Temple Villa FC Dominate Portlaoise AFC 9-1 At Moate

Temple Villa FC welcomed Portlaoise AFC to Moate on 8 November 2025 for a cup home match that kicked off at 11:00am. The 60-minute contest, played under 11-a-side rules, ended in a resounding 9-1 victory for Temple Villa, showcasing their attacking prowess and tactical superiority.

Temple Villa lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, deploying Sam Mellet in goal behind a back four of James Dullea at right back, Dan Dwyer and Tiernan O’Shaughnessy as central defenders, and Luke McCrossan at left back. The double pivot in midfield featured Darragh Nee and Oliver Cooney, tasked with both defensive duties and linking play. Ahead of them, the attacking midfield trio consisted of Harry Donlon on the right, Reuben Davis centrally, and Tom Adamson on the left, supporting lone striker Andrew Fitzpatrick. This setup was designed to provide width, creativity, and a focal point up front to penetrate Portlaoise’s defence. The substitutes named were Christopher Coyle, James Henson, James O’Grady, and Ryan Mahon.

The match burst into life early as Temple Villa took the lead in the 9th minute. Darragh Nee delivered a precise corner that found Oliver Cooney, who rose to powerfully head home from close range. This early goal set the tone for the visitors’ dominance. Six minutes later, the striker Andrew Fitzpatrick doubled the advantage, finishing a neat short pass from Tom Adamson with a close-range strike.

Fitzpatrick was on the scoresheet again just three minutes after his first, this time converting a short pass from Reuben Davis inside the box to make it 3-0. The momentum continued as Tom Adamson added a fourth goal in the 20th minute, further asserting Temple Villa’s control. Immediately following this goal, a flurry of substitutions took place: Christopher Coyle replaced Reuben Davis, James Henson came on for Tom Adamson, James O’Grady replaced Harry Donlon, and Ryan Mahon took over from James Dullea at right back.

The changes did not disrupt the flow as James O’Grady found the net in the 28th minute, extending the lead to 5-0. The first half concluded with Temple Villa firmly in command, their attacking intent clear and their defensive shape solid.

After the break, Christopher Coyle continued to impress by scoring a solo goal in the 37th minute, assisted cleverly by a flick from James Henson. Just three minutes later, Tiernan O’Shaughnessy added a tap-in from a corner delivered by Darragh Nee, making it 7-0. Shortly after, further substitutions saw Reuben Davis return to the pitch for Oliver Cooney, James Dullea come back on for Dan Dwyer, Harry Donlon replace James O’Grady, and Andrew Fitzpatrick re-enter the fray for James Henson.

In the 49th and 50th minutes, Oliver Cooney and James Henson were again involved in substitutions, with Cooney replacing Darragh Nee and Henson coming on for Tom Adamson. Cooney then scored his second goal of the match in the 52nd minute, finishing a short pass from Reuben Davis to continue the scoring spree.

Defensive adjustments followed as Dan Dwyer returned to replace Ryan Mahon in the 53rd minute. Portlaoise managed to get on the scoresheet in the 54th minute with a close-range right-footed finish, offering a brief respite from the onslaught.

However, Temple Villa quickly restored their eight-goal cushion when Andrew Fitzpatrick completed his hat-trick in the 56th minute, again assisted by Reuben Davis with a short pass and finishing with his right foot from close range.

The emphatic 9-1 scoreline reflected Temple Villa’s relentless attacking pressure and clinical finishing throughout the match. Their well-drilled 4-2-3-1 formation allowed them to dominate possession, create numerous chances, and maintain defensive solidity. The multiple substitutions injected fresh energy without disrupting their rhythm, ensuring the team’s dominance was sustained until the final whistle.

Temple Villa FC’s comprehensive victory at Moate will surely boost their confidence as they progress further in the cup competition, while Portlaoise AFC will be left to regroup after a tough day on the road.