Portumna CS make no mistake this time
TWO years after being denied by eventual champions St. Killian’s, Antrim, Portumna Community School earned another opportunity on the national stage last Saturday as they pulled clear of Holy Rosary College, Mountbellew in the Connacht Senior B Hurling Final.
Cathal Larkin’s goal and seven unanswered points in the final quarter proved the difference for the Portumna boys lining out in the north Roscommon venue of St. Croan’s GAA, Enfield due to the lack of available fields because of the recent heavy rain.
Their reward is a showdown with CBS The Green, Tralee on Saturday in Tulla (12:00). The Kerry group have been busy with their Senior A footballers earning a final appearance in Croke Park by beating St. Gerald’s, Castlebar on Saturday.
Holy Rosary Mountbellew kept in contention and had one of two goal chances been taken, a grandstand finish was inevitable. Cillian Roche’s fierce penalty ricocheted off the post, while another free was saved by Portumna keeper Colm Lawless.
Portumna started well with Iarla Kelly, son of Offaly manager Johnny, slotting over a free on five minutes. Then a move involving Jamie Rocke and Joe Lawless resulted in captain Conor Murray coming in from the left to split the posts.
Despite seven wides, Holy Rosary were competitive as Patrick Lohan picked out Tom Holohan to slot over their first from 45 yards. But they found themselves 0-5 to 0-1 in arrears before the quarter hour.
An excellent catch by Kelly from a Lawless delivery yielded a free for their third score. He then turned supplier for wing back Roan Carty to split the posts. Jody Canning profited from Murray’s industry to create the four-point cushion.
Kelly also went low with a free that was blocked but the momentum started to swing Mountbellew’s way. Roche landed two placed balls to half the deficit before Patrick Lohan pointed on 18 minutes leaving them just one behind.
The sides shared the next four scores evenly as Joe Lawless and Galway minor Eoghan Donnelly registered for Portumna; a Luke Kilcommins interception plus a Roche free was the Holy Rosary response. Kelly made it 0-8 to 0-6 for Portumna on 25 minutes.
Mountbellew finished the half with two Roche frees to leave them all square at the break. On the resumption, Larkin and Donnelly moved the ball from right to left allowing Kelly get his first from play. Roche’s free left it 0-9 apiece on 36 minutes.
However, 60 seconds later, the deadlock was broken when Kelly sent Larkin through and the Killimor full forward got the crucial goal. Both players added points making it 1-11 to 0-9 before Cian Considine and Cody Morrissey brought Holy Rosary’s deficit back to three.
In the final 10 minutes, Portumna moved 1-14 to 0-11 clear thanks to Canning, Kelly and Murray before Roche’s penalty rebounded off the woodwork. Kelly and Canning added a brace apiece to round off the scoring. nothing in it today. I’m just so glad that we got over the line.”
Keeper Lawless, Cormac Duggan, Carty, Corey Kilkenny, Oisin Gordon, Murray, Rocke, Canning, Larkin and Kelly stood out for Portumna. Holy Rosary were best served by Cormac Langan, Tiarnan and Patrick Lohan, Roche and O’Neill.
Portumna Community School: C Lawless; C Pierce, C Duggan, M O’Sullivan; R Carty (0-1), C Kilkenny, O Gordon; C Murray (0-2), P Dermody; E Donnelly (0-1), J Canning (0-4), J Rocke; J Lawless (0-1), C Larkin (1-1), I Kelly (0-8, 5f). Subs: S Felle for Pierce (60), E Malone for Lawless (60).
Holy Rosary College Mountbellew: T Rogerson; D Hurley, D Geraghty, C Langan; D Roche, T Lohan (0-1), D Ryan; L Kilcommins (0-1), T Holohan (0-1); L Lohan, C Roche (0-6, 6f), C Morrissey (0-2, 1f); P Lohan (0-1), A O’Neill, T Hart. Subs: C Considine (0-1) for Hurley (37), D Croxford for D. Roche (40).
Referee: N Quinn