarded a free that Kelly calmly sailed over the bar. It was a marginal call on a day when most decisions went with the smaller town.
Portlaoise came again but first Delaney, then Australian Rules-bound Colm Begley made timely interceptions to kill off a game that was ruined as a spectacle for the 5,000 spectators by torrential downpours. Stradbally may have to improve to find a way past the winners of Rathnew and Rhode in their first outing in the Leinster club championship but that didn't matter yesterday as the two sides traded blows, sometimes literally.
This is a different Portlaoise team to the one that waltzed to last year's All-Ireland club final, Colm Parkinson and Colm Byrne are both on their travels, but they did fly Martin Delaney over from Chicago to line out at midfield alongside captain Aidan Fennelly.
For a long time they were overrun by Stradbally's perpetual motion from half back to half forward, while inside Kelly showed and turned for ball much in the style of a young Parkinson. He had 1-2 by half-time and 1-5 by the finish.
The goal came from a penalty on 16 minutes after Padraic Langton was bundled over by three defenders as he prepared to pull the trigger. Kevin Fitzpatrick ended up with a yellow card for his troubles as Kelly fired low into the corner.
This sparked a stirring reply from Fitzpatrick, who registered a quick point before out-jumping Darren Maher and Paul Begley to punch a Brian McCormack high ball to the net.
Another intercounty player, Gary Kavanagh, responded with a point but Stradbally's early dominance was erased by two Peter McNulty scores. A melee eventually blew up before everyone sought some much needed shelter with Portlaoise up by a point, 1-7 to 1-6.
Then a strange thing happened. The defending champions re-emerged for the second half only to be met by sheets of rain that threatened to break through the stand. Despite several strong blasts of Eddie Kinsella's whistle, Stradbally failed to reappear so Portlaoise and the umpires were sent back underground.
Kelly continued to live off his predatory instincts and Begley pointed a free to put his side back in front in what was the penultimate game for his local club. He departs for the Brisbane Lions pre-season training on Monday, November 14th, with the provincial quarter-final pencilled in for November 13th.
"It's my first county title and thankfully I won't be dealing with weather as bad as this," said Begley after. "I will miss the club but this is a nice way to go. It is very special, especially for lads who have been around for a while."
The game swung back to Portlaoise through Fitzgerald and McNulty points but Jeremy Kavanagh burst out of defence to level it up once more - leaving the stage wide open for a moment of heroism. As he has done throughout the championship, Kelly delivered.
STRADBALLY: D Maher; D Dunne, P Begley, S Lawler; J Kavanagh (0-1), E Delaney (capt), C Begley (0-1, one free); D McEvoy, D Mulhall; P Langton, G Kavanagh (0-1), J Donohoe (0-2); D Murphy, C Kelly (1-5, two frees), J Kavanagh. Subs: D Delaney for J Kavanagh (49 mins).
PORTLAOISE: M Nolan; M McNulty, C Healy, E Bland; B Mulligan, T Fitzgerald, M Fennelly (0-1); A Fennelly (capt), M Delaney (0-1); I Fitzgerald, S Cotter, K Fitzpatrick (1-2); P McNulty (0-4, three frees), B McCormack (0-1), C Rogers. Subs: E Browne for M McNulty (15 mins), B Fitzgerald for S Cotter (half-time).
Referee: E Kinsella (Courtwood).
