Galway SHC Final/Portumna 5-19 Loughrea 1-12:PORTUMNA CAPTURED their third county title in a row as a turbulent period for hurling in the county was given a badly needed boost as the All-Ireland champions produced a devastating display to win by 19 points.
The only fireworks produced at Pearse Stadium yesterday came from the incisive Portumna attack.
Loughrea would have fancied repeating their 2006 final win over Portumna if they were told beforehand Joe Canning would be held scoreless from play. But touches of the 21-year old All Star were still telling and his accuracy from placed balls punished Loughrea time and again.
Canning finished with 1-8 from frees, a further two points from 65s, and his only miss over the hour was a monstrous sideline from distance in the opening half.
However, he was outshone on this occasion by the other half of Portumna’s twin attacking threat as Damien Hayes went on a scoring rampage to hit 3-3 as his club captured their fifth Galway senior hurling title, having only won their first in 2003.
They will now bid to become the first first side in hurling or football to win three All-Ireland club titles on the trot.
The game was over as a contest by the 14th minute yesterday as Portumna raced into the lead, 3-2 to 0-1. Joe Canning set out their stall by blasting a fourth-minute 21-yard free past six players.
Damien Hayes also shunned the notion of picking off easy points and raced through after nine minutes to rifle to the net.
Four minutes later, he collected a Gareth Heagney crossfield ball and raced clear again before blasting to the net. The big Loughrea attendance in the crowd of about 8,000 feared humiliation, but a Johnny Maher goal after 18 minutes when he was set up by Neil Keary gave them hope.
Keary, one of two minors in their attack, hit eight points over the hour – seven of them frees – and looks a fine prospect.
Portumna led 3-10 to 1-5 at the break and it took just 17 seconds after the restart for Damien Hayes to complete his hat-trick after being set up by Andy Smith.
Neil Keary hit four pointed frees in the opening seven minutes of the second-half for a shell-shocked Loughrea, but with centre forward Kevin Hayes outstanding – he hit 0-3 and was a man of the match contender – Loughrea just had no answer.
Stephen Morgan produced a good save to deny Martin Dolphin, but, with Canning keeping the scoreboard ticking over, the holders led 4-15 to 1-9 at the end of the third quarter.
Dolphin finally found the net with 12 minutes remaining – Niall Hayes was red-carded in a subsequent melee where at least one Loughrea player merited the same fate – but the match was well-handled by referee Alan Kelly as both sides focused on playing the game.
PORTUMNA: I Canning; A O’Donnell, E McEntee, O Canning; G Heagney, M Ryan, P Smith; E Lynch (0-1), L Smith; A Smith (0-1), K Hayes (0-3), A N Hayes; M Dolphin (1-1), J Canning (1-10, 1-8 frees, two 65s); D Hayes (3-3). Subs: C Ryan for P Smith (47 mins); D Canning for Dolphin (56 mins); J Keane for I Canning (60 mins).
LOUGHREA: S Morgan; D Melia, D McClearn, E Mahony; J Dooley, V Maher, T Regan; G Keary, B Mahony; J O’Loughlin (0-1), J Maher (1-1), J Coen; K Colleran (0-1), R Regan, N Keary (0-8, seven frees). Subs: E Mahony (0-1) for Melia (15 mins); G Glynn for Colleran (50 mins); P Hoban for E Mahony, (50 mins).
Referee: A Kelly (Rahoon/Newcastle).
Portumna will play the Munster champions (Newtownshandrum or Ballygunner) on February 21st in the All-Ireland semi-final. The same day, Dunloy will meet the winners of Leinster (Ballyhale Shamrocks or Tullamore).
