Back-to-back county minor titles for Portroe

GAA: Tipperary Minor ‘C’ Hurling Championship Final

Portroe 3-9

Kilruane MacDonaghs 2-7

Report: James Hayden in Moneygall

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Matty Madden (Portroe).

SCORERS – Portroe: Matty Madden 0-6 (4 frees); Cian Hogan, James Seymour, Adam O’Callaghan 1-0 each; Liam O’Callaghan, Robert Horan, Iarliath Conroy 0-1each.

Kilruane MacDonaghs: Michael Hennelly 2-6 (1-4 frees); Cathal McIntyre 0-1.

Portroe retained the County Minor ‘C’ Hurling title following a hard-fought victory over Kilruane MacDonaghs at a rain-soaked St Flannan’s Park on Sunday afternoon.

Reigning champions Portroe went into this 12-aside decider confident of securing a victory over Kilruane’s second minor side, but they were pushed all the way by a determined MacDonagh’s outfit who fought back from a three-point interval deficit to trail by just a solitary point with forty minutes elapsed.

However, as the dismal conditions took a turn for the worse in the closing quarter, two goals in the 54th & 59th minutes respectively provided the necessary catalyst for a hard-earned Portroe victory.

Playing with the aid of a strong breeze, Dinny Hogan’s charges took the game to Kilruane from the very get-go with early points from Robert Horan and Liam O’Callaghan handing the boys in green and gold an early advantage.

The impressive Matty Madden popped up for a well-struck thirteenth minute free in response to Kilruane’s opening score a minute earlier, a fine effort from a placed ball from their scorer-in-chief, Michael Hennelly.

Portroe then raided in search of an opening quarter goal, but Cathal McIntyre was equal to the challenge with a fine save from a Jamie Freeman effort.

Kilruane edged closer with a Michael Hennelly free before Matty Madden arrowed over a fourth point for Port’ on 21 minutes. Once more, Michael Hennelly (free) responded for Kilruane before a strong finish to the half for Port’ saw Matty Madden hit three points without reply, with two coming from placed balls and the third from play.

Portroe took a three-point cushion to the dressing room, 0-7 to 0-4, but Kilruane emerged determined to peg back the deficit, switching Cathal McIntyre out of goals and into attack while William Jones took over the netminding duties.

Port’ also re-jigged their side and introduced Iarliath Conroy at the break. Within seconds of the re-start, they almost found the net, but Cian Hogan’s effort blazed the wrong side of the Kilruane post. Portroe found the net seconds later though with Hogan atoning for his earlier miss after an incisive ball from Conroy, 1-7 to 0-4.

Kilruane regathered their efforts though and by the 40th minute they were impressively back to within a solitary point with points from Cathal McIntyre and Michael Hennelly, and these points coupled with a 37th minute Michael Hennelly goal from a close-range free fired Kilruane right back into contention.

Stung by the nature of Kilruane’s response Portroe belied the worsening weather conditions to stretch three clear with unanswered points from Matty Madden (2 frees) and Iarliath Conroy. Conroy’s point came after William Jones parried his low drive over the crossbar to deny Port’ an almost certain goal.

Kilruane refused to go away though and Michael Hennelly brought his side to within two with a 51st minute free. Portroe battled gamely to fashion a response and were handed a huge fillip when Adam O’Callaghan’s long-range effort somehow found its way into the corner of the net after the sliotar skidded off the hurl of William Jones in the Kilruane goal.

Despite the body blow, Kilruane kept battling on gamely before a third Portroe goal from the boot of the inrushing James Seymour served to fire his side into an unassailable eight-point lead with injury time approaching.

Kilruane put a glossier look on the scoreboard with a late Michael Hennelly goal deep in injury time, but it only served as a mere consolation as Port’ held on to secure a fully deserved five-point victory.

Kilruane MacDonaghs can be duly proud of their fantastic effort on the day though with fine performances from Johnny Naughnane, Jack Quinlisk, Cormac Gaynor, Cathal McIntyre, and Michael Hennelly.

However, Portroe were full value for their win with Cody Morkan a colossus in defense while Cian Hogan, scorer-in-chief Matty Madden, Dave Moloney, Robert Horan and Liam O’Callaghan all caught the eye.

TEAMS - Portroe: Robert Seymour, Cody Morkan, Tristan Howard, Jack Quinn, Liam O’Callaghan, Cian Hogan (Capt), Robert Horan, Dylan Gamble, Dave Moloney, Matty Madden, Jamie Freeman, James Seymour.

Subs: Iarliath Conroy for Freeman (HT); Adam O’Callaghan for Moloney (44).

Kilruane MacDonaghs: Cathal McIntyre (Capt), Fergal Doheny, Jack Quinlisk, Donnacha O’Meara, Cormac Gaynor, Johnny Naughnane, Fiachradh Aherne-Woods, Michael Hennelly, Thomas O’Brien, Lucas Jones, Darragh O’Looney, William Jones.

Referee: Patrick Murray (Moneygall).