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The 70's and 80's
The ‘70’s and ‘80’s
Over the next 7 seasons, the team developed into an outstanding side with tremendous team spirit, well organised, talented and fit, whether training in St. Fintan’s or the Dublin contingent treading the grounds of Bushy Park. League placings in that period never fell below third and twice the team finished Runners-up, latterly in 1972 after a replayed play-off match with Breffni Rovers. Three excellent cup runs ended at the semi-final stages of the prestigious Leinster Junior and Sheeran Cups.
The pressures of years travelling to Dublin every second week, on a road network far inferior to today’s, resulted in the break up of the 1966-74 team and the withdrawal from the AUL. The Club continued in Leinster Junior Premier Counties and were soon joined by B & C teams. The A team won the inaugural Whitley Cup in 1978 and the Counties Cup in 1980.
In 1982, the Club embarked on the long-held dream of owning their own grounds when a 7-acre site at Rossleighan on the Mountmellick Road was purchased from the County Council for £26,000. The Club also spent another £10,000 developing the grounds and in 1988 the first ever game was held in Rossleighan Park.
In 1984, the Club expanded further by entering an u/14 side into the Kilkenny & District Schoolboy League. At the same time, underage summer leagues (affectionately known by all locally as the ‘Rack’ O’Brien Street Leagues, the brainchild of one of the Club’s ‘official first committee, Seamus O’Brien) sponsored by the local Squash Club, provided a starting point for youngsters in organised soccer. Tremendous success at this level unearthed many talented individuals who were to go on to star for the Club’s senior teams into the late ‘80’s and ‘90’s.
In 1986, the A team moved back to Dublin football and rejoined the AUL. Under the management of Christy Cahill Snr, this team showed that they had something special and in 1987/88 won the Club’s first ever AUL league title, losing only once in twenty-two games, but still having to win their last game against Portmarnock, which they duly did by 6-0. The team on that day was: Ger Dunne, Anthony Coss, Christy Cahill, Ray Creighton, Pat McCormack, Liam Gavin, Con Dunne, Joe Delaney, Noel Roe, Aengus Burke, John Loughlin, John Joe Mulhall, Noel Delaney.
The following year, Portlaoise again tasted success by winning the Premier C title with just two defeats in 29 games and a remarkable goal tally of 95. John Loughlin scored 40 in both seasons and ranks with Sean ‘Goggy’ Delaney (RIP) and John Fennell as outstanding strikers who were, arguably, capable of making the big leagues. Our B and C teams also enjoyed success by winning their domestic league and cup.