AIB Leinster Club SFC First Round
Portlaoise (Laois) 2-12 St Patrick's (Louth) 1-14 After Extra-time
By Cóilín Duffy

Defenders Cahir Healy and Conor Boyle were Portlaoise's extra-time heroes as the Laois champions dug deep to carve out an AIB Leinster SFC First Round win at O'Moore Park, Portlaoise.

Portlaoise led by seven points after just 18 minutes of normal time, and held a 1-6 to 0-4 interval lead, with Craig Rogers claiming a 15th minute goal.

However, St Pat's dug deep in the second half, with the dismissal of half-time substitute Brian Mulligan a huge blow to Portlaoise following a second yellow card in the 48th minute.

Defender Ray Finnegan was central to St Pat's comeback with three second half points, with scores from Paddy Keenan and Eoin O'Connor tieing the game with five minutes remaining.

Barry Fitzgerald looked to have snatched a late 58th minute winner for Portlaoise, but Keenan's sixth point forced extra-time.

Pat's stole a march in extra-time thanks to a Karl White goal, but Portlaoise tied the game by the break, after Craig Rogers dispatched a 69th minute penalty to ensure a 2-10 to 1-13 scoreline.

Keenan brought his tally to seven points when he pushed Pat's a point ahead inside three minutes of the restart,

Portlaoise added former Leinster winning captain Ian Fitzgerald to their side, with late points from Healy and Boyle forcing victory.

PORTLAOISE: M Nolan; C Healy (0-1), K Fitzpatrick, M McNulty; D Seale, T Fitzgerald (0-1), C Boyle (0-2); K Lillis, A Kelly (0-1); B Glynn, B McCormack, H Coghlan (0-1); P Cahillane (0-1, 1f), B Fitzgerald (0-5, 4f), C Rogers (2-0, 1-0pen). Subs: B Mulligan for McNulty (HT); B Gaynor for Seale (48); C Parkinson for McCormack (49); B Smith for Lillis (54); D Seale (in for extra-time, Portlaoise back to 15 men); B McCormack for Kelly (77); I Fitzgerald for Cahillane (77).

ST PATRICKS: R Arthur; J O'Hare, D Finnegan, D O'Hanlon; R Finnegan (0-3), E Breen, O Zamboglou; C Goss, P Keenan (0-7, 4f); P Mallon, S Hynes, A McCann; E Carroll (0-2), E O'Connor (0-1), D O'Connor (0-1). Subs: K White (1-0) for McCann (20); E White for Hynes (58); K Toner for Breen (73).

REFEREE: Derek Fahy (Longford)