Bergin inspires Portlaoise

PORTLAOISE 3-7 ST JOHN’S 2-9

Captain Aaron Bergin was in inspirational form in GAA HQ on Saturday, as Portlaoise recovered from their heartbreaking Feile Football Division 1 final defeat by edging past their Antrim opponents.

The scoring prowess of Oisin Donnelly and Ciaran McKenna had given St John’s an early platform, but a second-half goal from Bergin from a 21-metre free, sandwiched between two majors in either half from powerful full-forward Niall Gleeson, helped the Laois side over the line despite a late John’s goal from the impressive Michael Hanna, who finished with 1-3.

PORTLAOISE — E Dunne; B Sheehy, P Critchley, J Reddin; B Naughton, T Brennan, J Geaney; D Bland, D Feane; R Murphy, L Davis, J Kavanagh; R O’Sullivan, N Gleeson, A Bergin.

ST JOHN’S — C Longair; S McKinley, J Darragh, JR Clifford; C Carson, O McKenna, A McMahon; P McCallin, S Shannon; G Lewis, E Connolly McCallin, M Hanna; O Donnelly, P Carlin, C McKenna.

REF — T McCarthy (St Vincent’s/Dublin).