Surprise packets Cappataggle show no signs of wilting

Portumna 2-14

CAPPATAGGLE may not have scalped four-time All-Ireland champions Portumna at Duggan Park, Ballinasloe on Saturday evening yet, for all that, what was witnessed by the large crowd that braved the elements was the coming-of-age of a team and club playing without fear or inhibition.

Make no mistake, Cappy have truly arrived in the top flight and the sceptics who pondered the merits of their victories over Liam Mellows and Ardrahan in the opening rounds – two teams many felt were not up to speed – have been well and truly put in their place.

As draw matches go, this result was a big one for Tony Nevin’s outfit as it ensured that by the close of business last weekend they continued to sit top of their group – above Portumna – on scoring difference.

At no time did they look out of place in this one and you could say, overall, they were the better team throughout. They created more scoring chances and, more importantly, had a higher scoring return than Portumna who, albeit, still could have walked away with both group points.

In the fourth minute of injury-time, Portumna won a free inside their own half but it was well within Joe Canning’s range. However, the Galway sharpshooter pulled his effort wide of the mark and, with it, dissipated the opportunity to snatch the win.

There is only one place to start reviewing this entertaining SHC fixture and that is at the beginning. Both teams were full of endeavour from the off and by the eighth minute there had been as many scores with Cappataggle leading 0-5 to 0-3.

Canning (free) and Andy Smith lashed over the first two scores of the contest but then Cappy got in their stride to outscore their illustrious opponents by five points to one as Damien Joyce and the superb Daniel Nevin – four points, two from play – struck some class efforts.

Ivan Canning was on the mark for Portumna in this opening quarter which concluded with Jimmy Heverin’s side tallying 1-1 to lead 1-4 to 0-6. The goal was a blow to Cappy in the sense they had been motoring nicely but it also served to remind them just how dangerous teams are at this level.

At any rate, Portumna’s 13th minute major came when a Canning free was stopped on the line but Patrick Dolphin, as he tends to be, was swift on the follow up and he nudged the ball beyond Cappy custodian James Skehill.

Dolphin could have added a second minutes later after Skehill parried a Kevin Hayes effort but, on this occasion, he could not supply the finish to the follow up. As it was though, Portumna did net a second goal on 19 minutes when Skehill batted out a Damien Hayes boomer and this time Ronan O’Meara was quickest to react.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.