Portlaw and Mollerans final clash stirs great memories
St. Molleran's David Comerford gets away from Portlaw's Jack Walsh when they met back in the group stages. They meet again on Saturday in the final in Walsh Park. Photo: Maurice Hennebry.
For those of an older generation this Intermediate Final clash of near neighbours in Walsh Park on Saturday will stir memories of the drawn and replayed 1971 county senior finals that drew then record crowds to Walsh Park. The Carrickbeg side went into the game as rank outsiders against the side that had been awarded the championship the previous year when De La Salle and Erins Own were put out for refusing to play their semi-final when instructed by the board.
St. Mollerans were participating in senior for the first time in many years and led by Sean Reade and the great Jimmy (Butcher) Flynn they surprised all by reaching the final. They had the winning of the drawn game but just failed to get over the line. In the replay a goal by Portlaw captain Tom Cheasty proved decisive as the Tannery side prevailed on a score of 1-13 to 2-8. I am not sure if the sides have ever met in a final in Walsh Park since but Mollerans would like nothing better than to avenge that defeat of long ago on Saturday.
Divisional champions last year, Portlaw have their sights set on the county title this time round under new county senior manager Peter Queally but their ambitions were almost derailed last week by their neighbours to the east, Ballyduff Lower. Fortunate enough to come away with a one point win Portlaw’s hopes of going all the way suffered a setback with top scorer and county star D. J. Foran being forced off with a hand injury that seems set to see him out for the remainder of the championship if reports are correct.
The Mollerans have had this title in their sights since the start of the year despite the loss of top man Jack Reade to emigration and when these sides met in the league stage there was very little between them as Portlaw won on a score of 2-13 to 1-14. Fielding a nicely balanced side combining experience and youth Mollerans with be looking to Jimmy Dunne, Oscar Geoghegan, Bobby Drohan, Evan Foley, Conor Reade, David Comerford and Josh Hegarty to hit top form on Saturday.
The injured DJ Foran will be a huge loss to Portlaw but in young Evan Burrows they have a player who stepped up to the plate against Ballyduff and can do so again here with the backing of such as Darren Rockett, Conor Shankey, Jordan O’Sullivan, Luke Woods, Cormac Rooney and Blake O’Connor.
This has all the signs of being a very close encounter and with Foran out Mollerans may just have the edge in firepower.
There is one other Intermediate game down for decision this weekend with Butlerstown and St. Saviours replaying their drawn relegation clash in Fenor at 12.30 pm on Sunday. Saviours may have looked set for relegation to Junior in the earlier championship rounds but they are renowned battlers and have come on strong in their most recent games. It is anyone’s guess as to who come out on top here.
The Gerry Kennedy Junior Hurling A semi-finals take place with Roanmore and De La Salle facing off on Friday evening at a venue to be confirmed and Mount Sion and Ballygunner meeting in Butlerstown on Sunday at 6.15 pm.. It is significant that the second strings, (in Ballygunner’s case the third string) of the four senior city clubs will contest the Junior title with no eastern side eligible to compete in Munster.
The Junior B final between Roanmore and Ballygunner takes place in Ballybeg on Saturday at 6.15 pm and the Junior C final is down for decision on Monday next depending on the results of last evening’s semi-finals that featured Portlaw Vs Mount Sion and Passage Vs Clonea.
