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Maloney makes his mark for Portumna

CONNACHT SCHOOLS A HURLING SEMI-FINAL : Portumna CS 3-10 Presentation, Athenry 2-8 IT PROMISES to be a hectic few weeks for …

Thu Mar 05 2009 - 00:00

CONNACHT SCHOOLS A HURLING SEMI-FINAL: Portumna CS 3-10 Presentation, Athenry 2-8IT PROMISES to be a hectic few weeks for Galway star Damian Hayes as the Portumna Community School side which he trains bid for their first Connacht colleges senior hurling title.

The former All-Star will hope he can help Portumna retain their All-Ireland club hurling title on St Patrick’s Day against De La Salle,Waterford, but they will also have a big colleges day to look forward to after a hard-earned semi-final win at Oranmore yesterday.

Both teams played well despite the sleet and snow and served up a quality match as Portumna set up a final date with Gort Community School. “It is vital we have underage players coming through and these are a great bunch of lads,” said Hayes.

Shane Maloney was the Portumna hero as his 12th-minute goal cancelled an earlier effort from Athenry’s Dara Cooney.

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Michael Dervan gave Portumna a 2-4 to 1-2 interval lead with a goal after 25 minutes when they had the elements at their back.

Mark Hannon was the dominant force for an Athenry side bidding for their first title since 1977, as they hit three points without reply in the opening five minutes of the second half.

A Christopher Bannon goal reduced the deficit to a point at the end of the third quarter but Maloney hit four points for Portumna and then secured a place in the final with a goal four minutes from time.

PORTUMNA COMMUNITY SCHOOL: D Grady; P Killeen, N Killeen, R Royston; N Dervan, J Brehony, D Duffy; P Brehony, C Starr (0-2); G Horan, M Dervan (1-1), G Keane (0-1); J Blake (0-1), S Maloney (2-4, 1-0 sideline, 0-3 frees), B Dolphin (0-1). Subs: N O'Meara for Blake (24 min), J Whelan for Dolphin (47 mins), C O'Meara for N Dervan (52 mins), C Robinson for Keane (55 mins).

PRESENTATION COLLEGE, ATHENRY: C Keane; N Gibbons, P Concannon, C McDonagh; C Caulfield, C Burke (0-2, frees), G Cormican; M Hannon (0-1), R Hynes; C Bannon (1-0), G Forde, D Glynn; J Divilly (0-3, two frees), L Cannon, D Cooney (1-1). Subs: B Lane (0-1) for Cormican (half-time), T Flynn for Hynes (50 mins).

Referee: J Larkin.