Match Reports

Galway JHC C Final: Portumna 2-06 Ballindereen 0-06

Portumna Junior C’s followed the example of their Senior counterparts on Sunday and won the Junior C County Cup. The continuing damp weather led to the Athenry surface being slippery in patches, it was playable but both sides struggled with the underfoot conditions. At the same time, neither lacked commitment and are to be commended on the honest endeavour on show.
Portumna got off to a dream start and full-forward Alan Gorman had the ball in the Ballinderreen goal from a ground stroke inside two minutes. Ballinderreen quickly replied with a point but from then on, scores were at a premium. Portumna could only manage a single point from a free towards the end of the half from Brian Dolphin, while Ballinderreen had tacked on a further four points from Liam Corcoran and Colin Connolly from long range and the sides went in level 1-2 to 0-5.
Portumna introduced Stephen Killeen for Cian Royston at the start of the second half. If scores were at a premium in the first half, the first quarter of the second half yielded a single point for Ballinderreen-their only score of the half. When both sides had their chances but the dominance of the backs on both sides and the underfoot conditions made it extremely difficult for the forwards. Portumna did get the break, however, twenty minutes into the half. Alan Gorman, who had switched to centre-forward hit a ball from far out and Vincent Treacy, relocated to the edge of the square, appeared to get a touch to the net and Portumna were two points ahead. Following the goal and the intervention of an umpire, Colin Flaherty, who had been brought in for Brian Dolphin got a straight red card. Shortly afterwards, following a heavy tackle on Alan Gorman, Gary Forde, a very effective Ballinderreen player got a second yellow and the sideline. Stephen Treacy pointed the resultant free.
The dismissal of a player from each side seemed to give much more room towards the centre of the field and Portumna exploited this area much more effectively than Ballinderreen for the final ten minutes. The relocations of Vincent Sellars and Raymond McEntee improved things considerably but it was the upping in their game of veterans Gorman and the Treacy brothers that proved the winning of the game.
Stephen was on target from two further frees and got a point from play and suddenly the game was over. The margin of victory hardly does Ballinderreen justice as this was a very cleanly fought and close encounter until the final ten minutes and could have gone either way. Whichever side got the break in the second half was likely to win and Portumna’s goal in the second half proved decisive.
David Dolphin in goal dealt capably with all that was asked of him while Luke Sellars had an excellent game at corner-back. Padraic Lohan found another veteran, Mattie Larkin a handful early on but got his measure particularly when under pressure in the second half. Captain Shane Madden, Ian Flaherty and Martin Gillane were sticky backs and Vincent Sellars faced Gary Forde, the best Ballinderreen player on view and handled him well. Raymond McEntee was brilliant all through while Stephen Treacy produced a final match-winning ten minutes with darting runs and wonderful striking. Cian Royston, Declan Madden and Brian Dolphin are great prospects for the future while Alan Gorman, Vincent Treacy and Seamus Canning grafted tirelessly and used their experience wisely and well. Stephen Killeen got through a pile of work on his introduction. Shane Connors and John Smith got late runs to keep the pressure on the opposition.
For some of these players it was their first taste of success and this was acknowledged by Captain Stephen Madden when presented with the Cup at the end of the game. Well done to all and to Team Manager Ger Moran, Trainer/Coach Eugene McEntee, and selectors Shane O'Rourke and Ciaran Ryan.

Final Score: Portumna 2-06 Ballindereen 0-06.

Team: D. Dolphin, L. Sellars, P. Lohan, S. Madden, I. O' Flaherty, V. Sellars, D. Guillane, S. Treacy, R. McEntee, C. Royston, V. Treacy, D. Madden, S. Canning, A. Gorman, B. Dolphin. Subs Used: S. Killeen for C. Royson (half time), C. Flaherty for B. Dolphin (48 mins), S. Connors for S. Canning (53 mins)