Pandamp;aacute;draig Pearses 2-11 Portumna 1-14: Pearses Junior A hurlers overcame a 5 point half-time deficit to lead in injury time in this Round 2 Championship game played yesterday evening in Ballinasloe. I took a late Portumna free to level the game. Portumna’s Ivan Canning impressed and the Shannonsiders’ half-time lead was mainly down to his sharpshooting. The Pearses goal coming from young Finbar Healy.
Some half-time switches by Pearses paid dividends and they fought their way back into the game. Aidan Kilkenny now operating at centre-forward hit Pearses second goal and added a point. Enda Cunniffe was on target from placed balls and Niall Skehill from play. Pearses were unlucky not to hold on to their late lead, but considering Portumna’s first half lead it was probably a fair result. Next up for Pearses are Kiltormer (details TBC) and the lads will be hoping to go a third Championship game unbeaten.
Pearses: Paul O’Brien; Ronan Skehill, Brendan Egan, Adrian Burke; Leo Morrissey, Aidan Kilkenny (1-1), John Lally; Enda Cunniffe (0-6), Adrian Bellew; Niall Skehill (0-3), Damian Wynne (0-1), Paul Moore; Gary Hennelly, Martin Barry, Finbar Healy (1-0).