Disappointment for battling Portaferry

11 February 2015

KILMALLOCK broke brave Portaferry’s hearts at Mullingar when the Munster champions booked their place in the All-Ireland final.

Portaferry gave their all in a spirited performance, but their opponents had far too much power and pace for the Ulster champions.

The Ports have had better days on the pitch, but they could not be faulted for effort or endeavour and they were unable to to resist once the Limerick club moved through the gears in the third quarter.

Six points in a row in a ten-minute spell crushed any lingering, giant-killing hopes that Portaferry might have entertained and by the time Graeme Mulcahy blasted in Kilmallock’s second goal in the 50th minute, only the final margin of victory was in doubt.

This fixture was moved from Thurles to Mullingar due to the risk of a frozen surface at Semple Stadium but there were no such concerns here as the Cusack Park sod was in excellent condition, ideal for a fixture of this importance. Kilmallock took full advantage of the perfect playing conditions with Bryan O’Sullivan getting them off the mark before Paddy O’Loughlin delivered a killer blow to the hearts of Portaferry with a goal after just three minutes.

O’Loughlin’s goal was followed by three more points to just one in reply for Portaferry and already it looked as if the Ards club were on a hiding to nothing.

However, the Portaferry full back line, where Conor O’Neill was in commanding form, kept the Limerick men at bay with some resolute defending.

At the other end of the field Paul Braniff’s accurate free taking kept Portaferry in touch and at 1-8 to 0-6 in arrears, the Ards men weren’t without hope at half-time.

Braniff and Paudie O’Brien exchanged points inside a minute at the start of the second half to maintain the status quo, but from then on Kilmallock gave a masterclass in hurling, dominating the battle for primary possession and using it with pace and intent every time.

Six points in succession rained over Karol Keating’s crossbar as they built up a double figure lead.

Two of the points came from Limerick county man Graeme Mulcahy, who had been held scoreless in the opening half, but he finally found room to show his class with two stunning scores from out on the left wing, before making the result well and truly safe after 20 minutes when blasting the ball to the net after collecting a quick hand pass from Eoin Ryan in behind the Portaferry full back line.

Portaferry continued to press and both Eoghan Sands and Conor Mageean added their names to the list of scorers in the closing stages, but by now the Kilmallock party was in full swing.

Portaferry: K. Keating, C. Taggart, C. O’Neill, C. O’Prey, C. Coulter, J. Convery, M. Conlan, A. Savage, C. Mageean (0-1), A. O’Prey, P. Braniff (0-9, 0-6f, 0-1 ’65), K. McGarry (0-1), S. Mageean, E. Sands (0-1), R. Magee. Subs: S. Murray for Magee (37), N. White for Taggart (50), B. Trainor for McGarry (54), B. Coleman for S. Mageean.

Kilmallock: B. Hennessy, L. Hurley, M. O’Loughlin, A. Costello, L. Walsh, Philip O’Loughlin, K. O’Donnell (0-2, 0-1f), P. O’Brien (0-1), B. O’Sullivan (0-4), J. Mulcahy (0-1), Paddy O’Loughlin (1-0), R. Egan (0-1), E. Ryan (0-7, 0-4f), K. Kennelly, G. Mulcahy (1-2). Subs: R. Hanley for Kennelly (45), C. Barry (0-1) for J. Mulcahy (54), A. O’Shaughnessy for Paddy O’Loughlin (56), J. Meade for M. O’Loughlin (57), D. Joy for Walsh (59).

Referee: John Keenan (Wicklow).

Kilmallock 2-19

Portaferry 0-12

ALL-IRELAND SHC SEMI-FINAL

Tweets by @TheDownRecorder