AIB Leinster Club SFC: Galvin inspires Portarlington to victory
Darragh Galvin of Portarlington. Photo by Tom Beary/Sportsfile
AIB Leinster Club SFC quarter-final
Portarlington 0-14 Naomh Mairtin 1-08
By Dan Bannon at Integral GAA Grounds
Darragh Galvin kicked Portarlington to their first Leinster semi final in three seasons against Naomh Mairtin at Integral Gaa Grounds in Drogheda.
Their ability to find the scores that bit easier than their Louth counterparts was down to Galvin. Mattie Rice’s side often looked to Sam Mulroy too often for inspiration, and on this day the Louth captain needed the support around him.
The Laois champions had done well in Leinster and in Louth environs recently, so Portarlington travelled with more than hope up to Drogheda. That dissipated slightly when regular corner man Jordan Fitzpatrick picked up an injury as early as the warm up.
With all eyes on Sam Mulroy, he delivered right from the off. The recently anointed All-Star cut through to open the scoring. The confidence of his personal accolade, brimming in his play. Wing back Jack Murphy cut in to double the ‘Jocks’ lead.
After settling into the game through half backs Paddy O’Sullivan and a double block from Alex Mohan, Port bared their teeth. Full forward Darragh Galvin and the lively Rioghan Murphy soon had the sides level.
Murphy was highly effective on the wing and soon ignited the Port purple patch. Into the scoring end, the Laois Champions hit six in a row. Each of the points etched in turnovers and midfield pressure. Piling in on Darren Morgan’s restarts worked a treat.
Colm Murphy added to his tally after another close range free and centre back Jason Moore drove forward for an inspirational score to make 0-9 to 0-4 at the interval. Pat Roe’s side did not want the half to end.
Naomh Mairtin got the stern talking to at half time and it worked a treat. So much so, they wiped out the half time margin in seven minutes. Dara McDonnell with a two pointer and Tom Gray finding the net after a key Mulroy tackle.
Portarlington, once more, responded defiantly, Galvin was enjoying one of those provincial days where it all comes right and Colm Murphy clipped over his fourth close range free. They were quite the double act.
With the greater experience and knack for coming out of the tussle with possession, Port rolled on to the semi final in less than fortnights’ time. A Saturday night under the lights against Athy in Newbridge.
Scorers for Naomh Mairtin: Sam Mulroy 0-4 (2f), Tom Gray 1-0, Dara McDonnell 0-2 (1tp), Jack Murphy and Darragh Dorian 0-1 each.
Scorers for Portarlington: Darragh Galvin 0-4, Colm Murphy 0-4, 4f, Rioghan Murphy 0-2, Ronan Coffey, Mikey Bennett, Jason Moore and Darragh Slevin 0-1 each.
Naomh Mairtin: Darren Morgan; Cian Sands, Thomas Sullivan, Conor Healy; Evan Whelan, Eoghan Callaghan, Jack Murphy; Adam Booth, Dara McDonnell; Wayne Campbell, Sam Mulroy, Sean Healy; Tom Gray, Val Leddy, Darragh Dorian. Subs: Joe McGrane for Dorian (ht), Shane Morgan for Sands (41), Jack Lynch for Campbell (50) Dorian for S Healy (61).
Portarlington: Luke O’Reilly; Curtis Lyons, Robbie Piggott, Alex Mohan; Mikey Bennett, Jason Moore, Paddy O’Sullivan; Keith Bracken, Sean Byrne; Rioghan Murphy, Ronan Coffey, Darragh Slevin; Tom Corcoran, Darragh Galvin, Colm Murphy. Subs: Diarmuid Bennett for Lyons (43), Sean Michael Corcoran for T Corcoran (59).
Referee: Patrick Coyle (Meath)
