Kinvara steal the show

Date Published: 11-Oct-2007

THE starter proved to be more appetising than the main course at a sun-drenched Kenny Park on Sunday as Kinvara’s rousing victory over Castlegar, to reach their first county final since 1979 and only their second in history, took the spotlight from Portumna’s fifth consecutive semi-final victory.

As expected, Portumna were too strong for Athenry, but their laboured performance was in stark contrast to the way in which the sea-side club ignited the packed ground with a blistering display right from the throw-in of the first game.

A team who found themselves in the relegation dogfight 12 months ago, who have never been top dogs in Galway hurling, showed hunger and skill in abundance to break the hearts of the county’s most successful club.

They provided the day’s one true fairytale, too, as 42-year old former Galway star Gerry McInerney came off the bench to score the winning goal two minutes from the end of normal time.

It was a fitting reward for two and a half decades of dedication to the club’s senior side from the man who used to return from the United States to grace Croke Park with those infamous white boots in the 1980s. Many of his youthful teammates might not remember his back-to-back All-Ireland wins in 1987 and ’88, but they will remember the way he stood his ground before firing the sliotar expertly to the net on Sunday.

McInerney played his first ever senior game for the club way back in 1982, just three years after they were beaten by Castlegar in their only county final appearance. The player-manager took a gamble by…..