Breathnach goal the difference for Gaelscoil in the battle of Portlaoise

The Roinn 6 Hurling Shield final saw an all-Portlaoise affair with Gaelscoil Phortlaoise overcoming their Holy Family Senior School contemporaries.

The game was a close affair until the very end, with Gaelscoil finishing three points better off.

Gaelscoil Phortlaoise 3-4

Holy Family 1-7

Lewis Ó hArgáin opened the scoring with a fine strike from wide out on the right to give Gaelscoil the lead. Jack Gong Xuan Lin got Holy Family back on level pegging before playing a nice ball inside to George McEvoy who made no mistake. McEvoy then landed a point to edge his team further in front.

Holy Family were beginning to get on top as a free from Harry Brady extended the lead, but that was quickly cancelled out when Fiachra Breathnach fired over a score from distance.

Gaelscoil regained the lead late in the half when Senan Ó Floinn prodded the ball home after a goal-line scramble and followed that up immediately with a second goal thanks to a sensational strike from captain Somhairle Ó Braoin. That left it 2-2 to 1-3 at the interval.

Ó hArgáin and Cathal Breathnach added scores for Gaelscoil after the restart, with Sam Brown replying with a ’45 and a free.

Brown almost scored a fabulous goal to put Holy Family in front, but his shot found the side netting from a tight angle. Gong Xuan Lin cut the gap to a single point but a superb finish from Breathnach raised a third green flag for Gaelscoil. Brown pointed a free to bring Holy Family to within a score, but Gaelscoil held on for the win. TEAMS AND SCORERS BELOW PICTURE.

SCORERS - Gaelscoil Phortlaoise: Cathal Breathnach 1-1 (0-1 free), Somhairle Ó Braoin and Senan Ó Floinn 1-0 each, Lewis Ó hArgáin 0-2 (one free), Fiachra Breathnach 0-1. Holy Family: George McEvoy 1-1, Sam Brown 0-3 (two frees, one ‘45), Jack Gong Xuan Lin 0-2, Harry Brady 0-1 (free).

GAELSCOIL PHORTLAOISE: Kyle Ó Beirgín, Cian Ó Gríofa, Aodhán Mac Giolla Phádraig, Jeaic Ó hIfearnáin, Jeaic Ó Cionnaith, DJ Ó Dubhláinne, Somhairle Ó Braoin, Caleb de Plása, Cathal Breathnach, Lewis Ó hArgáin, Kyle Ó Faoláin, Senan Ó Floinn, Fiachra Breathnach, Oilibhéar Ó Treasaigh, Oisín Ó Siail Mocháin, Lúcás de Plása, Stiofán Ó Conchubhair, Liam Ó Raghallaigh, Ruairí Ó Scolaidhe, Dónal Mac Tomáis, Tadhg Ó Cuinn, Dónal Mac Eochaidh, MJ Ó Raghallaigh, Donnacha Ó Mórdha, Alex Ó Fiachra, Roman de Plása, Sebastian de Plása, Ruairí Langtún, Jay Ó Duinn, Oisín Ó hEoghain, Jayden Ó Cionnaith, Cillian Ó Theimhneáin.

HOLY FAMILY: Adam Keogh, Dominik Izo, Sam Brown, Harry Marum, Harry Brady, Jack Gong Xuan Lin, Rhys Cuddy, George McEvoy, Cian O’Keefe, Noah King, Patrick Phelan, Kasper Bednarczyk, Kasper Kowalski, Flynn Cullen, Kyle Delaney, Zach Conroy, Subhan Fawad, Adhyay Gupta.