Portarlington bow out of Leinster as Athy prove too strong

Athy 0-19 

Portarlington 0-11 

PORTARLINGTON made the short trip to Cedral St Conleth’s Park on Saturday afternoon where Athy awaited, with the winners destined for a Leinster final appearance in Croke Park on Saturday next.

The Kildare champions, Athy overcame the Meath champions, Summerhill, while Portarlington got past the challenge of Louth’s Naomh Mairtin to advance to the semi-finals.

On Saturday, Portarlington as always brought a huge crowd of support that backed them until the final whistle even when it was clear that their provincial campaign was drawing to an end.

Athy built up a strong 13-point cushion by the half time break meaning they had a good foundation to build on for the second half while Portarlington had a mountain to climb.

Athy played with a strong wind behind their backs for the first half and Niall Kelly pointed the opening score of the game after just 18 seconds when the ball was sent in from the throw-in and won by Kevin Feely. Colm Murphy replied for Portarlington pointing a free four minutes later.

The home side took complete control for the next 20 minutes and any opportunity Portarlington had went astray. David Hyland was given far too much time and space as he fired over the game’s first two-pointer to get his side’s scoring spree underway.

Niall Kelly then pointed from play after the kickout was won by Ronan Kelly. Sean Moore then stepped up to kick a 45’ over the black spot after a Feely effort had hit the fingers of a Port defender.

Paddy O’Sullivan sent a superb ball into Colm Murphy who set up Rioghan Murphy for goal, but James Roycroft managed to get his foot to it and send the ball out for a 45’, which Portarlington failed to make anything of. Niall Kelly kicked a wind assisted two-pointer over the bar and followed up with a free a minute later.

Conor Doyle continued Athy’s surge as he went full tilt towards Luke O’Reilly, but too much power saw him fire the ball over the crossbar rather than under it. Hyland then kicked his second two-pointer, with Niall Kelly pointing his second placed ball.

A golden opportunity arose for Portarlington when O’Sullivan was pushed to the ground as he was bearing down on goal and was awarded a penalty. Colm Murphy stepped up, but his effort was denied by Roycroft. Niall Kelly and Colm Murphy (free) traded scores while Ronan Kelly and Kevin Feely pointed the final two scores of the half giving their side a healthy 13-point lead, 0-15 to 0-2.

Jake Foster was introduced to the field of play at half-time and contributed with a super point after four minutes. Colm Murphy followed up with a two-point free but just as they seemed to be finding their rhythm, Sean Byrne was shown a black card making the next 10 minutes even harder with a man down. Colm Murphy kicked another two-point free while Niall Kelly replied from a placed ball.

Rioghan Murphy registered his first of the contest, but Athy replied with two on the trot from Mark Hyland and Niall Kelly. Darragh Slevin then added his name to the scoresheet but again, Niall Kelly replied for Athy this time from a placed ball.

Colm Murphy kicked his third two-point free in the 58th minute and that proved to be the final score of the game. Portarlington ended the match with 14 players when O’Sullivan was shown a straight red card in the dying minutes.

SCORERS:

Athy: Niall Kelly 0-10 (1 two-pointer, 0-4fs), David Hyland 0-4 (2 two-pointers), Kevin Feely, Ronan Kelly, Sean Moore (45’), Mark Hyland and Conor Doyle 0-1 each.

Portarlington: Colm Murphy 0-8 frees (3 two-point fs), Rioghan Murphy, Jake Foster, and Darragh Slevin 0-1 each.

ATHY: James Roycroft; Sean Moore, Michael Spillane, Darren Lawler; Padraic Spillane, Cathal McCarron, James McGrath; Kevin Feely, David Hyland; Brian Maher, Barry Kelly, Conor Doyle; Ronan Kelly, Colm Moran, Niall Kelly.

Subs: Mark Hyland for McGrath (19m), Ben Purcell for B. Kelly (47m), Sean Bride for Maher (57m), Kieran Farrell for Moran (62m), Conor Kelly for R. Kelly (64m).

PORTARLINGTON: Luke O’Reilly; Mikey Bennett, Robbie Pigott, Curtis Lyons; Alex Mohan, Jason Moore, Paddy O’Sullivan; Keith Bracken, Sean Byrne; Darragh Slevin, Ronan Coffey, Rioghan Murphy; Jordan Fitzpatrick, Darragh Galvin, Colm Murphy.

Subs: Diarmuid Bennett for Pigott (21m, inj), Jake Foster for Lyons (ht), Tom Corcoran for Fitzpatrick (50m), Eoin McCann for Bracken (53m).

Referee: Andrew Smith (Meath)