Emma McEntee’s late equaliser saves a point for Portadown as they fight back to hold Muckross in their first EY All Ireland hockey league game… report, pictures, results and standings

GOALS from Lara Wilson and Emma McEntee earned Portadown a deserved 2-2 draw in their historic first EYHL 2 game against Dublin visitors Muckross in an entertaining game at Edenvilla.

While satisfied with their point Portadown will feel they could have taken more from the game but failed to score when they were on top and needed Emma McEntee’s late equaliser to save the game after Muckross bounced back from Lara Wilson’s first half strike to lead 2-1 into the final minutes.

Portadown probed from the outset but the talented Muckross keeper was equal to the efforts, and when she was beaten, a defender was on hand to block an airborne shot from finding the target.

The first penalty corner came right at the end of the first quarter when Rebekah Lennon thought she had scored after firing home when the keeper initially saved. But it was disallowed and the teams went in at the break level.

Portadown continued the pressure and Emma McEntee broke two tackles and fed Alyssa Somerville who bamboozled a couple of defenders and won a PC. Annie Gordon was at the end of a neat routine but couldn’t quite deflect the ball in.

The visiting stopper then thwarted the busy Evie Thompson twice, and then Alyssa Somerville, before Muckross shot just wide from a corner of their own.

Portadown were in the ascendency and their defence and midfield were doing a good job of containing Muckross when they broke. The Dublin side’s defence was effective in keeping it scoreless, though Portadown were wasteful with the many chances they had created as half time arrived still scoreless.

Ports’ pressure finally paid off after the restart as Brianna Gregg did exceptionally well in the left attacking corner to get the ball across and past the keeper where Lara Wilson tucked the ball away to give Portadown the lead.

This changed the nature of the game, with Muckross showing more endeavour to get forward and take something from the game.

They succeeded early in the fourth quarter when Olivia Brady converted a penalty corner awarded after the ball caught a foot in the circle.

Then a lightning break saw a flying forward clipped by Jasmine and the stroke was duly converted by Olivia Brady again.

Portadown were clearly shaken by this and there was a lack of control and composure in their play for a time until Rebekah Lennon’s late deflected drive was saved brilliantly by the keeper and the ball came to Emma McEntee who carefully slotted the ball into the net near to secure a point from a 2-2 draw.

The second round of games next week sees Portadown make the long trip to Cork Harlequins.

Ports v Muckross action (below)