Two teams who have had very differing fortunes in the Foran Decorating Division 2 this season contested this final at Fortfield Park on Sunday. Portlaoise Celtic are at the business end of the division and if they win their remaining three games against Newtown Rovers, Allenwood Celtic and Redwood FC they will lift the title. On the other hand Moone Celtic who are building for the future with a very young side must win their final league game against Redwood to ensure themselves of division 2 football next season.

The game seemed to be going according to the formbook when the Loaismen stormed into a  2-0 lead after only 12 minutes but Moone stormed back matched their opposition for most of the first half. Portlaoise took the lead after just six minutes when Brendan LaCumber rose highest in the Moone penalty area to head home a Glen Byrne corner.

They doubled their advantage six minutes later when a short kick out by Moone keeper David Byrne did not reach its intended target and Ross Moylan nipped in to intercept and slot to the net. Things were now looking ominous for Moone and in particular their back four, who are all under eighteen and were struggling to cope with dangermen Sean Browne, LaCumber, Ross Moylan and Joe Bergin.

However they managed to stem the tide and began to mount some attacks of their own. After sustained pressure the Portlaoise defence finally buckled when keeper Pat Loughman’s punched clearance only got as far as Anthony Hegarty just outside the box and he headed the ball over the stranded keeper and into the Laoisemens net.

They almost levelled in the twenty-ninth minute when Kevin Anthony met a cross form Mick Barrett but his header just cleared Pat Loughman’s crossbar. Portlaoise now sensed they were in a battle and they regained the initiative with Joe Bergin being denied a certain goal by a superb tackle from centre back Mick Wall after forty-three minutes but one minute later and at the crucial time just before the break they added their third. Brian Farrell made progress up the left wing and cut the ball back for the advancing Glen Byrne who met the all on the volley twenty-five yards out, finding the back of the Moone net to give his side a 3-1 lead at the interval.

Portlaoise started the second half in equally determined mood and after fifty-one minutes Brian Farrell played a free in to the feet of Brendan LaCumber. He turned smartly inside the box but somehow Moone keeper David Byrne got a foot to the ball deflecting it out for a corner. The County Laois side’s fourth arrived in the sixty-fifth minute when a cross from the right by substitute Daniel Mills was blasted home on the volley by Brian Farrell.

Portlaoise were now in control and it was no surprise when they added a fifth with ten minutes remaining when Ross Moylan freed Brian Farrell and he flicked into the path of Glen Byrne and he beat David Byrne with a low shot to the keeper’s left. They added goal number six with seven minutes remaining when Moone full back Thomas Murphy was dismissed for a foul inside the box on Ross Moylan and  Keith Lawless came up from the full back position to fire the resultant spot kick past keeper Byrne.

Moone however never gave up and their persistence was rewarded with two minutes remaining when Michael Barrett headed a right wing cross past keeper Loughman for his sides second.