BY DENIS J. CROKE BY his demeanour you would never have guessed John Mulligan had just led his side to a Leinster title.

BY SIOBHÁN WALSH AND TOMAS MOORE JOE Higgins is expected to be confirmed as the Laois Senior Ladies Football manager on Thursday night at a meeting of the Laois Ladies Football County Board.

PORTLAOISE 1-9 GARRYCASTLE 1-5 BY DENIS J. CROKE IT was edgy, it was a little untidy, it wasn’t pretty – the Leinster final that is but none of that will worry Portlaoise.

BY DENIS J. CROKE LIKE so many others, Aidan Fennelly is the first to acknowledge the role played by the substitutes’ bench in Portlaoise’s success this year.

CILL DARA 24 PORTLAOISE 13 BY DAIRE WALSH TWO tries from out-half Sila Va’Enuku were pivotal in ensuring that Cill Dara came away with the maximum five points from this clash with near neighbours Portlaoise in Beechpark on Saturday afternoon.