Mullagh to give Portumna stern test in last eight

STEPHEN GLENNON

Reigning champions Portumna – seeking the four-in-a-row of county titles this year – face a potentially tricky assignment when they take on Mullagh in the senior hurling championship quarter-final at Duggan Park, Ballinasloe on Sunday.Although Portumna missed out o

n becoming the first club to win the three-in-a row of All-Ireland titles last March, they have bounced back to go unbeaten through the group stages and they are firmly on course for a fourth successive title next month.

Indeed, not since the great Turloughmore team of the 1960s – in which Turlough’ won six County Cups between ’61 and ’66 – has a team managed four on the trot, but Portumna have certainly enough in their armoury to emulate such a feat this year.

However, Mullagh should pose a serious test and motivated by last year’s happenings – in which they felt they were denied a place in the final by a refereeing decision – they will be determined to submit a performance that might just catch the champions on the hop.

Elsewhere, Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry will be hoping to continue their great run against a favoured Liam Mellows outfit, while the meetings of Clarinbridge and Tommie Larkins and Craughwell and Loughrea should also provide plenty of hurling entertainment.

Meanwhile, both Turloughmore and Killimordaly will battle to maintain their senior status in one of the most important matches for these clubs in recent times, while, in the intermediate hurling championship, Killimor face Oranmore/Maree, Rahoon/ Newcastle take on Kilnadeema/Leitrim and Padraig Pearses meet Cappataggle in their respective quarter-finals. Abbeyknockmoy and Castlegar, though, must do it all again in the preliminary quarter-final replay.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.