Mission accomplished as Portumna triumph in Croke Park once again

He always said it was going to be for just one year and, true to his word, Portumna manager Francis Canning stepped down within minutes of guiding his native club to their fourth All-Ireland hurling title at Croke Park on Monday.

In becoming the first Galway side to lift the Tommy Moore Cup four times, Canning admitted that he had exceeded his expectations for the campaign thirteen months after taking over the ‘hot seat’ at the Shannonside club.

His only dream had been to win a first county title since 2009 with his old team-mates and, after that, he said he would consider the prospect of adding to the 2006, 2008, and 2009 All-Ireland titles.

The long commute from his Co Roscommon home had clearly taken a toll on the Portumna manager, who was thrilled to see his side overcome Mount Leinster Rangers by 0-19 to 0-11 in the St Patrick’s Day decider.

“Today’s win ranks up there with any of them, five years after Portumna won their last All-Ireland. The lads are going to enjoy it. But I’m living too far away. It’s a huge commitment and I really enjoyed the year. If they apply themselves again and put in the hard work, they will be back again,” he told Tribune Sport.

Amazingly, ten of the men on the pitch were involved when Portumna won their first All-Ireland in 2006 – and three were involved, along with Francis, when they lost to Sarsfields in their first county senior final way back in 1995.

Ollie Canning (37), Niall Hayes (36) and Eugene McEntee (35) all soldiered with their manager on Portumna teams in the distant past and it was an emotional dressing-room as full-back McEntee also announced his retirement after Monday’s final.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune – as well as five pages in sport.