Port’ secure victory but miss out on score difference

Portroe 1-18

St. Mary’s 2-12

Report: James Hayden in Borrisoleigh

Portroe’s season was consigned to the history books in the cruelest of fashions despite a hard-earned victory over St. Mary’s, Clonmel in a hugely absorbing O Riain Cup group 4 clash on Sunday,

Portroe’s continued participation in the championship hung in the balance right to the end, and beyond, as both sides waited patiently for the outcome of the Cashel King Cormacs and Lorrha game to decide the final group standings.

In the end Portroe, St. Mary’s and Cashel all finished level on four points with Cashel topping the group thanks to superior score difference. However, both Mary’s and Port had the same score difference (+4) so it was down to the highest total score for either side with St. Mary’s on 68 points pipping Portroe on 67 points by the very bare minimum of margins.

Nick Weir’s charges can be duly proud of this year’s campaign though and in what was an at time’s feisty encounter they proved full value for their three-point victory over the south side.

St. Mary’s were gifted a tonic start when after just fifteen seconds Pater McGarry set up Seamus Kennedy for a cracking goal. AJ Willis opened Port’s account with an almost immediate riposte but Ross Peters hit back with a cracking effort from range.

Although rattled by the early goal Port’ were back on terms by the sixth minute with Robert Byrne, AJ Willis and Ruadhan Mulrooney all on target. In an instant they were back to square one though after Sean Kennedy found Peter McGarry in space and he netted with aplomb to fire St. Mary’s 2-1 to 0-4 clear.

Portroe’s Kevin O’Halloran replied with the first of two sublimely hit sideline cuts before Seamus Kennedy and John Sheedy raised respective white flags to see Mary’s lead by just two at the water break, 2-2 to 0-6.

Portroe began to really motor on in the second quarter though, outscoring St. Mary’s 0-8 to 0-2 with Mark Gennery, John Sheedy (four frees), Conor O’Brien and Kevin O’Halloran (sideline cut) all raising white flags as Mary’s struggled to curb a rising green and gold tide.

Portroe deservedly led 0-14 to 2-4 at the break, with St. Mary’s two additional second quarter points coming from Sean Kennedy (free) and Seamus Kennedy. However, with progression to the knock-out stages far from guaranteed for both sides the second half proved a riveting affair.

Successive Sean Kennedy frees quickly reduced the interval deficit to two for St. Mary’s before John Sheedy's pointed free coupled with a 39th minute AJ Willis goal really heaped the pressure upon the Clonmel side.

St. Mary’s re-jigged their side in a bid to counteract Port’s dominance with substitute Cathal Deely raising a white flag with his first touch before goalkeeper Enda Dunphy fired over the first of two booming frees and Sean Kennedy chipped in with another placed ball to ensure just three points separated the sides at the second water break, 2-9 to 1-15.

St. Mary’s continued to re-jig their side but Portroe kept coming. Kevin O’Halloran edged Port’ four clear with a 54th minute effort, but back came St. Mary’s with a close-range Sean Kennedy free, yet another booming Enda Dunphy long-ranger and a cracking Jamie Peters point to cut the margin to the minimum, 1-16 to 2-12.

With the bare minimum now between the sides up stepped Portroe’s talisman, John Sheedy with an accurately struck free and a sublime effort from play to ensure a three-point Portroe victory but ultimately it wasn’t enough to progress.

Player of the Match: John Sheedy (Portroe)

Portroe: Diarmuid Boyle (7), Justin Conroy (7), Michael Breen (7), Brian Keating (7); Jack Moloney (7), Robert Byrne (0-1, 7), Colm Gleeson (7); Conor O’Brien (0-1, 7), Michael Creamer (7); Ian O’Donnell (7), John Sheedy (0-9, 7f) 8), AJ Willis (1-2, 8); Ruadhan Mulrooney (0-1, 7), Anthony Bourke (7), Kevin O’Halloran (0-3, 2 s-cuts) 7).

Subs: Mark Gennery (0-1) for Bourke (13 inj); David Lumbroso (6) for O’Donnell (52).

St. Mary’s: Enda Dunphy (0-2f, 7), James Morris (6), Liam Ryan (7), Richie Gunne (7); Tadhg Condon (7), Jamie Peters (0-1, 7), Sammy Ryan (7); Jason Lonergan (7), Michael Murphy (7); Ross Peters (0-1, 7), Sean Kennedy (0-5f, 7), Darren Cass (7); Peter McGarry (1-0, 7), Seamus Kennedy (1-2, 7), Niall Hoctor (6).

Subs: Cathal Deely (0-1, 7) for Hoctor (43); Joe Gunne (6) for Morris (50); Gearoid Buckley (6) for Cass (50).

Referee: Phil Ryan (Knockavilla Kickhams).