All-Ireland Club Championships: Defending champions Portumna marched into the club hurling final with an emphatic 5-11 to 1-16 victory over Ballyhale Shamrocks in Thurles afternoon. They will meet the Waterford champions De la Salle in next month's decider.
Unsurprisingly, Joe Canning was instrumental in Portumna’s success, the ace marksman even managing to edge the great Henry Shefflin in their personal duel.
Canning contributed 2-5 to Portumna’s total and while Shefflin was by no means anonymous, finishing with a tally of 0-10, Portuma’s threat in front of goal put paid to Ballyhale’s chances.
Portumna led by 2-2 to no score after just five minutes, with goals from Damien Hayes and Canning helping to lay down a marker, but were soon pegged back as Eoin Reid's clever finish breathed life into Ballyhale’s challenge.
Canning’s second goal stretched the Galway club’s lead while a breathtaking point from sideline cut underlined his sheer class.
Trailing 3-6 to 1-6 at the break, Ballyhale needed a quick start to the second half but were left reeling as quickfire strikes from Hayes and Ciaran Ryan put the game beyond them.
Shefflin and Canning continued to trade scores, with the Kilkenny champions refusing to concede defeat, but despite battling gamely they were unable to get within seven points of the winners.
De la Salle, meanwhile, needed extra-time to overcome Cushendall as the Antrim side were denied a first ever appearance in the final.
Deadlocked at 1-13 apiece after 60 minutes, De la Salle edged ahead in extra-time and eventually triumphed by 1-21 to 1-19.