Portroe gunning for Junior 'A' football glory
GAA: FBD Insurance County Junior 'A' Football Championship Final Preview
By Thomas Conway
PORTROE v MULLINAHONE
Templetuohy
Saturday 9th November
Throw-in @ 1.00pm (E.T.)
Referee: Tom Loughnane (Gortnahoe/Glengoole)
In November 2011, Tipperary club football was shaken by its biggest earthquake of recent times, when Thomas MacDonagh’s – an amalgamation team representing nine clubs in North Tipperary – beat Moyle Rovers to win the county senior football championship.
It was a fairytale win, but it reinforced a simple truism which most people in Tipperary GAA have openly acknowledged for years – if more focus was devoted to adult football in the North, some of the clubs could be seriously competitive at senior level. That’s not a slur on teams from other regions of the county, nor is it a critique of the hurling-dominated nature of GAA in North Tipp.
A healthy balance can be achieved, and Portroe have illustrated that over the course of their Junior 'A' football championship campaign. This weekend, they have an opportunity to further elevate their status as one of the county’s most eminent GAA clubs, as Paddy O’Flaherty’s side take on Mullinahone in a final which might be best described in one word – intriguing.
Originally from Cahir, O’Flaherty has lived in Port for around ten years, having been sent to spread the gaelic football gospel to the hurling heartlands of the north. In truth, it was marriage which brought him to Port, and it also gave him a familial connection to a number of the players which he’ll line out alongside this Saturday.
O’Flaherty is performing a dual role as player/manager, but that challenge is made somewhat easier by the honesty and determination which he feels is present in this group of players. Portroe’s hurling campaigns haven’t really materialised over the past two seasons, but they’ve managed to channel that frustration into the junior football championship, producing some impressive displays.
“Yeah, I suppose my role is a bit unusual because I’m a player-manager, but I have to say, the lads are just so dedicated,” O'Flaherty said.
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