Castlegar back in senior ranks

Castlegar 0-13Portumna 2-5

Eoghan Cormican At Duggan Park

AN Aislinn Connolly inspired Castlegar captured the County intermediate camogie title at Duggan Park, last Sunday and, in the process, condemned Portumna to a third consecutive final loss.

Connolly, the contributor of nine points, five from play, steered Castlegar through an absorbing hour of camogie and though plenty of big hits were given and taken, right from the opening stages it was clear that Castlegar were the side with the drive and hunger to earn promotion to the senior ranks.

Indeed, if Castlegar could have added an extra measure of composure to their attacking play, particularly in the first-half, then the margin of victory would have been at least a few more points.

This was a hugely disappointing conclusion to the 2012 campaign for Portumna whose flame had burned brightest throughout the season, securing the League title at the expense of Castlegar and replicating that result when the two sides clashed in the championship, but when the pressure came on last Sunday, their midfield were completely over-run while the attack lacked its usual flair and inventiveness.

For all that however, Portumna, to their credit, had reduced a seven point deficit to just two points by the 56th minute and were going hammer and tongs for the required goal with wing-back Triona Byrnes launching a series of deliveries into the Castlegar danger zone.

Castlegar defended resolutely all through with full back Donna Burke, time and again, emerging with possession when a Portumna score looked in the making, and the Captain played a pivotal role in the late resistance but fittingly, it was Connolly who relieved the pressure just as referee Joan Poland sounded the whistle after four nervy minutes of injury time.

The winners talliswoman had Castlegar of the mark by the 5th minute, by which stage Portumna were already two to the good as Mary Burke and Tara Rutledge (free) dissected the posts.

Portumna, despite their positive opening, would go 18 minutes without adding to their tally, failing to score from open play between the 1st and 41st minute, as Connolly (2) and Katie Connell nudged the City women ahead.

Tara Rutledge’s second free, reducing the gap to the minimum, offered little by the way of respite as Castlegar were dominant in the majority of, if not all, sectors. Aislinn Connolly and Elaine Murphy were driving through from midfield with Portumna finding it hard to win possession from their own puck outs.

For more, read this week's Galway City Tribune.