Tiobraid Arainn Bord na n-Og

Portroe capture their second U 16 B Hurling title

Holycross was the venue for our second last hurling final of the year with the staging of the U 16 B contest between north champions Portroe and south champions Kilsheelan Kilcash.

Both clubs were making their second appearance in this grade this decade. Portroe successfully contested the final in 2006 winning their first title and Kilsheelan Kilcash contested the 2011 decider losing out by a single point to Kildangan.

Referee John Butler from Upperchurch Drombane club got proceedings under way @1pm.

Top of Form Portroe captured their second U/16 B title on Saturday last in 
Holycross. They had to battle all the way to the finish to see off a 
very determined Kilsheelan/ Kilcash team.

A very heavy shower of rain 
prior to the start of the game made conditions difficult for both sides. 
Portroe won the toss and elected to play with the strong breeze. The 
opening exchanges were very even and Kilsheelan were first to score with 
a well taken free from Martin Gibbs.

Portroe had an immediate response 
when full forward Jack Maloney got a vital touch to a long delivery from 
Ruan Mulroney the third minute. Mulrooney himself converted a 65 
and scored a great point from long range in the following minutes.

Kilsheelan were finding it hard to get the ball down the field but a 
point from Sean Martin after a great solo run.

Portroe were using the 
wind to their advantage and pushed further ahead with points from 
Anthony Burke and three long range frees from Ruan Mulrooney with the 
only reply from Kilsheelan was a pointed free from Martin Gibbs to leave 
the score after twenty minutes 1.6 to 0.3.

Kilsheelan were coming more 
into the game and in the lead up to half time were rewarded with two 
well taken points from Brendan Martin and a free from Martin Gibbs. They 
were dealt a hammer blow just on the stroke of half time when along 
clearance out of defence by Cormac Keating found Michael Quilligan in 
space and he soloed thirty metres and blasted to Kilsheelan Net to 
leave the half time score 2.7 to 0.6.

Kilsheelan now playing with the aid of the breeze started the second 
half with two frees from Martin Gibbs and a point from Sean Martin. 
Indeed they could have further closed the gap but poor shooting and 
some good defending from Portroe prevented from doing so.

In the 38 minute they got areal tonic when full forward Edward Carroll scored a 
great goal from twenty one metre line. The remainder of the game was 
played out in very determined fashion by both sides with scores hard to 
come by.

Two Mulrooney frees and one from Gibbs concluded the scoring to 
leave Portroe the winners on a score line of 2.9 to 1.10.

This was a hard 
fought and sporting encounter played in the proper spirit by both teams. 
Portroe were jubilant at the final whistle and while Kilsheelan were 
disappointed, they can feel very proud of the part they played in a 
wonderful contest.

Ruan Mulrooney accepted the cup from Chairman Joe 
Kennedy.

Portroe Victorious panel :

Kyle Creamer, Brian Connachton, Michael Breen, William Flood, Billy Donlan Cormac Keating, Michael O’Mahoney, Ciaran M Willis, Robert Byrne , Anthony Burke,

Michael Quilligan, Ruan Mulroney, Callum Cottrell, Jack Maloney, A.J.Willis, Martin Rainsford, Conor O’Brien, John Bray, Kieran McKeogh, Dermot Boyle Mentors: Dinny Hogan, Nigel Kennedy, Justin Conroy, Ian O’Donnell, Justin Conroy, Ian O’Donnell

Results

Saturday October 19th

U 16 B Hurling County final

Portroe 2-09 Kilsheelan Kilcash 1-10

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