Three first-half Portumna goals ultimately proved the difference between the sides in this slow burning semi final played at Kenny Park yesterday. The champions are back once again in another final and it is difficult to look past them yet, as in recent rounds, they only impressed in fleeting spurts. Mellows will be disappointed with their own performance, as their disastrous start cost dearly. In fact, were it not for the Border men’s first half profligacy in front of goal, Mellows would have been far greater in arrears than the seven-point half time margin.
Mellows came into this tie more in hope than expectation. On the back of an unconvincing quarter final victory over fellow surprise packets Beagh, widespread opinion suggested the City side would be ill equipped to deal with the All-Ireland champions’ firepower. Yet the Border men haven’t been as clinical since last St Patrick’s Day and once more they produced a below par performance.
While Damien Hayes’ individual scoring haul was surprisingly curtailed, the livewire had a hand in all three majors. Ciaran Ryan’s development continues as the full forward bagged his fourth goal in three games when he opened the scoring. Just when Mellows had begun to settle after that early blow number two and three arrived midway through the half. Joe Canning standing almost on the end line finished a trademark Portumna handpassing move, with Hayes once again the chief conducter. Martin Dolphin illustrated his versatility when hitting the net following a scorching Hayes run to leave Mellows shell-shocked.
The city men were now forced to deploy Brian Howley as a seventh defender, a role he thrived in, while also landing a huge effort before half time. The wristy Mickey Grealish and Aonghus Callinan – who never gave up the ghost – landed excellent scores along with frees from the stick of Shane Minton and Conor Hynes to gradually haul the underdogs back into the reckoning.
On the resumption Callinan immediately landed a capital score and another Minton free reduced the margin to five. The teams then traded point for point with a a wonderous Joe Canning sideline cut, which arced delightfully inside the posts, drawing gasps from all. Mickey Grealish and young Shane Minton tagged on Mellows’ points but the goal Mellows and the game craved was unforthcoming. The best chance arrived when Callanan was cynically hauled down outside the square when bearing down on goal. The county seniors’ resultant drive was repelled by the Portumna defence and with it went any chance of an upset.
Portumna when in the mood are unmatchable, yet their recent patchiness leaves them vulnerable. Nonetheless, they will be warm favourites to retain the county cup. Mellows, though disappointed, have made giant strides in recent years and are now an established senior side. They lack an attacking edge yet this experience, along with David Collins’ imminent return, will further strengthen their credentials.
Portumna: I Canning; M Gill, E McEntee, O Canning; G Heagney, M Ryan, A O’Donnell; E Lynch (0-1 ), L Smith; A Smith (0-1 ) K Hayes, D Hayes; M Dolphin (1-0 ) C Ryan (1-1 ) J Canning (1-7, 0-2f, 0-1 ’65, 0-1 sl. ). Subs: T Quinn for Gill (59 ).
Liam Mellows: K Walsh; S Hynes, E Ryan, R Bennis; K Murphy, J Lee, J Hughes (0-1f ); M Grealish (0-2 ), B Howley (0-1 ); N MacInerney, G Lynskey (0-1 ), C Hynes (0-1 f ); Shane Minton (0-5, 0-4 f ), A Callinan (0-2 ), B Lee. Subs: Ciaran Hynes for Brian Lee (23 ), David Fahy, David Kelly and Martin Fahy for MacInerney, Ciaran Hynes and Conor Hynes (all 50 mins ).
Referee: Sean Moran.
