Canning plays central role

GALWAY HURLING FINAL - Portumna 1-18 Gort 2-7:  PORTUMNA WON their fourth Galway senior title in six years in front of almost 10,000 spectators at Pearse Stadium yesterday. They remain on course to defend their All-Ireland title after coming good in the second half. Portumna were rattled as Gort struck for two first-half goals but Ollie Canning's men outscored Gort by 1-8 to 0-3 after the sides went in level at the break.

Gort scored 1-1 in the opening three minutes. Paul Killilea got them off the mark inside a minute and then Ollie Fahy held off Ollie Canning to finish to the net. But Portumna didn't panic and with their half-back line and midfield getting on top, they hit nine of the next 10 scores. Joe Canning was central to most of them, a trademark lineball from the right only surpassed by a wonderful effort from the opposite side when he pointed from the sideline with an effort over his left shoulder.

Damien Hayes also tormented the Gort defence, landing a brace of points in either half. He hit one either side of two Canning frees to reduce the deficit to the minimum after eight minutes before Fahy picked off a point at the other end. But Portumna hit six points without reply to lead by 0-9 to 1-2 after 18 minutes. Gort's Gerry Quinn pointed a free and he reduced the margin to a goal by landing another after Niall Hayes got his second point. Gort gave themselves hope when Quinn blasted a free to the net. That left it 0-10 to 2-4 at the break.

Portumna struck early in the second half. Damien Hayes put them into a lead they never let slip before a delivery from the Galway star saw Gort goalkeeper Peter Cummins collect before being blocked and as the sliotar broke, Andy Smith sent it to the net.

Gort responded with a Martin Nestor point but Joe Canning hit three points, two from frees, for Portumna to lead 1-14 to 2-5. Gort rallied with points from Quinn and Richie Cummins with 10 minutes remaining. Any hope was extinguished when Ollie Canning landed a point from halfway.

PORTUMNA:I Canning; M Dolphin, O Canning (0-1), M Gill; G Heagney, M Ryan, A O'Donnell; E Lynch, L Smith (0-1); N Hayes (0-2), K Hayes, A Smith (1-0); D Hayes (0-4), J Canning (0-10, six frees, one lineball), C Ryan. Subs: E McEntee for Gill (half-time), P Smith for C Ryan (59 mins).

GORT:P Cummins; S Linnane, T Linnane, A Coen; N Forde, B Regan, G Lally; A Harte, S Forde; G Quinn (1-3, all frees), P Killilea (0-1), M Nestor (0-1); R Cummins (0-1), O Fahy (1-1), N Linnane. Subs: M Cummins for N Forde (25 mins), D Linnane for N Linnane (55 mins), M Moran for Quinn (55 mins).

Referee:S Moran.