Portumna advance after a thriller in Duggan Park

Kilnadeema/Leitrim 2-20

This was championship hurling at its best. Two sides went to war for a place in the Senior B hurling semi-finals last Sunday and when the final whistle blew, it was Portumna still standing and destined for a battle with Ballinderreen next month.

Three goals either side of half-time were the difference as the victors overcame a poor start, but last year’s relegated side still needed four late points to ensure their hopes of going straight back up to senior stayed on track.

Kilnadeema/Leitrim will be scratching their heads at how they’ve lost another pulsating championship encounter. They started in the right manner, got a crucial goal before half-time, and even turned over the concession of three goals to get in front.

They ran out of steam down the closing strait, and will have to wait another season to attempt getting themselves back into the top 16.

This Senior B competition continues to impress and Kilnadeema/Leitrim started in blitzing fashion racing into a 0-6 to 0-0 lead on nine minutes. Colm Molloy tallied after just 39 seconds and before the first 60 minutes was complete, Vinnie Kenny made it 0-2 to 0-0.

Mikie Lynch joined in with the third a minute later, and he doubled his account on six minutes. A Conor Molloy free two minutes later put five between them before Lynch set up Eanna Kenny for a perfect start for the Mike Geraghty/David Spelman managed team.

Portumna hadn’t functioned yet; they conceded multiple puck outs and only had one shot in haste, before Joe Canning finally got them off the mark on 10 minutes with a free.

Colm Molloy restored the seven-point margin but Portumna were finding their feet. Canning delivered another placed ball before Ronan O’Meara, direct from an Ivan Canning long ball, got their first from play.

The Portumna full-forward quickly got another and Joe Canning’s third free reduced arrears to 0-7 to 0-5. Conor Molloy maintained Kilnadeema/ Leitrim’s advantage, but scores for Martin Tuohy, Joe Canning and Jamie Hogan left just one between them on 28 minutes.

Pictured: Portumna’s Martin Tuohy tries to break through the challenge of Kilnadeema/Leitrim’s Daniel Comar and Martin O’Brien.