Sam strikes late to edge Portarlington ahead of Gaelscoil Phortlaoise
St. Patrick's BNS Portarlington who won the Division 2 Hurling Shield final at the Cumann na mBunscol finals in Laois Hire O'Moore Park Photo: Alf Harvey.
St Patrick’s BNS Portarlington 5-9
Gaelscoil Phortlaoise 4-11
DAY 2 of the 2025 Cumann na mBunscol got underway with St Patrick’s BNS Portarlington overcoming Gaelscoil Phortlaoise to win an extraordinary Division 2 Hurling Shield final inside a sunny O’Moore Park. The sides traded the lead constantly throughout the game and were level going into injury time where Sam Lyons came up with the goods to make it Portarlington’s day.
Three points in a row from Ned Mac an tSionnaigh got Portlaoise off to a fine start, and he could have had a goal as well but for a great save from Portarlington goalkeeper Sam Petriw.
Oisín McCormack got Portarlington on the board before Sam Lyons added another score with an accurate 45. That was soon cancelled out by a long-range free from Portlaoise captain Lorcán Mac Giolla Bhríde before a brilliant individual goal from Ned Mac an tSionnaigh.
Portarlington raised a green flag of their own soon afterwards when McCormack played in Aaron Walsh who made no mistake. Lyons and Mac Giolla Bhríde traded scores before Portarlington raised a second green flag of the half when Lyons fired home late on to leave his side up by a point, 2-3 to 1-5 at the interval.
Walsh and Lyons pushed Portarlington further ahead before Portlaoise drew level thanks to a second goal from Mac an tSionnaigh. He and Mac Giolla Bhríde extended the lead only for Lyons to hit back followed by a fantastic goal from Tommy Walker Smith to put Portarlington in front again.
Portlaoise drew level before Aaron Walsh and Tadhg Ó Buacháin banged in a goal at either end. Walsh completed his hat-trick with time almost up but Portlaoise managed to wrestle their way level yet again when Ned Mac an tSionnaigh also completed his own hat-trick.
The winning of the game came well into stoppage time, however, when Lyons landed a pressure free to nudge Portarlington in front one last time.
St Patrick’s BNS Portarlington: Aaron Walsh 3-1, Sam Lyons 1-5 (0-2fs, 0-1 45), Tommy Walker Smith 1-2, Oisín McCormack 0-1 (f).
Gaelscoil Phortlaoise: Ned Mac an tSionnaigh 3-4, Lorcán Mac Giolla Bhríde 0-5 (0-4fs, 0-1 45), Tadhg Ó Buacháin 1-0, Eoghan Ó Maolagáin and Pádraig Mac an tSionnaigh (f) 0-1 each.
Sam Petriw, Andrew McCallum, Jack Scully, Donnacha Connaughton, Tommy Walker Smith, Oisín McCormack, Sam Lyons, Aaron Walsh, Tom Maher.
Subs: James Brady, Dominic Wyse, Oscar McGurrell, Luke Hayes, Noah Kiernan, Michael McCallum.
Stiofán Ó hUaine, Odhrán Ó Droighneáin, Klayton Ó Maolagáin, Lorcán Mac Giolla Bhríde, Tadhg Ó Buacháin, Pádraig Mac an tSionnaigh, Aodhán Ó Ceallaigh, Scott Ó Murchú, Ned Mac an tSionnaigh.
Subs: Kian Ó Gréacháin, Eoghan Ó Maolagáin, Zach Mac Gabhann.
