Keane Gortnahoe down Portroe

GAA: FBD County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Quarter Final

Gortnahoe/Glengoole 1-22

Portroe 2-16

Report: Liam Hogan in Borrisoleigh

Portroe failed to reach they last four of the County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship when they were beaten by an impressive Gortnahoe/Glengoole in this quarter final on Saturday.

Failure to make their mark up front was their downfall where only AJ Willis came anywhere near the height of what he could do, while at the other end it was the marksmanship of the highest order by Keane Hayes whose accurate free-taking and ability to score from play that helped Gortnahoe/Glengoole over the line.

Hayes scored 0-17, including four points from play, as part of an unerring performance as his side were by far the better side, and yet they nearly let it go as Portroe, in typical fashion, came good in the last ten minutes with goals but it was too little too late.

Portroe were first to settle and were leading 0-3 to 0-1 by the seventh minute thanks to two John Sheedy frees plus one from play by AJ Willis. But with Keane Hayes, who scored all Gortnahoe’s first half points, pulled his side level by the thirteenth minute. Mark Gennery gave Port the lead, but Hayes replied with another free before adding five more placed to see his team take a 0-10 to 0-6 half time lead.

Once the teams return to action it was Gortnahoe who displayed much more urgency in their play as Darragh Maher became the first player, other than Hayes, to register a score. Hayes increased his side’s lead to five with his eleventh point, but Port responded with Robert Byrne’s ninety-metre free, quickly followed by a John Sheedy free to leave the margin at three.

However, Gortnahoe were in form as two quick points by Gearoid Fahey and Keane Hayes had the margin out to five by the 38th minute. Over the next seven minutes, the teams went score for score with Portroe eating into the lead through AJ Willis, Jack Maloney, and a John Sheedy 65, only for Gortnahoe to regain their five-point lead each time through two frees by Keane Hayes either side of a Ronan Teehan score from play.

Every time Gortnahoe felt threatened they had the ability to loosen the strings and by the 48th minute they had increased their lead to six with Keane Hayes adding two frees. There was more rich form from the Mid-side who almost scored a goal in the 51st minute but Diarmuid Boyle was equal to Ronan Teehan’s effort with Teehan firing the rebound inches wide.

In response, Portroe won a 65 which John Sheedy converted but wing back Brian Maher was on hand to move Gortnahoe six in front once more. When Colm Gleeson was sent off for a second yellow card shortly after, it seemed that Port’s chances of recovery were impossible. Kevin O’Halloran’s well directed side-line cut provided hope. Keane Hayes moved his team six in front again before John Moloney and Hayes swapped points, maintaining the Mid sides six-point advantage with a minute remaining.

Thirty seconds later, the game changed direction momentarily when AJ Willis took an assist from Kevin O’Halloran before finding the net. O’Halloran followed up with a second point from a side-line cut as Port cut the margin to two.

However, Gortnahoe were always that bit in hand and they must have felt the game was there’s once Darragh Maher found the back of the net quickly followed by another Hayes free in the first minute of added time.

It was game over, but another minute of play was on hand and Port had one more kick in them with AJ Willis finding the net for a second time but by then it was too little too late as Gortnahoe had reached the semi-final where they meet St Mary’s.

It was a truly disappointing day for Portroe where only Diarmuid Boyle in goal plus Robert Byrne, Jack Moloney, Kevin O’Halloran, and AJ Willis caught the eye asthey played nowhere close to their best.

The winners could rely on Timmy Dunne in goal as well as Karl Campion, Brian Maher and Jack Moore as well as Ronan Teehan and the excellent Keane Hayes.

Player of the Match: Keane Hayes (Gortnahoe/Glengoole)

Gortnahoe/Glengoole: Timmy Dunne (7); Enda McCarthy (7), Karl Campions (7), Philly Purcell (7); Martin Barnaville (7), Davy Nolan (7), Brian Maher (8); Karl Collins (6), Jack Moore (7); Adrian Maher (6), Ronan Teehan (0-2, 8), Gearoid Fahey 0-1 (7); Kevin Slattery (6), Keane Hayes (0-17, 12f, 1’65) 8), Darragh Maher 1-1 (7).

Sub: Aidan Guilfoyle (6) for A Maher (53).

Portroe: Diarmuid Boyle (7); Brian Keating (7), Mikey Breen (7), Justin Conroy (7); Colm Gleeson (6), Robert Byrne (0-1f, 7), Christopher O’Riordan (7); Jack Maloney (0-3, 7), Kevin O’Halloran (0-3, 2 s-cuts) 7); Ian O’Donnell (6), John Sheedy (0-6, 4f, 2’65s) 7), AJ Willis (2-2, 7); Ruadhan Mulrooney (6), Mark Gennery (0-1, 6), Sam Madden (6).

Sub: Anthony Burke (6) for O’Donnell (48).

Referee: Joe Leahy (Moyne-Templetuohy).