Depleted Portroe sunk by Killenaule

Killenaule 3-23

Portroe 1-8

Report: Liam Hogan in Borrisoleigh

Portroe found Killenaule much too strong as an impressive second half showing saw the South senior champions cast a disappointing Arra team to one side in the opening round of the County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship played on Saturday.

The continued loss of AJ Willis and Ruadhan Mulrooney, two of Portroe’s best forwards in last year’s campaign when they won the North title, is immense and they were always on the back foot as a result. To make matters worse just before half time they lost Kevin O’Halloran to injury. In addition, there was a suggestion that Robert Byrne may have sustained a hand injury late in the game and was replaced. Not a great year for the Arra boys.

The South champions, on the other hand, looked to be in a small bit of bother at half time when they trailed 1-7 to 0-6 but the changeover changed everything and with the help of a very strong diagonal breeze, they simply swept the opposition away. The win must surely put Killenaule into the favourites spot for the last four at least.

John Sheedy’s goal from a penalty was the perfect start for Portroe in the second minute. With Dean O’Connor and Joe O’Dwyer (free) cutting the deficit to one, there was no panic in the Port defence where Robert Byrne really stood out at half back while Jack Moloney had his moments also. Indeed, both players scored in that first half as Portroe increased their lead to five by the 29th minute with Mark Gennery adding two points also.

Killenaule’s scoring threat was minimised and they had to depend on the work-rate of Jimmy Feehan who worked tirelessly all through plus Dean O’Connor while brothers Padraig & Killian O’Dwyer excelled on the inside backline, not forgetting the accuracy of centre back Joe O’Dwyer whose three first half points from frees kept Killenaule close.

After the changeover, Tom Stakelum scored for Killenaule after 32 minutes but a brilliant score by John Sheedy had Port back four in front two minutes later. We looked set for a great last twenty minutes or so we thought. However, it was a false alert because Port would not score again. Instead Killenaule took over and were level by the 41st minute after Paudie Feehan scored two points in a row.

Eoin Barry gave Killenaule the lead in the 44th minute and a minute later Tom Stakelum availed of a defensive mix-up before steering a low shot past Diarmuid Boyle.

After Dean O’Connor and the impressive Padraig O’Dwyer had added a point each there was more misfortune for Port as they conceded a second goal in the 49th minute when Dean O’Connor was on hand to avail of an Eoin Barry pass before finding the back of the net.

Killenaule’s superiority was so much in evidence as they added another 1-9 in the remaining ten minutes plus two of added time which included Tom Stakelum scoring his second goal in 56th minute before Joe O’Dwyer completed the mission with two frees.

Player of the Match: Paudie Feehan (Killenaule)

Killenaule: Joe Caeser (7); Padraig O’Dwyer (0-1, 8), Killian O’Dwyer (0-2, 7), Jack Hassett (7); Joe O’Dwyer (0-6f 7), Thomas Keaveney (7), Ciaran O’Dwyer (0-1, 7); Paddy Codd (7), Jimmy Feehan (7); Paudie Feehan (0-3, 8), Dean O’Connor (1-3, 8), Eoin Shaw (7); Michael Doyle (7), Tom Stakelum (2-1 8), Eoin Barry (0-3, 7).

Subs: Mark Stakelum (0-3, 7) for Doyle (37); Eoin O’Connell (7) for Shaw (50); Luke Ryan (NR) for Barry (55); Finn Nolan (NR) for Hassett (55); Dara Fitzgerald (NR) for Shaw (55).

Portroe: Diarmuid Boyle (6); Willie Flood (6), Michael Breen (6), Adrian O’Halloran (7); Brian Keating (6), Robert Byrne (0-2, 8), Jack Maloney (0-1, 7); Colm Gleeson (6), Jack O’Callaghan (6); Anthony Bourke (6), John Sheedy (1-3, 1-0 pen, 0-2f, 6), Ian O’Donnell (6); Sam Madden (6), Mark Gennery (0-2, 6), Kevin O’Halloran (6).

Subs: Justin Conroy (6) for O’Halloran (28 inj); Michael Creamer (6) for Flood (29); Kieran McKeogh (6) for O’Donnell (47); Conor Byrne (NR) for Byrne (58 inj).

Referee: Gerry Treacy (Borris-Ileigh).