Portumna’s nightmare day as Co. champions run riot

St. Thomas’ 6-26

Portumna 0-19

This SHC game played out like an old, mournful Irish ballad, as the glory days of former kingpins Portumna were pushed further into the past by the current occupants of the throne, St. Thomas’.

Portumna were not expected to win this game — at least by none outside their camp — but the manner of this defeat was nonetheless surprising. Time and again, they were carved apart by St. Thomas’ energy and invention. It made for uncomfortable viewing to see the great heroes of yester year succumb to such a drubbing.

By half-time, St. Thomas’ had already put some daylight between them and their rivals, leading 2-15 to 0-10, but it said something of the ruthless nature of Kevin Lally’s men that they killed this contest off within minutes of the restart — within 90 second they had 1-1 on the board.

After Darragh Burke converted a free, the same player netted off a super move that originated from a short puckout to the outstanding Cathal Burke. He found Oisin Flannery, who, in turn, set up Darragh Burke for St. Thomas’ third goal.

This was to be the first of four goals tallied by St. Thomas’ in an 18 minute spell in the second period. Six minutes later, Cathal Burke was once again to the fore, this time setting up Flannery for the coolest of finishes to put his side 4-18 to 0-11 in front.

The county champions continued to pile on the misery on their opponents. At the three quarter-mark, the industrious Bernard Burke put Brenan Farrell through for their fifth goal of the evening, before the same player rattled in their sixth on 48 minutes, following good work from substitute Damien Finnerty, to extend their advantage: 6-22 to 0-14.

All over the field, however, St. Thomas’ had too much for John Madden’s struggling outfit and this was reflected in the victors scoring spread. In all, 10 St. Thomas’ players were on the scoresheet, with eight of those contributing more than once, whereas Portumna relied heavily on Ronan O’Meara and Joe Canning for the bulk of their scores.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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