Big double bill of schools hurling is down for decision

Date Published: {J}

STEPHEN GLENNON

A new king will be crowned as Connacht Colleges ‘A’ senior hurling champions when Portumna Community School and Mercy Colleges meet in a novel decider at Duggan Park, Ballinasloe on Saturday.

It is many a long year since this piece of silverware found its way back to Portumna, with the last record of such a victory dating back to the early 1960s when the school claimed back-to-back titles (’61 and ’62) under the guise of St. Molaise’s.

However, it is still amazing to think that they have never claimed this accolade under their present form of Portumna CS, although that can all change should they defeat Mercy Colleges – an amalgamation of St. Raphael’s, Loughrea and Mercy College, Woodford; a side which only came together in recent years – in this attractive showpiece.

Of course, St. Raphael’s, on their own, have won this competition previously and, indeed, are the only Galway side ever to secure the All-Ireland colleges ‘A’ title – and Croke Cup – in 1995 while, independently, St. Raphael’s (2011) and Mercy Woodford (2012) have won the last two Connacht Colleges ‘B’ titles.

The Connacht Colleges ‘A’ decider will be preceded by the Connacht Vocational Schools final, with reigning All-Ireland champions St. Brigid’s facing their great rivals Athenry VS.

Indeed, between the four teams – and the two fixtures – there will be a wealth of underage talent on show, including a plethora of players who featured in the Galway squad that claimed the 2011 All-Ireland minor hurling title.

Connacht Colleges ‘A’ final

Portumna CS v

Mercy Colleges

(Duggan Park,

Ballinasloe 1:30pm)

In terms of this competition, Portumna Community School has lived in the shadow of their rivals in Gort and Pres. Athenry over the past number of years, but Saturday represents a golden opportunity for them to secure a coveted Connacht colleges senior ‘A’ hurling title.

In the semi-final, they recorded a three-point win over Gort and they will hope to carry that momentum into a difficult joust against the combined Mercy Colleges. Under the tuition of manager Ruairí O Tuairisg and selectors Tom Breheny, Tom Quinn and Sean Treacy, the side is captained by Galway All-Ireland minor medal Paul Killeen.

The commanding Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry man anchors a defence which also includes the likes of Portumna’s Padraig Muldoon. Other key men are goalkeeper Michael Fahy – who, like Killeen, was part of the Tynagh side that won a first ever Galway minor ‘A’ title last November – and Portumna duo Ronan O’Meara and sharpshooter Eoin Treacy, son of Vincent and nephew of Sean.

According to O Tuairisg, in contrast to other years when the team was relying on one man to carry the day, the current class “has a nice balance” and, he believes, that could be the difference.

Still, the manager is under no illusions. In comparison to the Mercy Colleges, they have a small pick in terms of numbers, although there would be quality players in the set-up thanks to the work being done in the surrounding clubs such as Portumna, Killimor, Tommy Larkins, Eyrecourt and Lorrha.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.