Goals help Portroe past Lorrha

GAA: FBD Insurance County Senior Hurling – O Riain Group 4

Portroe 2-18

Lorrha 0-19

Report: Liam Hogan in Cloughjordan

Anthony Bourke’s two third quarter goals were the difference as Portroe rescued their year with a five-point victory over Lorrha in a well-contested second round Seamus O Riain Cup game on Saturday afternoon.

The Portroe full forward raised the first green flag in the 33rd minute after Lorrha had just come to grips with Portroe’s speedy opening quarter. That first goal was not enough for Port who appeared to have lost their grip as Lorrha regained the lead by the 46th minute.

Always dangerous in attack, Port struck once more and Bourke’s second goal a minute later put them on the journey home, as they outscored a deflated Lorrha 0-5 to 0-2 to win as they look forward to doing battle with St Marys in their final game where victory is a must if they are to advance to the quarter finals.

Three points from Michael Creamer, Anthony Bourke and Kevin O’Halloran from a side-line ball following Patrick Reddin’s excellent save had denied O’Halloran seconds earlier had Port off to the strong start

As in recent games, Lorrha had to depend on Cian Hogan for inspiration as the Lorrha man scored half of his four-point total to as Port led 0-7 to 0-4 at the first water break.

The break gave Lorrha vitality and points by Niall McIntyre, Hogan and Colm Fogarty had them level 0-7 each. Both sides added a point each before Eoin McIntyre edged Lorrha in front for the first time in the 25th minute.

The game had risen another notch as John Sheedy’s point from play drew parity for the third time and with play approaching the half time break the sides traded scores with Lorrha taking the lead on two occasions only for Port to level and at the break it was all square at 0-11 each.

Kevin O’Halloran, who had scored a brilliant point earlier in the first half commenced the second half with his third, but Cian Hogan levelled after grabbing another of Paddy Reddin’s excellent puckouts.

Seconds later an excellent Portroe move came out of the blue when a four-man handpassing move on halfway began with John Sheedy, A J Willis and Mulroney supplying the deeds before Anthony Bourke arrived on time to strike low past Reddin.

It was what the game really needed and Lorrha responded with Colm Fogarty on target from a free. John Sheedy set up O’Halloran with a good reply before Lorrha came level again as Colm Fogarty with two frees followed by a David Fogarty from play made it 0-16 to 1-13 and eighteen minutes to go.

Niall McIntyre then put Lorrha in front, but as expected Portroe would do battle again and another four-man move led to Anthony Bourke grabbing his second goal after Mulrooney, Creamer and Willis were involved.

With John Sheedy adding a free the Portroe boys seemed the happier as they went to their final water-break 2-14 to 0-17 in front.

With neither side willing to give in, Lorrha introduced Kevin Maher as Brian Hogan’s accuracy from long range frees continued.

James Ryan replied for Port but when David Fogarty’s point left two points between the teams after 56 minutes Lorrha would not score again Portroe, who looked lighter on their feet, took full control with O’Halloran, sub Mark Gennery and another Sheedy free out daylight between the teams with Portroe setting sights on a quarter final if they beat Portroe, while Lorrha are still just about in it, but need to beat Cashel in their final game to have any chance.

Player of the Match: Kevin O’Halloran (Portroe)

Portroe: Diarmuid Boyle (7); John Moloney (7), Michael Breen (7), Brian Keating (7); David Lumbroso (6), Robert Byrne (7), Justin Conroy (7); Conor O’Brien (0-1, 7), Michael Creamer (0-1, 7); Ian O’Donnell (6), John Sheedy (0-6, 5f) 7), A J Willis (7); Ruadhan Mulrooney (0-1, 8), Anthony Bourke (2-2, 8), Kevin O’Halloran (0-5, 1 s-cut) 8).

Subs: James Ryan (0-1, 7) for Lumbroso (21); Mark Gennery (0-1, 6) for Bourke (53 inj); Paddy O’Flaherty (NR) for O’Brien (57).

Lorrha: Patrick Reddin (7); David Sullivan (6), Conor Hogan (7), Denis O’Meara (6); Ciaran Haugh (0-2, 7), Brian Hogan (0-3f, 7), Michael Dolan (7); Niall McIntyre (0-2, 7), Daniel O’Donoghue (6); Willie Maher (6), Cian Hogan (0-4, 8), Eoin McIntyre (0-1, 7); Chris Fogarty (6); David Fogarty (0-2, 6), Colm Fogarty (0-5, 3f) 6).

Subs: Kevin Maher (6) for O’Donoghue (49); Alan O’Meara (6) for W Maher (53).

Referee: Kieran Delaney (Toomevara)