Pearses 6-6 Portumna 1-5: Pearses got off to a flying start in their Feile campaign in Portumna this evening with a comprehensive 6-6 to 1-5 victory. Within 6 mins newcomer Cillian Fahy had 2-1 registered; his first a point from play after good work from Niall McDonagh. His first goal came as he quickly picked a loose ball in a goalmouth shemozzle and his effort took a deflection before it found the net.
A minute later he drifted to the right of the goal before unleashing an unstoppable shot past the hapless goalie. Portumna registered a good point from play while Mark Donnellan caught the resultant puck out to feed Conor Kelly who lashed it over the crossbar. Kelly uncharacteristically started in the forward line relative to his normal defensive position. Darragh Roche made it 2-3 to 0-1 from close range after Cillian Fahy did the donkey work to pass to Roche.
The towering No. 6 for Portumna scored a 65’ as the ball skinned the crossbar as it dipped over. Cillan Fahy registered his 2nd point as he was quickest to run onto a crossfield pass from Conor Moran. A sweet lift and strike over his right sailed nicely over the bar. Pearses got 2 more goals before half time. The first was kicked cleverly by Dara Scarry with space limited to swing the hurl when he got on the end of a high lobbing ball and Conor Kelly steadied the ship further with a tonic goal after Darragh Roche released him following his run in across the end line. Portumna scored from play to leave the half-time score Pearses 4-3; Portumna 0-3.
Portumna got a great start to the 2nd half with a whopping goal from a 21’ free 2mins in. The gait of the free taker told us he’d go for it and left Harry Mitchell with no chance. Mitchell made a good save from the ensuing puck out to ensure Portumna wouldn’t claw back the margin. As Portumna were battling gamely to get back into the game, Peter O’Neill, Oliver Laheen, Cormac Hillary, Mark Donnellan, Oisin Donoghue andamp;amp; Jack Reilly made sure there was no other chunk taken out of their winning margin.
Cillian Fahy’s great run towards goal resulted in Pearses 5th goal of the night as his first effort was well saved but the rebound fell nicely for Anthony Feeney who connected well and punched the air such was his delight with his mid-air flick to the net. Paddy Kenny was next to goal as he burst through the middle of the field, drawing 4 players around him and eventually his ground stroke found the net to make it 6-4 to 1-3 in favour of Pearses.
Portumna responded with a point from play and their big No. 12 converted a free which was to be their final score and bring their tally to 1-5. The dominant Cillian Fahy was hauled down after a probing run through the centre which saw Conor Moran convert the resultant free. David Egan had the final say with a point from an acute angle after Niall McDonagh andamp;amp; Conor Kelly were involved in the build-up.
Final score: Pearses 6-6; Portumna 1-5. So a great start to the Feile competition without the influential Ronan Hynes who will now miss the remaining games tomorrow through injury. An early start sees the boys take on rival neighbours Skehana in their first game tomorrow in Ballymacward.
Panel: Harry Mitchell, Peter O’Neill, Oliver Laheen, Cormac Hillary, Mark Donnellan, Oisin Donoghue, Jack Reilly, Niall McDonagh, Anthony Feeney, Paddy Kenny, Conor Moran, Darragh Roche, Dara Scarry, Conor Kelly, Cillian Fahy, David Egan, Diarmuid Ryan, David Walsh, Dillon Roche, Jamie Nutley, Ross Lally, Cathal Hynes.
Scorers: Cillian Fahy 2-2; Conor Kelly 1-1; Dara Scarry 1-0; Anthony Feeney 1-0; Paddy Kenny 1-0; David Egan 0-1; Darragh Roche 0-1; Conor Moran 0-1 (F)