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The 90's
The ‘90’s
As a result of these title wins, the AUL invited Portlaoise to step up to Intermediate Football. The Club’s legendary run in the 1990/91 FAI Harp Lager Senior Cup galvanised the Town and the local sporting community lent their support magnificently as the team beat Home Farm 3-1. Two weeks later, in front of 3,000 supporters in Rossleighan Park, the team went under 2-3 to Kilkenny City having led 2-1 with 11 minutes to go and having two goals disallowed in the opening half. It remains to this day a time fondly remembered by all. The team that played their part in this unprecedented success under the management of Christy Cahill Snr, Tommy Timmons and Mick O’Reilly was as follows: Ger Dunne, Pat McCormack, Mick Coleman, David Griffey, Gordon Conroy, Mick O’Loughlin, Aengus Burke, John Comerford, Christy Cahill Jnr, Kevin Conroy, John Loughlin, Con Dunne and Sean Wright. In the same season, the team reached the Intermediate Cup semi-final, losing to St. Joseph’s and finished third in the League.
1992 saw the construction of the clubhouse, a testament to the support of the town and county to a huge fund raising effort. The project was officially opened by Michael Hyland, President of the FAI on Sunday 26th July and saw Portlaoise playing host to Bohemians who had weeks before just won the FAI Senior Cup. The B team, managed by Joe and Andy Dollard, had a magnificent year when they emulated the great Portlaoise team of 1972 by finishing Runners-up in Division 2 of the AUL.
In 1993, under the colourful management of former Irish international and Chelsea player Paddy Mulligan, the Club switched to the Leinster Senior League (LSL), the top Senior League in the country. Our relationship with Paddy lasted about a year. The B team won the League and the Desmond Cup in 1994 and the A team, now managed by Stan Moss, achieved promotion in 1996.
From the start back in 1984, the club had enjoyed spectacular success in Schoolboy football, winning Leagues and Cups at every age level in the Kilkenny & District League. In the late ‘90’s, Portlaoise joined the Midland Schoolboy/girl League and immediately made their mark by winning their respective titles. This success continues to this day, marking Portlaoise AFC out as one of the most successful clubs in the Midlands.
After a break of 15 years from Dublin football, Portlaoise re-entered Counties football in 1999 and under Mick Coleman the team finished Runners-up in the Major League and Counties Cup.