Portroe strike late to oust Boherlahan

GAA: FBD Insurance County Under 21 'B' County Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Portroe 2-15

Boherlahan/Dualla 0-18

Report: James Hayden in Templederry

A strong final quarter surge ensured North champions Portroe ousted the best the Mid division had to offer in Boherlahan-Dualla in what proved a hugely absorbing County Under 21 ‘B’ hurling semi-final on Sunday.

Having trailed by five points at the break, an AJ Willis inspired Portroe outfit refused to be denied a tilt at county honours, drawing level just before the second-half water break and surging clear in the final quarter to deny an impressive Boherlahan/Dualla side.

Although depleted because of a number of Covid cases in the camp, the Mid champions still proved a formidable outfit and pushed Portroe all the way with full-forward Brian Og O’Dwyer the star of the show.

Portroe also benefitted from a numerical advantage in the closing quarter following the 44th minute dismissal of Boherlahan corner-back Ned Ryan for two yellow card offences, and undoubtedly this proved detrimental to their efforts.

Playing with the aid of stiff breeze in the opening half, Boherlahan found their scores that bit easier to come by, with four out of their opening quarter tally of six points coming from placed balls. Port’ kept pace throughout and fought tooth and nail for every ball.

Boherlahan raced into an early lead with Ger O’Dwyer (free) and James Murphy both on target before AJ Willis got Port’ off the mark with a close-range free. Brian Og O’Dwyer (free) responded to edge the Mid side three clear, an advantage that they maintained for the remainder of the quarter to lead 0-6 to 0-3 at the first water break.

Although they lost corner-forward James Murphy through injury in the 22nd minute, Boherlahan were very much on top in the second quarter but four wides in quick succession hampered their efforts to pull clear. AJ Willis (free) narrowed the gap to two by the 28th minute before midfielders Euan Ryan and John Moroney traded points for their respective sides.

Portroe kept battling away though with Luke Creamer in the Portroe goal denying Patrick O’Dwyer from close-range before AJ Willis landed a beautifully struck point from play to leave the bare minimum between the sides as the interval approached, 0-7 to 0-6.

Boherlahan turned the screw again however in time added on, firing four points without reply, including two accurately struck Brian Og O’Dwyer frees, to surge into a 0-11 to 0-6 interval lead.

Undeterred by Boherlahan’s late first half surge, Portroe emerged determined to claw back the deficit but slipped further behind thanks to another Brian Og O’Dwyer free. Now six points adrift, but with the elements in their favour, Port’ set about dragging themselves right back into contention.

Spurred on by the heroic efforts of Conor O’Brien, Brian Keating and Adrian O’Halloran in defence Port’ narrowed the gap to four by the 37th minute with successive AJ Willis frees. Boherlahan hit back with two frees of their own to restore their six-point advantage before Port’ re-jigged their side and introduced substitute Mark Madden for Barry Connaughton.

Portroe then hit the purple patch they had craved for so long. Three points on the bounce from Andrew Ferris, AJ Willis (free) and Kieran McKeogh brought Port’ to within three with 45 minutes elapsed. Although McKeogh’s first-time effort rifled over the crossbar it could have as easily ended up in the back of the Boherlahan net after AJ Willis saw his effort on goal parried into the path of the inrushing McKeogh by the Boherlahan netminder Darragh Lacy.

Portroe kept piling the pressure on Boherlahan with Diarmuid Boyle, John Moroney, James Ferris and AJ Willis spearheading the Port’ resurgence.

A disputed Portroe point from the toes of the stand side-line which was signalled wide was quickly forgotten after AJ Willis brought Portroe level for the first time in the game with a cracking 46th minute goal. Willis made no mistake on this occasion, gratefully accepting Diarmuid Boyle’s inch perfect pass after the Portroe captain had plucked the sliotar from the skies, 1-11 to 0-14.

Energized by the goal, Portroe emerged from the second-half water break determined to press home their numerical advantage following the dismissal of Boherlahan’s Ned Ryan just beforehand. However, upon the resumption it was Brian Og O’Dwyer (free) who stepped up to edge Boherlahan back in front.

AJ Willis (free) and Og O’Dwyer traded points in quick succession as the battle for supremacy enthralled the sizeable attendance. Boherlahan also threatened the Portroe goal, but the heroic efforts of full-back Brian Keating and his defensive counterparts kept the marauding mid-men at bay.

Portroe were back on terms again in the 57th minute after Diarmuid Boyle flashed over a sublimely struck effort before the defining moment of the game saw a sweetly struck side-line cut from the stick of AJ Willis fly straight to the back of the Boherlahan net. Darragh Lacy appeared to be unsighted by the low winter sun as the sliotar flew straight past him to propel Portroe into a 2-13 to 0-16 advantage.

Willis quickly added a pointed free to put four between the sides, but Boherlahan responded in kind thanks to Brian Og O’Dwyer.

The Mid side refused to die softly though and kept battling right to the bitter end. AJ Willis added a 61st minute point from play to bring his personal tally to 2-11 before Boherlahan were awarded a 20-metre free deep in time added on. Up stepped Brian Og O’Dwyer but his effort was well saved and cleared by the resolute Portroe defence.

O’Dwyer added a pointed free minutes later but it only served as mere consolation as a dogged and determined Portroe marched on to this year’s county decider against Clonoulty/Rossmore next Sunday, back in Templederry

Portroe’s indomitable spirit shone throughout, and the tag of ‘underdog’ only serves to spur this side on. Port’ impressed again from one to fifteen with Brian Keating, Adrian O’Halloran, Conor O’Brien, John Moroney, Shane Keating, Kieran McKeogh, Diarmuid Boyle and Oisin O’Connor catching the eye while talisman AJ Willis was their scorer-in-chief.

Boherlahan battled gamely throughout with Brian Og O’Dwyer, Tomas Burke, Ger O’Dwyer, Eoin Moloughney, Euan Ryan, and captain John Ryan very much to the fore.

Player of the Match: AJ Willis (Portroe)

Portroe: Luke Creamer (7), Eoin Maher (7), Brian Keating (8), Adrian O’Halloran (8); Ben O’Connor (7), Conor O’Brien (8), Shane Keating (7); John Moroney (0-1 7), James Ferris (7); Barry Connaughton (7), AJ Willis (2-11 (0-9f, 1-0 s-cut) 9), Andrew Ferris (0-1, 7); Kieran McKeogh (0-1, 7), Diarmuid Boyle (0-1, 8), Oisin O’Connor (8).

Sub: Mark Madden (7) for Connaughton (41).

Boherlahan/Dualla: Darragh Lacy (7), Ned Ryan (6), Tomas Burke (7), Michael O’Connor (7); Ger O’Dwyer (0-1f, 8), Paul O’Dwyer (7), Eoin Moloughney (0-1, 7); John Ryan (0-1, 7), Euan Ryan (0-1, 7); Niall O’Dwyer (7), Mark Downey (7), Padraig Ryan (7); James Murphy (0-1, 7), Brian Óg O’Dwyer (0-13, 10f) 8), Patrick O’Dwyer (7).

Sub: Luke O’Flynn (7) for Murphy (22).

Referee: Conor Doyle (Silvermines).