Port fall to Cill Dara
Portarlington suffered only their second defeat on all competitions this year, losing by nine points to a strong Cill Dara side.
Portarlington (Division 2A) and Cill Dara (Division 1B) are both top of respective leagues so this promised to be an exciting game from the outset.
Port got off to a flying start after a reverse pass from Paul Mannion found Mark Petriw and he went in straight under the posts after just 5 minutes. Stephen Mulhall converted.
Despite the wind and and rain Port were spreading the ball as much as possible trying to get their back three into the game. Another penalty saw from Mulhall saw Port move two scores clear. Mulhall was a constant threat to Cill Dara is strength and speed proving, difficult for Cill Dara to contain.
Momentum then shifted as Cill Daras larger pack took control. Their driving maul was proving difficult for Port to stop, and their big runners were finding gaps inside Ports drift defense.
Barry White scored an excellent try to put Cill Dara back in touch. Portarlington responded with another penalty from Mulhall and were managing to find good field position.
On one occasion Port broke down the blind side, and chipped ahead, David Murphy almost collecting the ball but a bad bounce saw Cill Dara collect and clear their lines. A further penalty saw Cill Dara leave three points in it at the break.
The wind and rain picked up in the second half favouring Cill Dara, and the cold really was effecting both sets of outside backs. Cill Dara dominated possession but never looked like scoring a try in the second half. Four penalties from P Behan was the difference between the two teams giving Cill Dara a deserved nine point victory.
Despite the best efforts of Stephen Oakley, Massey Tuhaks and Stephen Mulhall, Port never managed to get back into the game in the second half. The rain and wind did not suit Ports wide game however they will have learned a lot from playing this experienced Cill Dara side.
With two games only remaining in the league Port are in a good position to take the title for the second time in three years. Port’s seconds play new Ross away this Sunday in the Seconds Towns Cup.
PORTARLINGTON: David Murphy, Ross Doyle, Stephen Mulhall, Padraig Maree, Ronan Mannion, Massey Tuhaks, Paul Mannion, Sean Kiely, Declan Hennessy, Andrew Wilkinson, Hugh Emereson, Stephen Oakley, Joander Brazon, James Hyland, Mark Petriw. Subs- Colm Dowling for Petriw, Ciaran Kiely for Maree, Noel Fitmaurice for Wilkinson, Kieran Hyland, Bob Rawlinson.
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Weather for Tullamore
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
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