Mullagh ‘gift’ goals to Portumna

Date Published: 28-Sep-2010

Portumna 3-12 Mullagh 0-11

STEPHEN GLENNON

AT DUGGAN PARK

THREE Portumna goals – gifts from the sporting gods – in the opening quarter put paid to any hopes of Mullagh causing an upset in this extraordinary and somewhat surreal quarter-final played in front of a huge attendance at Duggan Park, Ballinasloe on Sunday.

It would not be untrue to say that, for the most part, Mullagh played most of the hurling in the opening 16 minutes or so, but, incredibly, they conceded three ‘soft’ goals to undo all their fine work against the reigning county champions.

To compound matters, Mullagh had all but tied up a number of Portumna’s bigger hitters, such as Joe Canning and Damien Hayes, in this period and, with the gauntlet thrown down, they were using every ounce of positive energy to take the game to their more illustrious opponents.

Conor Dervan opened their account in the first minute with a precise free, before corner forward Alan Whyte fired over a neat point shortly after to put Mullagh two up. In many respects, if this was the 18th century, it would have been akin to the glove across the face.

Mullagh looked to have their pistols drawn and ready; they were marching their 10 paces. However, within moments, Padraig Donohue’s charges suffered their first set-back, after an Andy Smith cross-field ball sent the Mullagh rearguard into a spin. When the ball broke, corner forward Conor O’Hare whipped on it first time to net for the champions.

To their credit, though, Mullagh absorbed the bullet and the duel continued with two further points from Dervan – a 65’ and a free – as they regained the lead by the 10th minute. It was ‘game on’ once again. Mullagh’s fate was still in their own hands. Yet, not for long.Two minutes later, Mullagh goalkeeper Eric Ward secured possession, but as he left his area, spilled the sliotar in a challenge. In a flash, Kevin Hayes was onto the loose ball and he stroked it to the net for Portumna’s second goal.

The calamity did not stop there either for Mullagh. Four minutes later, corner back Kevin Briscoe was charged with a sideline ball, which he delivered directly into the palm of his opponent, Damien Hayes. Need we say more!As a thoroughbred reacts to the starter’s gun, Hayes bolted for goal, drawing the Mullagh defence to him.

With superb and selfless vision, he found Kevin Hayes unmarked inside and Portumna’s centre-half forward made no mistake with his effort.With that third goal, a certain amount of inevitably seeped into the contest. Niall Hayes, Joe Canning (free) and Damien Hayes began to find their range, as Mullagh endeavoured to rouse themselves with similar efforts from Niall Cahalan (free) and Finian Coone.