Experience sees Portumna come through in hard-fought semi-final

Portumna 1-15

Craughwell  0-15

The line separating success and failure between these county semi-finalists was wafer thin, but it was still there, as reigning All-Ireland champions Portumna once again dipped into an old store of experience and composure that just about saw them through to another Galway final.

In a game that mightn’t always have been free flowing, this senior hurling semi-final atoned for that failing with high intensity and dogged competitiveness as Craughwell just kept on hanging in there, without ever getting their noses in front.

Portumna know how to win, even on days when it’s more of a rocky climb than a waltz, and on Sunday in Kenny Park they were a mite tidier and a tad more economical than a Craughwell side that came within touching distance of pulling off a really big one.

The county champions played a simple enough tactical game utilising Joe Canning in the full-forward role, and when he cut inside on the minute mark to rattle Aidan Ryan’s net, already the tactic had reaped a huge dividend. After that, space was tight enough for the inter-count star, but almost inevitably he ended up with a personal tally of 1-8.

While Joe Canning’s first minute goal strike ultimately represented the scoreboard difference between the sides, Craughwell’s real regret from this tie will be their chance conversion rate and their wides tally of at least 18, with close on half of those in the scoreable category.

Before the game, there was something of a consensus among some of the more seasoned observers that Craughwell would need goals to win this match: the reality though was entirely different. If the losers had converted one third of their wides into points, then the day would surely have been theirs.

Portumna’s wides tally was only half of Craughwell’s, although there were probably some mild concerns early on in the winners’ camp when Joe Canning struck the first four of those, but overall, one of the stand-out trends of this match was the more efficient finishing of the county champions.

When Craughwell fell 1-1 to 0-0 behind with scarcely 70 seconds gone on the clock, there were fears of a possible collapse but Stephen Glennon’s charges showed admirable resilience in clawing their way back into contention and when Stephen Hynes knocked over an inspirational point in the 21st minute, the gap had been reduced to two at 1-5 to 0-6.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.