Canning’s late goal sees Portumna finally subdue battling Athenry men

Portumna 2-17

Athenry 1-13

THIS was much closer than the scoreline suggested. And events elsewhere made it even tighter. But when needed, Portumna produced the sucker punch in the closing stages to take their place in the Salthill Hotel Senior hurling championship quarter-finals.

Coming into this game on two wins from two, the All-Ireland Club champions knew avoiding defeat would secure their knock-out spot but the erratic scoring in this group meant qualification wasn’t a certainty.

Despite missing Jack Carr with a knee injury, Athenry were determined to take on their opponents and trailed by only three points in the closing stages (1-16 to 1-13) knowing their +25 scoring difference would be enough to advance with a win.

But sensing danger as the group table played out, Joe Canning made the run on 58 minutes to unlock the opposing defence before finding the net inside the far corner and booking a meeting against arch rivals Loughrea next week.

The sides traded the opening blows with Canning and Paddy Hannon getting on the scoreboard, but an interesting evening in the Duggan Park was assured when David Donohue set up James Divilly for the Athenry goal on five minutes.

Against the wind, Athenry were ahead and even though Canning responded with two minors, Donohue was equally efficient to give Billy Caulfield’s charges a 1-2 to 0-3 lead on 10 minutes.

A Portumna rally was expected but it was running behind schedule. Damien and Kevin Hayes both pointed while Canning sweetly sent over a sideline cut but Donohue and Liam Howley kept Athenry the right side of the scoreline at 1-4 to 0-6 on 21 minutes.

It could have been better for the former champions who saw a Tom Flynn run denied by Joe Keane during this period. But Portumna eventually hit back with an unanswered1-3 to take hold of proceedings coming up to half-time.

Canning levelled with a free, Niall Hayes put them in front but when Ollie Canning’s long delivery picked out Ronan O’Meara on 25 minutes, the young corner forward put distance between the teams with another Kevin Hayes point making it 1-9 to 1-4.

Athenry finished with Flynn and Mark Hannon finding the target while Cian Burke came close to finding the net, but Canning’s free gave Portumna a 1-10 to 1-6 interval lead. However, the elements were to favour the team in maroon upon the restart.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.